A New Life Challenge

Today is the 2nd day since I started teaching in Henderson Sec, as a permanent relief teacher. After being given the responsibility to teach 12 classes, 4 subjects & 250 students, Ive learned to appreciate my teachers who used to teach me before. Teaching is not as simple as I thought it to be previously. It is not just the role of passing on knowledge of the subject onto the students, but before that takes place, the human relation comes into play. Interpersonal skills & communication skills are so vital in setting the trend & while trying to build rapport with the students, the boundary separating teacher from students must not be crossed.

"Should I be more friendly than firm, or more serious looking than putting on the smiley face?" I thought this is a challenge to me, but found out today that the 3 of us (all new RTs), are grappling with it all the same. As it turned out, I appeared to be lablled as the "friendly" type of teacher, defaulted by my age! Firmness comes with age huh. The older you are, the less friendly you will look. Scientifically, its becoz of the wrinkles on the face that neutralise the smile, making the older teachers appear to be "grunchy". Thats my own view only of course. If Im wrong, it doesnt matter, I teach History & English anyway.

The students look friendly generally & I heard from a few that "kiasuism" isnt in the school culture. From the way I interpret it, perhaps the students there are less competitive. So this brought me to another subjective question. "Is a school with competitive students good or one with competitive-less students better?" Well, the answer will only come from myself after self exploration in these few months of teaching.

I do not wish to impose decisions on my students becoz I believe that everyone should have the freedom to make their own decisions, especially so for teenagers as they need to start differentiating the cause of actions with consequences that follow each action & decision. I hope I know how to draw the line in delegating decision making, so that the power will still remain in me. While I allow students to feel less oppressed, they can still regard me as a teacher and give me the due respect.

Working hard for each tomorrow.