Happy Teachers' Day

To all my friends that are teachers, 'Happy Teachers' Day!' Along with missionaries and nurses, I believe that teaching is truly a call. Well, I'm a teacher as well so I know it very well. Honestly, teaching is a thankless job but at the same time, it is a truly job fulfilling job. A good teacher is liken as a good parent, role model, mentor and the list goes on.....

JOB DESCRIPTION OF A TEACHER
A Teacher's job includes the following:
- teacher- debt collector (forms, moneys, more forms, more monies)
- lawyer (arbitrator, prosecutor, chief judge)
- father /mother/uncle/aunty/maid
- cleaner (sweeps....mops....)
- event organizer (camp, games, xxxxx fairs)
- emcee/stage/manager/stage hand/ sound man (staged event. pls take the word 'staged' literally)
- usher- writer/editor/graphic designer/publisher
- telephone directory/switchboard (responsible busy parents who keep in touch wif kids thru trs...)
- social worker(counsel, counsel, counsel....depressed. teacher. not kids)
- photocopier technician
- tuition coordinator (can help my son find tutor?)
- data entry clerk(cockpit MAINLY)
- auditor (something to do wif SAM)
- craftmaker (specialises in making flowers)
-any other RELEVANT duties

Cyn's Blog, 1st Aug

Took this off Cyn's blog.....Found it very true....Gee....teachers have loads and loads to do....

Hate this conversation.

Random person: So, what do you do for a living?
Me: I teach.
Random person: So, you teacher la?
Me: Yes, I'm a teacher.
Random person: Wah, you teacher very good, right?
Me: Why is it good?
Random person: You get lots of holidays, what?
Me: Really, didn't realised it
Random person: Let me count, 1 week in Mar, 1 week in Sept, 4 weeks in June and then 6 weeks in Dec. Like that, 12 weeks in all...Shiok man!
Me: Guess, you don't realise that teachers have meetings, trainings and remedials during the holidays.
Random person: Is it, meh? But you work only half day what?
Me: Half day? Err....that doesn't exist anymore. We work about 10 hours or more a day.
Random person: Really, meh? Whatever, it is I still think teachers have a good job and salary.
Me: So, would you like to be a teacher?
Random person: Oh, never! Teachers got too much to do, man! Always kena complain, so stressed all the time....
Me: (Rolling eyeballs, what a freaking idiot!)

Well, as teachers we get that all the time. But in reality, the work we do is practically endless and in some ways thankless. Thankless not from the kids and parents. On contrary, the students and parents are always grateful to me for making a difference to their kid. Ha, me not being modest, huh...But it is the top management that do not seem to see some of the hard work that the teachers put it. That was one of the reasons that I left Woodlands Primary School. But no hard feelings now....;)

School in Hong Kong starts tomorrow. I'm getting pretty excited about it. Can't wait to meet the kids. I went for a meeting at work a few days ago and I was given my timetable and calender. Well, was a little disappointed. First, they cut down my hours. In the beginning, I was given 28 periods and then they decided to cut it down to 20 periods. I was like....that's only 10 hours a week. And then the next news....first 3 days, I don't have to teach. Why? I asked...Because teachers will be busy with admin work. I'm like...geee....so much for my excitement....oh well, at least I still get to work and see the kids. I left thinking, this is a great job, so little hours, not much marking at all, all planning can be done at work, no work to be brought home....I better enjoy these 2 years...No sure, how am I going to fit back into mainstream teaching in Spore.

Jackie arriving tomorrow. Nice to see another family member. She's going to see grandma as well. I should try to see grandma as soon as I can. Love her to the bits.

9.35 pm

Hong Kong