This disturbing piece of news appeared in today's Star.
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Nation
Monday October 10, 2005
Students witness HM-teacher fistfight
BY MUGUNTAN VANARKOTA
KINABALU: A recent fistfight between a school principal and teacher in front of students in interior Tenom has prompted parents to demand for the immediate transfer of the two.
A committee member of the Parent-Teacher Association member Hasman Basir said the two educationists have created tension in the school with students becoming too scared to attend classes since the incident in August.
“We are appealing to the Education Department to transfer the two teachers as we fear that the tension between the two might boil over again and create more problems for the school,” he said.
He said a transfer was the best solution to the problem because if they stayed on, an unhealthy atmosphere in the school would prevail.
“It was shocking behaviour and embarrassing at the same time, and the students fear that if nothing is done another incident might occur,” Hasman said.
The fight took place on Aug 18. Fellow teachers stopped the fight, he said, adding that they were not aware of the cause of the brawl.
“As parents, we just want the Education Department to take the necessary action. They can take whatever disciplinary action they want to, but as far as the PTA is concerned those two are no longer welcomed here,” Hasman said.“We want students to get on with their studies and not see teachers fighting.”
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Whatever their personal differences might be, fights among teachers cannot be justified. The fact that it occurred in full view of their students makes it all the more intolerable. What values are they trying to inculcate in them? Is violence the way to solve problems? Transferring the teachers also seems to be taking the easy way out. The problem isn't solved but is relocated that is all. Perhaps they could attend an anger management course.
Monday, October 10, 2005
Sunday, October 09, 2005
The Chewing Gum Menace
I have a few lower secondary students who had this habit of chewing gum in my tuition class as if it was the normal thing to do. I am aware that this is condoned in some centres so, I tried not to make a big deal out of it but my patience was tested the other day when I called up one of them to read out a passage. You guessed it - only garbled sounds came out from his mouth. This proved annoying even to his classmates.
I personally frown on such practices and deem it to be rude. Weren't we taught by our parents not to talk with our mouths full? Well, I could have ticked him off right then, but I felt that probably he wasn't aware that he had done anything wrong. I had to give him the benefit of the doubt especially when none of his tutors had reprimanded him for doing the same. So, I nonchalantly asked him what was in his mouth.
He grinned and unashamedly mumbled, "Chewing gum!"
"Could I have one too?" I asked, playing along.
"Sure!" Then, he proudly reached into his pocket.
However, before he could take it out, I interjected. "On second thought, I think I'd better not. Would you be able to understand what I say if I had gum in my mouth? Even worse, I may have to take a break while chewing it and all of you will have to wait until I finish. You wouldn't mind since your parents are paying me and I'm wasting their money, would you?"
Suddenly, it dawned upon him the socially unacceptable nature of his action!
Teenagers, I believe, will obey your rules if they are enforced fairly. If I had insisted on enforcing my 'no chewing gum' rule there and then, I might have started a rebellion. After all, "Why only here when other tutors never said a thing?" - they might argue.
This brings me back to the time when I was working at a resort. When I first took over, morale in the department was practically zero. Absenteeism was rife and without having to explain why, staff turnover was at the opposite end of the gauge. I, being fresh out of management school, had to grapple with indiscipline from the staff, half of whom were twice my age! But I stuck with it as I firmly believe that respect has to be earned and it has nothing to do with age. Therefore, I held several one-to-one meetings with the errant staff and encouraged them to voice out their dissatisfactions. I even told them if they didn't like me, they could tell it straight to my face and I'll accept their honest opinion.
Well, none of them did actually say that as they were more unhappy with other matters like the lack of job advancement and the usual bread and butter issues which were out of my hands. However, there was a young pool attendant who was gutsy enough to tell me he resented the fact that I did nothing but sat in the office while they had to slog it out under the sun especially when they had to clean the pool. I was simply stunned! Was that the impression I gave to my subordinates? Little did they know that while I sat in my so called comfy chair, I was planning the week's activities, duty roster, responding to guests' queries and keeping the personnel department off my back pertaining to their high absenteeism. Notwithstanding that, I also had to answer any complaints leveled at my department at the weekly managers' meeting with the GM and never once did I take it out on them when I had been given a bad time because I, as their superior, accept responsibility for any mistake they make. I further added that I had on many occasions been tempted to join them in the pool but I didn't because I had to justify the executive pay I was receiving by not doing so. If the resort needed another pool cleaner, they would have hired one , not a manager. To drive home my point, I threw them a challenge that I would gladly exchange place with anyone for a week but there were no takers.
Well, I must say I was glad that I had that talk with my staff because I noticed an improvement in their attitude towards their work after that. Absenteeism was down. Those who were not on talking terms started to and when a staff member could not punch in on time, he had the courtesy to call to inform me.
I personally frown on such practices and deem it to be rude. Weren't we taught by our parents not to talk with our mouths full? Well, I could have ticked him off right then, but I felt that probably he wasn't aware that he had done anything wrong. I had to give him the benefit of the doubt especially when none of his tutors had reprimanded him for doing the same. So, I nonchalantly asked him what was in his mouth.
He grinned and unashamedly mumbled, "Chewing gum!"
"Could I have one too?" I asked, playing along.
"Sure!" Then, he proudly reached into his pocket.
However, before he could take it out, I interjected. "On second thought, I think I'd better not. Would you be able to understand what I say if I had gum in my mouth? Even worse, I may have to take a break while chewing it and all of you will have to wait until I finish. You wouldn't mind since your parents are paying me and I'm wasting their money, would you?"
Suddenly, it dawned upon him the socially unacceptable nature of his action!
