Stories of me and myself

The week wasn't all fun and laughter. I had to deal with attitude-problem kids and defiant kids.

Mainly a Sec 1 girl who claimed I didn't inform her of the test, that she didn't study and shoved the paper to me claiming she doesn't wanna do. I calmly told her that I had informed her not once, but twice. In both lessons before the test. And she didn't need to study to pass the test. If she had paid attention in class, she wouldn't have this problem. For the latter, I mainly stared at her and asked her "What kind of attitude is this? This is a test. Do you have the right to do this?" She had nothing to say. And I was flaming inside. After school during the extra lesson, I asked her again what she thought the purpose of the test was. And I explained the relevance, and urged her to study for the next test and score at least a B. What high hopes I have.

She acted up again in my other class. Refused to pay attention. And it has been building up for several weeks. I gave her more than 3 chances in class, by warning her. In the end, she retaliated in a rather rude manner. I burst. I told her to shut up and keep quiet. Hmm. Then I realised it meant the same thing. But I think I must have been really fierce, cos I have never blown my top before in class. I dunno what came over me. But I let it go cos she was just stunned. I din care. No soft talk whatsoever. But I did feel bad after that. But I also know that she will continue to be distracted in class. At least it's not my class, but her attitude. Gonna talk to her mother soon.

A Sec 3NA boy whom I confronted cos he was oh-so defiant. So much so that I cornered him all the way to the corner of the class where he had no where to run. And I made him apologise to me. But of cos I wouldn't accept his staring at me when I told him to look up when I soft-talked to him. And his buay gam buan "Sorry lah!" and his kiam pa look. I gave him 3 chances and each time he repeated it. So I said, "Fine, if you are unapologetic, you can continue standing here in the corner." I was so angry cos I felt betrayed. I had tolerated lots of his behaviour and he knows that I won't take action against him unnecessarily. Yet he acted up. But I guess, it isn't the teacher. Maybe something had triggered him. Emotional kids they are. Serious anger management problem he has. Should teach him to sing "I'm so pretty... so pretty..." like in "Anger Management"

Almost got into trouble with a Chinese teacher, whom I now kinda dislike. I thought that my Geog class was the last period of the day, so I told them that they could leave once they completed their worksheet. Some said they had Higher Chinese, some said they had Chinese... so I assumed it was another elective like their Chinese Drama after school. They left in batches, seemingly different classes. So I didn't bother. Then there was this group who said they didn't want to go to class. That it was okay not to go cos they didn't like the teacher. Not that it bothered me. But afterward, LHR (their Chinese teacher) walked into my class and asked what they were doing here and accused me of holding them back. I said I seriously didn't know they had his lesson. But I did tell them to hurry pack up and leave.

Afterward when I met my students again, they complained that he refused to let them do their composition which was included in their CA, and had deducted 5 marks from their CA. Hmm... they kinda deserved it, I thought. It's irresponsibility what. But when they said, "LHR wants to know who your teacher is, and he wants him to write a report". I was shocked! Shocked at his professionalism and his wisdom! (I'm being sarcastic here!) How professional of him to tell his Sec 1 class that he was gonna take action on a teacher! I was quite disgusted actually. Haha! But I shrugged it off. I knew he was on the losing end. If I had known, I wouldn't, in the life of me, hold up students, cos it's just irresponsible! I told my ct about it, and he said, "If he dares to come approach me, I will tell him off. I've been dying to do that." Hahahaha! I love my ct!

Yep, and the week was also filled with other irritating personalities. But it's over. And they are never more than the nice people around me. Heh.

Such is a teacher's life.