Teaching Moments 1

28 December 2013 It is coming to the end of the year 2013, another day to the end of my teaching career, the last day being 1st Jan 2014. There are still no news on my application to be a Contract or Fexi Adjunct and it seemed that the last days of being a teacher, after 38 years, is truly real. Again looking back, there were moments and experiences which were encapsulated in one's mind clearly and would not be erased.
Here are some:
Teacher-Pupil Moments
1. I cannot forget the time I met a former Mono8 pupil in the late 80s. During those times, the Mono8 from Nam San School would come to Woodlands for their weekly Technical lessons. They stayed with us for the whole morning, doing Woodwork and Metalwork. They were the 'forgotten group' as the primary school did not know what to do with them. When they came for lessons, they brought their boisterous behaviour along. No lesson plan worked, you just have to keep them occupied. Once a while, the technical teachers would have to go out of school to haul them back as they caused problem outside the school during their breaks. One year later, I met a pupil in the streets. He proudly told me that he made it into the VITB to study Electrical Fittings. That was the MOMENT, as I could see his pride in his eyes, saying that he made it!!! He should be in his 40s now.

2. How did you feel when a pupil remembered you in his death bed? Zhi Hong used to follow me for my morning run before school when I taught in Si Ling. He often looked for me, wanting to talk to me. Once, I and Kenny Jones (an expat teacher) sponsored his class soccer jerseys and they won the interclass. It was an Irish green shirt. I did not know that he mentioned me very often to his family members. Nor did I know that he had a brain tumour. He died during the operation. During his wake, I came to know that he told his parents about me. In the coffin, he was wearing the green jersey. That showed how much he valued it!!!! That was the MOMENT!!!! Sadly, sometimes in my business, I regretted that I did not have much time for him when he wanted to talk.

Work review Moments: It could be dreadful or a delightful moment when one leaves the office after Work review with the RO. For me, there were equal numbers of 'disgust' and enlightened moments. 'Disgust' moments were when the RO harped on your AFI (Areas for Improvement) rather than building from your strengths. They tend to focus on results rather than the process, rather than on what actually was done by you. The worst was when they made use of the EPMS as though it was a Bible in preaching. These ROs are usually those who do not know you or know what you are doing.