Happy Teachers' Day!

Guess what, one of my students messaged me at midnight just to wish me happy teachers' day! That really made my day as it goes all the way to prove that there is someone who still cares about what I do! Here are some facts of what teachers encounter in school.

Fact 1: Just 2 days ago, one of the teachers in my school was sworn at by a student. How rude it was.... That's class has always been a trouble for every teacher who goes in to teach. Teacher after teacher complained about their attitude! What can we do as teachers?

Fact 2: The minister will be announcing some incentives for teachers. He will be announcing it during a national teachers' day celebration. Will it be a pay rise? or even some other allowances? Only God knows..... With all the inflation, this will definitely at least help lessen our burden, will it not?

Fact 3: The work of a teacher is no longer teaching! We do lots of stuff from medical care, judge, police, clerk, secretary, you name it, we got it! Really, so people seem to think that the work of a teacher is simple, teach half day and go home.... oh no no no.... that's a stereotypical thinking..... When students fall ill in school, who does the work?- Teacher! When students play truant, smoke, fight, who do all the work?- We! When the office needs to get ISO status and all... who do all the work?- Teachers! When a student needs a shrink, who do they go to? Us! Who.... When.... How.... Which... Why... you may ask...... the list goes on and on and maybe even never ending.... a teacher's job is definitely not easy as it seems.... and our pay... never mind.....

Fact 4: With all the craze about academic excellence around us, teaching is no longer a passion.... it feels more like a competition to see who gets the highest score.... Who needs fun, passion and all... when 'hey teachers, our target for this year is 15 A+s for bla... bla... bla...' reality kicks in..... Is it a passion in reality or a job just to put food on the table?

Fact 5: They say teaching is a work of the heart.... Well it is true to a certain extent.... with all the facts above, teaching is no longer the same as it was 20 years ago..... think about it... do you think being a teacher is that easy?

So as it goes, we who can teach, teach while we who can lead, change! Being a teacher that makes a difference, makes all the difference.... empowering and building human is what we are good at.... We equip our kids with knowledge and tell them life is fun and interesting.... not just academic excellence! It is nothing but a piece of paper.... what we do in class... our attitude towards them... our concern... our energy... these things make a difference in their lives and truly they will remember us... even if they fail in their papers, they will still remember us, for the good that we have done and how we have touched them....

So to teachers our there, pick up the passion, make a difference in young lives, change them, mould them, be the potter and the students the clay! let the difference making take flight! HAPPY TEACHERS' DAY!