Teacher"s Day ( Part 1)

I was giving my car a soft clean-up, when my neighbour's son, Ah Kit and a couple of his friends were chit-chatting outside the house. They were discussing what happened in school during the teacher's day celebration yesterday. I couldn't help but be absorbed in their conversation and began to kei-po-chee with them. Having being a teacher before for a brief period helped me to explain to them the sacrifies which the teachers have made. At least they would appreciate their teachers' efforts and that teacher's day means a lot to them.

Ah Kit, a form 4 student related his school teacher's day programme in detail and his uneasiness towards it. He got support from his friends, who would chipped in to give examples and their points of views. I guess that is rather interesting as the students' views are always not heard and neglected by the school authority. The authority always think that the programme carried out on teacher's day is good and beneficial to everyone.

"You see. Boh Teh , we, students are damn fed-up and dislike teacher's day celebration." Ah Kit began with a rather manly-toned voice. " The day began with a religious sermon and thanks to ......Amen, which took 5 minutes. Then have to sing the national anthem, then sing "Malaysia Berjaya" ( or some other the state songs), then the school song along with some pre-recorded tape that has expired beyond its expiry date. So noisy and chirpy.."

" Ah Kit, you should be thankful to the Govt's drive to reduce cost. Expired tape, got music ,can still use-mah. Save the country's economy. " I told him without telling him any new tapes bought by the Govt would have to be paid through the tax-payers' pockets.

Ah Kit continued on saying, "After singing, the duty-teacher played another tape, which recorded the speech of the Minister of Education, a 20 minutes of a flat G-note and we have to stand still. Actually hardly anyone was listening, including the teachers. They were seated in their chairs facing us , and some were whispering among themselves, some giggling and some yawning away. After that, the speech of the Director-general of the Education Ministry, again another 20 minutes of the same monotonous flat G-note. I could see most students were already day-dreaming, some could even stand-sleeping, but most were whispering just like the teachers with hopes this would end fast."

I could understand Ah Kit's uneasiness as he continued, " After those speeches, the senior asst for student's affairs put up another 15 minutes speech. I know she wants to boost us and tries to psyche us to be good and obedient students. But we had stood for 45 minutes under the morning sun which was getting hotter and hotter as minutes crept by. Some students had limped and many put their books and files on their heads to shelter the sun-heat. Did she care about us under the sun while she was under the cool shade?" I was beginning to put myself in his shoes.

Ah Kit pissed out later, " After that, that senior asst for administration showed off with another 15 minutes of long-winded speech of which most was spoken by the Minister and the DG. What for repeating? We know already-mah, students must be good, so teachers can sacrify more. Teachers must get up 6 am, and reach school by 7.10 am. Then must round the school, make sure students come before 7.20 am, then teach until 1.15 pm. After that must stay back for afternoon activities, for school meetings, attend courses and if lucky can go back at 6 pm. If there is a football match, atheletics meet, they reach home at 8 pm, through the traffic jams. See that does not include marking the exercises given to the students or the test and exam papers. Teachers have to sleep at mid-night and have to neglect their household chores, their children and even their spouses. But why make us sweat under the sun and listen to these well-known grouses?"

Now I can see why Ah Kit is angry. I try to cool him down. "Kit, see the teachers work so hard and we have to sympathize with them. If there is no teacher, how can students proceed with their studies? You should be grateful that there are still teachers willing to teach the students who are getting more restless or naughtier now."

Ah Kit then showed me more of his displeasure without paying any heed to what I have told him. He said, "After that, it was the headmistress's turn. Worst of all. She spoke for 22 minutes, to be precise, and thought she was the teacher to everybody, making a review to the Minister's,DG's and senior assts' speeches and add some more err...salt to injury to our already weaken legs under the sweltering sun. Most of the time, she was mumbling to herself and we could see some of the teachers behind her drowsing and dozing too. When she finished her speech, all of us suddenly found the energy to clap loudly. Not because of the contents she had spoken but it signalled to us the end of the tortouring sun-bathing stand."

"The head prefect quickly thanked the speakers and teachers for their advices and guidances with a perfect short speech It was editted many times by the BM teacher. Practically he was not given a chance to say actually what we students wanted to voice. Like that, better ask the BM teacher to read." Ah Kit said in a sarcastic tone and his friends agreed in toto.

I should have made some cups of "Teh Boh" for Ah Kit and his friends.

( to be continued...)