Thoughts on Teachers' Day
Before I joined the teaching profession 3 years ago, I used to imagine what Teachers' Day would be like. After clocking many years in the private sector, I can't imagine actually having a day dedicated to your profession. As far as I know, there are only 3 professions in Singapore that have their own day of celebration (nurse, secretary and the vague title Boss) and I did not belong to any of these.3 Teachers' Day later, I approach 1 September with a bit of ambivalence, a bit of hesitation and a large dose of glee at the holiday I'll get. But what about the gifts and cards of appreciation from the students? Frankly speaking, some of the gifts make me downright uncomfortable, simply because they come from students I don't think I have particularly helped. There's something worse than not getting any gift, it is getting something you don't think you deserve.
Then you look around at what the other teachers got. And you are surprised that the dowdy, colourless veteran teacher in the school has her entourage of fans as well. Well, just goes to show you don't need to be hip, IT-savvy or have rebonded hair to be a popular teacher. You also thought you have done so much for a particular class or students, but no show of appreciation came. You feel disappointed, then guilty because you remind yourself you're not supposed to expect anything in return. Teaching is a calling, remember? You chastise yourself silently for being so self-seeking, and try to think of the legions of young people you have touched in class all these years and pat yourself on the back for doing such a worthy but thankless job.
You try to rise above the crassness of Teachers' Day, and try to ignore the irony of seeing students who torment you every other day of the year suddenly telling you you've been a great teacher. You can't help thinking, "Don't bluff la!" Surely some good old fashion decent behaviour in class is worth a ton more than a card on 1 Sep? Why do some students think a whole year of disrespect or rudeness can be whitewashed with a gift from Popular Bookstore?
Still, the cynic in me do get all putty when I see those cards from my students. I still keep some of them, especially the unexpected ones. As evidence that sometimes life presents some nice surprises for you.
So whether you're thinking of quitting, or waiting for TGIF every week, or really honestly feel you are part of a greater plan to mould Singapore's future (I say this with a straight face), just sit back and enjoy those silly songs the kids belt out every year to say how much they adore you. Savour that one day, for 24 hours later they'll be back to normal.
Happy Teachers' Day to all my fellow comrades.
posted by trisha @ 12:38 AM
9 Comments:
hey,
i could not have expressed the same mixed feelings for teachers' day better.
have a well-deserved day off on 1 sept. :)
Happy Teachers' Day to You Too! :)
Having been in teaching only slightly more than a year ('celebrated' my 1st anniversary 2 weeks ago), I've been through only 1 Teachers' Day so far, and the one last year was something of a non-event for me, as I'd only just started and none of the students really knew me. I'm wondering what this Teachers' Day will bring.
I'm not expecting much teary hearftfelt gratitude though (and certainly no gifts from Popular bookshop [BTW, I thought your mention of gifts from Popular bookshop quite hilarious; reminds me of when I was walking through one of those HDB estate pasar malams recently, and saw some tacky plastic ornamental doodads labelled "Teachers' Day presents" :P So would you prefer those, or something from Popular?]). At the end of every semester, we do a subject survey, where students reflect what they feel about the subject, the lecturers, etc. Typically, the questions are MCQ, but we normally add in a free-text question at the end for students to write more. Last semester, which was my 1st full semester, I got some pretty nasty comments, e.g. "I HATE THE TEACHER". OK, granted, it was a killer subject, and perhaps, as much as we would like it to be otherwise, many students still aren't mature enough to separate the message from the messenger :P Or am I really just a lousy teacher? I always tell myself I'm not here to be popular; but comments like these still hurt somewhat.
I understand your ambivalence about the whole teaching job... my mind is filled with all kinds of conflicts about what I'm doing, which perhaps one day I will be able to itemise out and put down in writing.
If you stay in teaching a few more years, you can append a paragraph about the deep, dark, dirty secret about Teachers' Day: that we don't keep all the gifts we're given (*gasp* the horror!) and that after a couple of years, we usually can't remember who gave us what already. The number of completely non-functional and not-even-ornamental gifts I've chucked over the years ...
happy teachers day! we all feel unappreciated at one time or another regardless of our vocation in life so its okay so long as we remind ourselves to avoid becoming resentful. more important know that we are offering ourselves in service of others and be thankful for the opportunity. someday many years from now some 40 plus old person like me will be sitting and thinking about that person who made a positive impression and gave me a gift of their time, patience and compassion. teachers are called first in service and appreciated much later.
You can take a digital photo of those gifts/cards that you have decided to throw - so at least you got a record there... :]
happy belated teachers' day
you are always so interesting when it comes to writing your blog. Frankly, it is really amusing after i read it thoroughly. All the best in your working career...
Hi
I am a fellow Singapore Teacher who has a blog. Stumbled into your by chance. Hope to see more interesting entries from you.
Feel free to drop by mine to give a tag.
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