"Good Morning Teacher Nonnie"

Rubbish:
Sigh.. I've been searching for the right blogskin. I just want a plain, nice, simple, big area with a nice header and sidebar... So hard to find ka? Oh ya.. A combination colours of White, Grey and Pink. Wait.. Isn't it the same as what I have now? Hahahaha!
_______________________________________

I actually wanted to write an emo and serious entry, but in case some part turns out a bit funny, like what Iwan says, it's the real Nonnie on loose.

Last few weeks, when I saw an entry posted by Wei De, writing "Why I wanna be a Doctor?"

I paused for awhile.. and had a deep thought.


For all the while... I thought I want to be a teacher because:

1. Short working hours

(Thus having more time for myself.. I felt really lost back then when working on those long hours. Wake up, work work work. Go home and rest. I don't even know what am I working for? My aims and goal of life? I'd forgotten all about it. I thought I need a break and free time to sink my feelings and recharged)

2. Government job

(Need to say more.. Stable and relaxing job with 0% loan interest, this allowance, that allowance. Not forgetting to mention the attractive incentives like bonus and annual increment. Be honest... Isn't government job the best assurance to future? (only apply to Brunei because as far as I know, Brunei is one of the most generous countries in this world.)

I'm the only child.. And I really need those if I were to support my parents in the future.

Everynow and then, when (not-so-close) friends and people asked where I work now, I can't answer them instantly.. I'll normally go like...
"Err... MOE? No.. SRPSJPAM. I'm a teacher. ICT Teacher."

Some says... "Wah..so nice. Government job".

Some give me the look as if I must be useless and lazy.. thus getting a "relaxing" job.

Relaxing? You think nya!

Come over and attend my class for one period (half an hour) then you'll know. Duh.. I don't want to say how 'nobel' is my job.. but, really.. now I know being a teacher is not as easy as what people thought so.

I don't want to take my job as a normal 7.30 - 12.30 job.. (For Ramadhan Month, it shortens to 7.45 - 11.40am), just walk into class, teach according to the syllabus & lesson plans like robot. No passion, no enthusiasm.

p/s: I hate it when people goes like... "Syok lah you, work so little hour only..yadda yadda yadda." Comon' lah... the hours we work are very concentrated. Not like some people who can at least go to bank to run some errands and curi-tulang for awhile.

Deep inside, I felt like answering...
"You think it's easy? Why don't you come and try it? Just tuition some kids can already. If you don't even feel like trying, then don't bother to say those sarcastic words. You choose what you want to do, and I choose mine. If you think mine is easier, you can apply too. Rather than whinning here."


Back to the deep thought...

After reading WeiDe's post, I realised.. When I was young, I loved to play the role-playing game, my favourite is teacher!

Pretend pretend got blackboard or whiteboard and take the cane and point-point, and hit hardly to create a loud "bam" to scare people. Then take those exercise books (not in use anymore), force my playmates to write something... normally I give spelling tests lah, then take a red pen and marked.

A huge tick + 100% + Three STARS

And today, when I was writing on the whiteboard, I smiled and feel happy. Isn't this what I'd loved to do back in my innocent days?

Of course, I have no cane on my hand and used it to hit student. I prefer to talk to them if they misbehave. I've seen colleagues calling their student into the staffroom, scolded and pull their ears, I think.. if educating a child is as easy as hitting and scolding, then what we can do is just walk into the classroom, yell and shout, use the cane to scare them for half an hour, and *Ta Da*, good children with bright future.

Chi Sin. (Translation - Gila, Crazy)


When I read the post Ness put up regarding "Status of Teachers in Islam" , I asked myself.. What's my responsibilities and qualities in being a teacher? I'm not a muslim, but that's not the point.. The point is, what's my direction and goal in teaching?

As long as the students know how to do calculations in MS Excel?
As long as they know how to insert a table or picture, format the text in MS Word?
As long as they know how to double-click?
As long as that half-an-hour, I did pass on some knowledge?

Or.. I really want them to be a better person, excel their life in the future. Not to waste their time and do something useful?

(Crapz.. For quite a long time, I've not blog something like this..)



Honestly speaking, I have no Monday Blues ever since I work as a teacher. I look forward to everyday, seeing students I only get to teach once a week, see if they still remember what I'd taught previously.

From the very moment after I off my car engine, carry my bag and walk along the corridor every morning, I see shy and sweet smiling kids greeting "Good Morning Teacher Nonnie" very softly to me. And when I packed my stuffs ready to go home, students come to me and "Salam" me. How cool is that?

Ok.. I sakai. I never know muslim kids salam to elders one. I remembered the first day in school, when I saw my colleague having student salam them goodbye, I was so envious and felt really shocked.

I asked, "Wow. Your student do this everyday? Kissing your hand and say goodbye?"
She answered, "Don't worry. You'll have them too real soon when they know you. And, we called it "Salam".

When I get my first "Salam", my heart is like... mixed emotions man. For the first time, I felt respected and honoured.

The "Salam" thing started automatically, but not the morning greeting part. It was me who started to say "Good Morning" to every kid who I came accross in the morning. And gradually, they start to do the same to me too.

Like I say,
"Treat the person the way you want them to treat you."


I want to end this (boring) post with the words I read from Ness's entry...

Teachers should offer their disciplinary activities for God’s sake. Their acts must aim at reforming the Muslim young generations. They should avoid thinking of riches or positions. Deviation is the inevitable fate of any teacher that intends to gain good livelihood or high positions through his missions.

Teachers enjoy abundant rights on their pupils since they are sources of their perfection and familiarity with life experts. They are also sources of their mentalities’ illumination. Therefore, teachers’ rights are preferable to fathers’.

Teachers should love their pupils and guard them against harm.

I Love My Job. Eventhough sometimes I do get angry and kana called "Auntie". Ish, "Auntie", I'm only 23!

Teaching is FUN. But anything other than teaching, it sucks.

If you read it from top till bottom, beginning till end, Thanks A Lot. I really appreciate it.

[All pics posted above are taken during some Doa thingie for PSR Exams last September]