School Holiday.... Not!

The much awaited first semester school holidays are finally here, bringing a state of euphoria to the students and a sense of foreboding to parents and teachers.  School holidays usually bring happiness to students because they don't have to wake up early, go to school, stay cooped up in cramped classrooms, listen to teachers  babbling and staying on for god-knows-what activities until late in the day.  Parents on the other hand, simply hate school holidays because they now have to contend with bringing up their children, the noise they make, the quarrels and what-have-yous; all the things that their part-time nannies, the teachers, had to put up with during the school days!

Teachers, however, are a different lot altogether.  True, every teacher in the right frame of mind, waits longingly for the two-week school holidays.  But, when the holidays do come, reality sets in because a teacher's work knows no boundary.  Let's do a check-list!

One good deed deserves another.

I believe that a person who has done work deserves to be paid or at least get some kind of reward or compensation, especially when one was asked to do the task.  Of course, one would not be too outspoken and boldly ask for that compensation since the person who had ask the work to be done in the first place should have thought about it.

A case in point was the Negeri Sembilan School Music Festival held in this school for two days which saw quite a number of the committees that ran the festival requesting the assistance of form six students.  Any one who has had the experience of organising an event on such a scale would agree that when it comes to work, it's all hands on the pump, and in this case it included the form six students.  Pictures of other students involved can also be seen by clicking here!

The Roots and The Tree Top : An Analogy

The Tree



The Roots and The Tree



Once upon a time there was a huge tree.  For years, it had been providing shade for passers-by to either shelter from the burning afternoon sun or from the slight shower.  The tree had also been a favourite spot for families and couples to set their picnic baskets and have a lazy day, enjoying the cool shade.



One day, the leaves suggested to the tree that they should finally bear fruits that could be enjoyed by the people who frequent their shade.  The tree agreed and did all it could to do just that.  It asked the branches to help but they said that they couldn't because it did not have the expertise.  The tree then asked the bark to which it too gave the same response.  After getting negatives responses from every single one of its members, the tree finally remembered the roots!

The roots, which were always hidden underground and were so used to being trodden upon by the people who frequented the tree, was indeed happy and proud that the tree had finally remembered to ask them and promised to do everything within their means to extract as much nutrients from the soil so that the tree could be fertilized and the branches could produce delicious fruits! 

Teachers Dazed Part II

Berita Harian Online Sabarlah cikgu

A short and simple response followed by a long list of excuses which should by now become familiar to those in the teaching profession especially teachers at the grass root level. These teachers should learn not to get their hopes too high, or in fact not to have any kind of hopes at all, when it comes to monetary benefits or grade advancements, because when ever they do happen, those who benefit most are those who are the top of the hierarchy, or those at the tree tops!

The thing about being at the grass root level is, like grass, people step on you all the time, no matter what kind or grade of grass you are, and these people who step on you don't give a second thought about doing so! But if you are at the top of a tree, which is where people usually look, people usually cannot step over you, instead people will reach up to you with outstretched hands or use what ever is within their means to be with those at the top, since this where all the best things are! I mean, analogically and logically, if your tree bear quality fruits you would thank the tree. You would be considered totally crazy if you were to bend down, touch the roots and thank them for providing the tree with nutrients in order for it to produce quality fruits!

I mean, if you want to enter a good school, it's the people at the top you go to see. If you want your child, or nephew or niece or anyone related to you, or even your friend's child to get enter a good class or get good co-curriculum marks, you would also see the people at the top. Hence, that is why there isn't a single logical reason to butter those down-trodden insignificant teachers. True, it is the teachers who produce results and help to raise the institution's grades, but rewards usually don't go to them. The only thing they get is a simple and useless phrase: "Selamat Hari Guru. Terima kasih cikgu"

This is all we have been getting for two years in a row!

Teachers Dazed!

Singing for some compassion

I hate to sound like a wet blanket but I do feel that teachers are just like a group of masochists!  I say this because even after all the suffering that they go through, they are still intent on continuing with their profession; even those new teachers who still stand a chance of quitting and making their lives better in other professions seem to find being someone who enjoys sufferings such an exquisite and tempting situation.

I, for one have been waiting for about three years now, since 2009, about this wonderful news that the government keeps promising teachers every time comes 16th May.  And, I am happy that I have not been holding my breath all this while waiting for promises that only benefit a few people in the teaching profession especially those in the administrative side.  In a way, I'm glad I didn't hold my breath, if not I would have turned blue from lack of air and green, feeling envious of those who made into the government's shortlisted few to receive incentives and promotions!

Pesta Muzik Sekolah-Sekolah Negeri Sembilan 2011

The Tarian Randai by SASER

Our school was once again nominated to be the host for another state level competition, and this time it was for the 2011 Negeri Sembilan School Music Festival, which was held for two days from 18th May 2011 to 19th May 2011.  The two-day competition was participated by primary and secondary schools representing the eight different districts in this state.

Personally, there was no other segment in the competition that I enjoyed watching most, other than the traditional dance competition.  I was utterly amazed and enthralled by the dance routines and costumes; plus the extent to which students nowadays would go through to make their presentations enjoyable and indeed mesmerizing.

The Sewang by SM Undang Jelebu



I have always been a fan of traditional Malay dances and the festival presented me with an opportunity that I could not refuse, which was to be right there in front of the dancers as they were performing, even if it meant that I had to be the master of ceremony for the event for both days.

The Asyik by SMK Puteri

Teachers' Day: STAR Style!

Some teachers were conveniently missing!

