not yet a teacher...

You know, when teaching at Mendaki, I've never quite prepared myself for students' rash behaviour and the disciplinary action taken towards them. All I had in mind every Saturday morning is tutoring these kids and hope that these kids progress in their studies. Afterall, I am only a tutor

But yesterday, I finally knew what being a TEACHER is like.

It was after recess when this particular student, (let's call him K. ok no. umm, H la) H came back to class with his shirt pocket all torn. When I asked what happened, his fellow backrowboys, S and N, spoke up for him and said, "Gangfight ah cher, gangfight..."

S always gives plausible excuses, and loves making up stories which almost made his friends fall for them...but not me. So I just shunned their rantings and continued with the lesson. Less than a minute later the head tutor came in and asked for H.

THEN, i asked them again what truly happened.

Secondary one boy, G strangled H from the back. H retaliated. H tak puas hati. H punched him. G tergolek-golek.

*shock!!! shock!!!*

I was trying to find my bearings when I heard about it. I know, such stories maybe common to secondary school teachers, but to happen at a tuition centre? They totally caught me off guard. I tried continuing the lesson but the movie in my head was playing the consequences H had to suffer. not good.

All the secondary school students were called down soon after. and there, i saw, H standing at the podium, while the centre supervisor addressed the audience. I wasn't even listening. It felt like something struck me hard and kept whispering in my ear, "That is my student...That is MY student..."

The Head Tutor then informed me that he will be suspended, the police had been called, his mom is informed, and he may be expelled.

LIKE WHAT!?!?!?!

I tried to reason with him and told him that he has been coming to class and tries hard to do his work. he needs all the help he can get. a fellow colleague even came up and spoke up for H.

When we went back to class, H's backrowboys were not happy. One was getting emotional. I couldn't say anything much but just told him to calm down. I had the other students to think of. Coordinate Geometry was not done yet. SA2 is in 2 weeks! I barely completed coordinate geometry. because we kept talkin about H.

Who wants H to be back in this class? All raised their hands.

At the end of the lesson, I had three boys with me at the General Office with H. All wanted to speak up for H. I was touched. Then, we were all told that G, the sec one boy, is unwell. He has created alot of problems in his own sec school and has been thrown out a few times. He is unwell, hence his uncontrolled actions. and H had no idea about it.

H is suspended from Mendaki now, and I don't know if he'll ever be back. Even in his own quiet ways, I can see his interest to study. I hear him answer my questions during Math lessons. I know he feels proud of himself when I complimented of his good work.

You know, as I walked out of the school with the boys, I was proud to see the strong bonds between them and the way they stood up for each other even when they are from different schools. and when H waved goodbye with a murmur of "thank you", I was touched beyond words. I don't know why.

Is this how being a teacher feels like? a sense of satisfaction after hard days at work?

I feel for you la teachers. I do. I salute all of you. and I know it's never too late to say, HAPPY TEACHERS' DAY...