Thanks, 'Cher

Thanking 'cher
Most pupils seldom express their gratitude except on certain occasions like Teacher's Day or during Chinese New year when they come back to visit their former teachers. It is not that they are ungrateful. Their day-to-day business ensured that they have no time to reflect in anything else, least to thank teachers who seemed to be 'monsters' or slave drivers in class. There were also times when we met former pupils outside school years after they left the school many years ago. Usually they would forgot about the 'bad' times. Rather, they would speak about memories in a positive mood. One pupils even pointed out to his 4 children that I was the Discipline Master when he was a pupil and that they should always behave in school or else....... Some remembered the caning, the haircuts, the scolding, etc but in the end, it seemed that they appreciated the effort of teachers.

 The messages from my last Sec 4C class of 2013.

 Message from a former pupil of 2009 who still visits the school during Teacher's Day every year.

From a pupil of Class 2010

2nd January 2014
First day of unemployment after 38 years of waking up at 0500 hrs daily. The following photos on my place of work were taken on the last day at Jurongville Secondary, 30 December 2013.

The workroom where I spent much time doing my work in peace and quiet. The AYE can be seen out of the small window, with breeze coming through.

The view from the 2nd level of the Garage is quite serene, with views of the football field, the expressway and a small garden

 The views of the Garage and the store room.

  The empty spaces in 2011 when we first moved into after PRIME

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.

Margaret Drive reminescence

The cinemas cum bowling alley. This was the exact spot where the 2nd level flat of 242A was built on. The four storey SIT block was one of the many in the neighbourhood.  I have a dumb and mute friend by the name of Micheal who stayed on the 3rd storey.

The entrance of my primary school, Birkhall Road Primary

This field was exactly the same as I have played on during my Birkhall days in the 60s. It was really big and it was really good for hatam bola as we could run and roll on the tall grass during recess.

The Queenstown Polyclinic. There was a bus stop nearby where my father alighted from the bus daily

Opening Ceremony of Queenstown Polyclinic in the 60s

Queenstown Library circa 2011

 The famous Block 39A circa 2011

 NTUC Fairprice Supermarket 2011

The site where  NTUC Fairprice was circa 2013

Below are the images of Birkhall Road School in the 60s. The riot police suggested the tumultous period of racial disharmony back then.

View of the shanty stall that used to sell coffee and titbits along Margaret Drive

Queenstown in its heydays

I lived in Margaret Drive from about 1959 to 1963 at 242 Margeret Drive, one of the 4 storeyed SIT blocks. The large canal was behind my house. The market was on the right side of the block. It was torn down soon after I moved to Bukit Ho Swee in 1964. A cinema was built on the very site where my house was.
It was in the Margaret Drive area where many of my classmates lived especially those who attended Birkhall Primary and Tangln Integrated Secondary Technical School (TISTS).
If you visit the area now, you will see vast empty spaces ready for development. Already, the Dawson Road area is full of new blocks now.

Sec 4C DT Class of 2013

Last Day of official school for graduating classes 11 Octo ber 2013

After 1800 hours 2nd September official Coursework deadline

This is the last group of D&T pupils that I took in my lifelong career. The D&T syllabus started in 1988 and every year, it was a mad dash for the final deadline even though the process was planned well. Now, no more meeting deadline and no more 'above expectations' targets set with the ROs.

Turning 60

June 2013
Year of the Snake

The valued Purple Ez-link card

This is the year when I join the elderly/oldies in Singapore. SMRT has a unique way of tracking the population. One month before my birthday, I received a letter from them requesting for my photograph. On the exact week of my birthday, they sent me the purple EZlink card, prompto!

Retirement at Last

Picture of DT Office where I work dated 21 October 2013

At last, I received the official retirement letter from MoE which says : On behalf of the Ministry, I would like to express our utmost appreciation and gratitude for your many years of contribution. Your retirement with effect from 2 Jan 2014 has been approved. Your last day of service will be 1 Jan 2014.
Signed : DD, Employee Engagement Centre for PS (Education Development)

When I submitted my application for retirement on 1 October, I felt a sense of great relief and some apprehension. Relief that I am leaving this place and some of the people here for good. Apprehension that there will be a change of routine after more than 3 decades of work.

Though I was quite sure to ask for retirement next year, the tipping point for sending in the letter was a SMS from Mrs Teo K H on 17 Sept asking me to join her at RVH. Not sure if she knew that I am retiring or that I already retired but it came out of the blue. Thus the hurried letter to MoE, giving less than 4 months required notice. Initially, the HR insisted on 4 months notice, only later they acceded after requiring me to write a letter of explanation.

What I will definitely miss: My present upper secondary DT classes ie 3T1 and 3C. Rather sad that I will not able to see them through next year's GCE Coursework.

What was most disappointing : Was told that I am not guaranteed a Contract Adjunct teacher post next year due to the performance 'conditions'. It meant that after teaching for so so long and handled so so many types of pupils, I was told that I may not be able to TEACH again!!!!! What an irony and a blow.