Monday, March 10, 2008

The Dinner

The school SJK(C) Wan Hwa 1 organised a farewell dinner for us. Of course I was the main star that night. As usual, we had a sumptious Chinese dinner; an eight-course dinner. During the dinner we were all chatting and joking about the days in school and the sudden hysteria a short while ago. They (the other teachers) kept pestering me for the technique that was so effective in causing such an emotional assembly. My answer to them was very simple and direct.

Love them like you love your children. Get to know them and praise them when due and punish them when needed. Be firm and go down to their level and be a friend to them. Then you have gained their trust and love.

Many teachers only know how to scold and to reprimand pupils and students in getting things done. There are other more practical ways doing so, To gain respect, we have to first give respect.

I think I had sent a message to quite a number of teachers. I sincerely hope that they understood my message and be better teachers. I am not trying to say I am the best teacher but I am still improving myself.

The dinner ended with a lot of handshakes and photographs taken.
To be continued

Sunday, March 9, 2008

The Elated Feeling

This is part 2 of the assembly.



After the final few words by the headmaster, the pupils were asked to line up to give gifts or whatever little stuff they had to the teachers; me and the other two lady teachers.



The line started with the standard 6. You would not believe what I experienced adn felt. They all came to me with gifts, presents, little items as momentoes. One monitor of 6B came up with a little box and told me that it was a watch from the class. My heart was heavy and sad as I received it. I could only thank him. The others came only to me and handed me the gifts. The other teachers were shocked and probably embarassed.



Next the head of the staff club came up with yet another gift; another little box. She said that it was a watch from the staff club. I thnked them from the bottom of my heart.

Friday, March 7, 2008

Hectic and confused

The phone call was on Tuesday and I had to report the following Monday to join the course in KL.

So with three days, I had to update the Physical Education stock and manage the store. On top of that I had to clear all the exercise books. I was teaching PE and English then.

During the three days, I was totally in a daze running around from all those tasks and controlling the emotions of the pupils. Every now and then some pupils would come with sad and teary eyes begging me not to leave. I was really exhausted.

After school, I had to manage another burden, the family. Your mum was really down and sad. I knew that in another two months time, I would be leaving for another country to study; that is UK. The questions were numerous; how to manage your sisters and you, where are they going to study, and how about after school?

In addition, she (your mum) had to drive to school. All this while, we had only one car, the faithful Daihatsu. She would always go with another colleague and I would pick her up after school. Now she would have to drive to school. Can she manage it?

In school, all the tasks were completed by Friday and I was really glad then.

In the classes, there was no mood and no interest in the lesson. Most of the time I was trying to calm the kids and telling them to be brave and work hard.

Friday evening came and there was a special assembly just before school was over. All the pupils (1500 of them) were assembled in the school hall with the teachers on the stage. It was actually the farewell for me and two other teachers who were going to join the Teachers' Training Colleges. The headmaster gave his speech and the pupils waited. The two lady teachers were called to give a short speech. All was in control

I was finally called to deliver a speech. I was choked with emotion but I tried. I started of with a few words and advised the pupils to work hard but I could not go on. The reason was simple; the classes I was teaching then started sobbing and crying their hearts out. This spread like wild fire and soon all the kids were rubbing their eyes and sobbing; some quietly but some outwardly. The most surprising thing was, even the boys who were rough and who were frequently punished were sobbing away.

That was it. I could not stand it. I cried and my heart broke. The other teachers beside me asked me how I could have touched their hearts to that extend. I could not answer because I was confused.

The headmaster ended the assembly with a few word I could not remember anymore. I also noticed that the parents and the school bus drivers were at the doors of the hall. I bet they must have been confused as to why such a commotion was about.

To be continued. Keep reading.

Saturday, March 1, 2008

To accept or Not

Well, it was a really difficult decision to make. To accept or not to accept, that was the question.

I had no one to consult at that very moment. We did not have mobile phones then and it was not easy to contact even your mum's school. Even if you were able to get through, there would be a long wait for her to answer. Would the school allow that?

But I also asked the officer or rather said that the course had already started and why I was called. She said that one of the participants could not make it so, there was a vacancy.

With that answer, and without hesitation, I accepted the offer.

The clerks at the office nodded and smiled, knowing that that was a chance of a lifetime. I thanked them for being so helpful and taking the trouble to call me even though I was at the other end of the school.

You see, I really believe that my lucky stars are always shining. And my friendly character would and will always bring foutune; in all aspects.

The pupils in my classes came to know that I would be leaving them soon. That afternoon, during classes, the little boys and girls came with teary eyes and sad faces. They asked and asked me why I was leaving them. They begged and begged me not to leave them.

My heart was heavy and deeply troubled because I was also unwilling to abandon them. I had been teaching them since Year 1 or rather seen them growing up. In fact, most of them were very attached to me because I was also the coach for their athletic team and the softball teams.

Jensen, if you now understood my situation, how would you feel.
To be continued.