As with every year, 16th of May makes its arrival again today, amidst all the fanfare of a celebration only the students of this school can possibly think of and organize.  Teachers walk slowly from the school's open hall to the main hall lead by a procession of students in traditional clothes, with some of them carrying 'bunga manggar' and others beating drums.  Teachers were then greeted at the entrance of the hall by a group of male students who presented the 'silat' including an amazing demonstration using real machetes!

Possibly the highlight of the day!

And as usual, once inside the hall, official sequence of events dictates that the ceremony begins with a speech by the principal, then another speech from the Education Ministry Director General and yet another speech from the Education Minister, all of which were beginning to spiral me into doldrums.  Apparently I was not alone, because I noticed that the students too were getting restless, until a magic show was presented to the audience.

After a half hour break, two games ensued, which was then followed by award presentations alternated with performances by students.  The insipid performances were in fact a foreshadow of the food prepared for such a celebratory event for teachers, which sadly comprised of the usual dishes; those that you could even eat on an ordinary day, unlike today!  All in all, I was fidgeting to go home, a feeling which was generally shared by a majority of my colleagues. 

On a scale of one to ten, with one being the lowest, I would rate today's celebration a three!  Oh well!  There's always next year!  Sigh!

Just Be Just Part I

People have thrown snide and cynical remarks at me on more than one occasion and made unjust comments about the work that I do.  I suppose people can say whatever they want, without a single care if those remarks actually hurt the people they are intended for.

Of the many, two continue to linger in my mind because they were made by someone who is supposed to do justice to everyone.  On one occasion, we being English teachers, were accused of not doing our jobs eventhough the government has given us our monthly BISP allowance and that the giving of that allowance some how seems unjustified.  I feel saddened by this accusation because, I for one have made good use of that allowance, which by the way is not that much, especially in producing resource materials for my English classes. 

By producing resource materials I am referring to the countless hours I spend in front of the computer, surfing through websites and searching for suitable materials to be used in classes.  By producing resource materials I mean the tiring hours of having to think up of original teaching and learning materials which are then typed and printed into workable exercises for English language classroom use, all of which have how been conveniently and neatly bound and turned into modules for every form.  By producing resource materials I also mean taking time going to the copying shop to get the materials copied and then collated and stapled accordingly. 

I can go into details about this particular matter but I would much prefer that the person who passed the cynical remarks actually see the six sets of modules that I have produced.   In fact, I think she should have asked us to explain how we used the BISP before she made the snide remarks.  Perhaps then, all this unnecessary pent up frustration could have been avoided.

Thanks For Remembering



Mak Yang's card received on 14/5/11 - TQ


16th May comes around every year and more often than it just comes and goes without actually leaving much of an impression.  You may think that I am being a bit blase amidst all the celebrations that go around during this day, whether they are arranged by students or, indeed, often times by teachers themselves.  Let's face it, teachers are not a group of people on the top of the list of the most remembered people; neither are they the most favourable people because other people always dictates what makes a good teacher.  Thus, the reason why teachers organise their own celebrations on their own big day.

But, enough of the sob story because the only shoulder a teacher can cry on is on the shoulder of another teacher; then again if you are lucky! Ha ha! 

Teacher, teacher! Where forth are thou?

Oh! Sheep!  Where is your shepherd?

As I was invigilating a form 6 class this morning at about 9.00 am, I heard some ruckus coming from outside the classroom.  And as I peered out the window panes, I saw that some students were sitting in groups right in front of the 'surau' right in front of one of a certain teacher's special room.  Not far from where the students were making noise, activity was under way to register a group of new form six students; and in the midst of that event, the principal was heard to be giving a speech. 

I suspect that, if I could hear all that, even though I was three floors up, I expect every one at the venue where the registration was being held could also hear the noise made by the abandoned students.  Of course, I just happened to have my camera with me because right before entering the particular class to invigilate, I was at the registration to snap some photographs of the event.

I do not wish to pursue this matter any further, so all I can say is, some things happen some of the time, but let not those things happen all of the time.

A Chance For Change!

No alibi will save you from accepting the responsibility

Gandhi once said that you must be the change you want to see in the world.  Short and simple but it has a depth of meaning that can be implemented to any situation, be it in personal life, relationship, spiritual or the working environment.

With regards to the latter's situation, this quote indirectly defines what we as individuals want to achieve and in the process of achieving those goals, we ourselves have to strive towards it.  We cannot expect other people to do things for us, even if we are the superior and other people are the subordinates.  If however that does happen, we, firstly should have the humility not to claim that it was all due to our own efforts without giving due recognition to those who actually did the work for us, whether or not they are the subordinates.

Secondly, we should realize the fact that other people are doing all the work for us, should not be made a normalcy; in any case it should only be a one-off thing.  If not, for one, it will deny us the chance to put our own abilities to the test, the limits of which we will not know, until and unless we do so.  Plus, we should also realize that the people whom we push and shove our own work to, have work of their own to do.  As superiors, we should only require our subordinates to be our aides and definitely not our servants.

I pray with all my heart that Allah gives me light and guidance that, if and when the opportunity arises that I one day become a superior, I will be just and thank Allah for the chance to change!

High And Dry on the Highway.

One would expect ones journey on the highway to be a breeze without any interruptions making one able to reach ones destination right on time.  This situation cannot be far from the truth because an unpleasant journey back home on the PLUS Highway yesterday, 30th April 2011, left travelling on such a road left a lot to be desired.

Not only did traffic start to move at a snail's pace from as early as Bangi Interchange right to Simpang Empat, which incidentally made it a four-and-a-half hour journey instead of the normal three, it also caused many of the highway users to inconsiderately use the emergency lane!