Teenagers, I believe, will obey your rules if they are enforced fairly. If I had insisted on enforcing my 'no chewing gum' rule there and then, I might have started a rebellion. After all, "Why only here when other tutors never said a thing?" - they might argue.
This brings me back to the time when I was working at a resort. When I first took over, morale in the department was practically zero. Absenteeism was rife and without having to explain why, staff turnover was at the opposite end of the gauge. I, being fresh out of management school, had to grapple with indiscipline from the staff, half of whom were twice my age! But I stuck with it as I firmly believe that respect has to be earned and it has nothing to do with age. Therefore, I held several one-to-one meetings with the errant staff and encouraged them to voice out their dissatisfactions. I even told them if they didn't like me, they could tell it straight to my face and I'll accept their honest opinion.
Well, none of them did actually say that as they were more unhappy with other matters like the lack of job advancement and the usual bread and butter issues which were out of my hands. However, there was a young pool attendant who was gutsy enough to tell me he resented the fact that I did nothing but sat in the office while they had to slog it out under the sun especially when they had to clean the pool. I was simply stunned! Was that the impression I gave to my subordinates? Little did they know that while I sat in my so called comfy chair, I was planning the week's activities, duty roster, responding to guests' queries and keeping the personnel department off my back pertaining to their high absenteeism. Notwithstanding that, I also had to answer any complaints leveled at my department at the weekly managers' meeting with the GM and never once did I take it out on them when I had been given a bad time because I, as their superior, accept responsibility for any mistake they make. I further added that I had on many occasions been tempted to join them in the pool but I didn't because I had to justify the executive pay I was receiving by not doing so. If the resort needed another pool cleaner, they would have hired one , not a manager. To drive home my point, I threw them a challenge that I would gladly exchange place with anyone for a week but there were no takers.
Well, I must say I was glad that I had that talk with my staff because I noticed an improvement in their attitude towards their work after that. Absenteeism was down. Those who were not on talking terms started to and when a staff member could not punch in on time, he had the courtesy to call to inform me.
Monday, October 03, 2005
Mollycoddle My Baby
A parent dropped by today to register her daughter who will be in Primary Three next year. Our conversation started off with a brief run through of my teaching methods and this eventually led to the question of discipline. She was also particularly worried about the pressure her daughter would face and the necessity to regulate the amount of homework given out. I, of course, totally agreed with her on the senseless need of homework unless it was to help a student understand what had been taught and only if it could be completed in a reasonable period of time.
Midway through our talk, I was beginning to sense an over-protective mother here when she expressed surprise that I give out monthly pop quizzes to check whether my students were doing any revision on the topics that they had learned. An exercise which is crucial to understanding and information retention was deemed unnecessary by her. Another point which she raised was that children should be encouraged to express their individuality. This, I also agreed to but with the exception that when it borders on being disruptive and uncooperative in class . Sensing that our chat was potentially turning into a debate, I told her that if she felt uncomfortable about my methods, then she had probably come to the wrong teacher.
Luckily for both of us, I think, her mobile rang. Sounded like her husband was checking in on her. Hmmm....what a strange family. And luckily for me again next year's class is already full. So, I told her very politely that if she wanted, I could put her child's name on the waiting list.
If by now, you must be thinking that I am an ogre out to make life hell for children, I don't blame you. But bear with me for a while. I love children and they can be quite adorable when they give you that helpless look which reminds me of my two six-month-old kittens. However, when we forget that they will eventually have to grow up and face the world, we do them more harm than good by keeping them in an artificially secure environment without equipping them with the required skills and wisdom to handle the many challenges that will come their way. Simple problem-solving exercises and slowly moving them on to abstract ones will not only build up their self-confidence but also their ingenuity. I totally abhor parents who simply give in every time their children ask for the answers to their homework. Why not just say, "What do you think is the correct answer?" or "Why do you choose this answer?" By encouraging them to explore and express their opinions, we mould them into future leaders who are capable of intelligent debate. Just take a look at our present batch of MPs arguing out their cases in parliament and you'll know what I mean.
Midway through our talk, I was beginning to sense an over-protective mother here when she expressed surprise that I give out monthly pop quizzes to check whether my students were doing any revision on the topics that they had learned. An exercise which is crucial to understanding and information retention was deemed unnecessary by her. Another point which she raised was that children should be encouraged to express their individuality. This, I also agreed to but with the exception that when it borders on being disruptive and uncooperative in class . Sensing that our chat was potentially turning into a debate, I told her that if she felt uncomfortable about my methods, then she had probably come to the wrong teacher.
Luckily for both of us, I think, her mobile rang. Sounded like her husband was checking in on her. Hmmm....what a strange family. And luckily for me again next year's class is already full. So, I told her very politely that if she wanted, I could put her child's name on the waiting list.
If by now, you must be thinking that I am an ogre out to make life hell for children, I don't blame you. But bear with me for a while. I love children and they can be quite adorable when they give you that helpless look which reminds me of my two six-month-old kittens. However, when we forget that they will eventually have to grow up and face the world, we do them more harm than good by keeping them in an artificially secure environment without equipping them with the required skills and wisdom to handle the many challenges that will come their way. Simple problem-solving exercises and slowly moving them on to abstract ones will not only build up their self-confidence but also their ingenuity. I totally abhor parents who simply give in every time their children ask for the answers to their homework. Why not just say, "What do you think is the correct answer?" or "Why do you choose this answer?" By encouraging them to explore and express their opinions, we mould them into future leaders who are capable of intelligent debate. Just take a look at our present batch of MPs arguing out their cases in parliament and you'll know what I mean.
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