Of Students and Teachers

More often than not, teachers are being bogged down with all kinds of work apart from their core business, TEACH! But one of the things that got me thinking this week was the welfare or even our interest towards our students. Every single day, when the bell rings to signal the start of the day, most of us would sigh, I don’t deny it myself and when the bell rings to signal the opposite, we all jump with joy! But what got me thinking throughout this week were the lives of my students! Besides being a teacher to them in class, in my humble opinion, teachers should also try to understand and be a friend to students. I find that it is through this that teachers could relate themselves better to their students and even gain the students’ respect. Why should we rush off at the end of the day when we can spend more time with our students? It is not necessarily that we should only spend time with them in the school. For example, I was in a limbo yesterday as to whether I should go for a picnic with my colleagues which involved water activities, or spend time with my students playing futsal. Picnic would have been fun, as I could relax, bond with other colleagues and even do what I enjoy the most, photography. On the other hand, futsal would have been equally as fun because I would be able to spend more time with my students. Which should I choose? In my heart I was thinking, I should go for futsal with my students. That was just simply because I wanted to spend the time with them, laugh together and at the same time get to know them better. When else would I get to spend time with my students apart from that? So I went for futsal with my students and true enough, I got to know my students better and had fun at the same time! To me, I think that that was more valuable than any picnic trip. I would prefer to invest in my students’ life than keeping it all to myself. There’s no point of keeping everything to ourselves and not giving it to other! Just like what was promised in the Bible. The more we sow, the more we reap. What we sowed into the kingdom of God, we will reap it bountifully! This just the same in this situation: If I give more attention and effort to my students, what I will reap at the end of the day would be AMAZING!

That was just one of the examples of things that happened during this week. What happened today in school really got me all worked up and disappointed with some of the people in the staff room. Being a teacher on duty, it has always been your responsibility to take charge of any events that happen in school throughout the week. Needless to say, this duty includes sending sick students to hospital.
Here goes the story that led me to my disappointment! One of the students in school was hyperventilating and having cramps all over her body! She was literally gasping for air and I happened to walk past the ‘pondok’ and some of the students yelled for me. So, I went over and asked why and there I saw this student. So, I quickly asked one of the students there, that happened to be a guy and was big in size to help her get to the staff room. Of course, I did my part in helping too. The both of us carried her to the staff room! And here the scenario starts. In the staff room, the student was complaining of having cramps all over her body! And she was literally gasping for air! My first reaction was to send her to the hospital for treatment! So I asked the teacher on duty to send her! Well, one of the teachers on duty did not have car, ok fine. Then I asked another teacher on duty. Her reply utterly disappointed me! She said “ask the other teachers on duty to send her. I have already sent one student to the hospital this week. It’s their turn to send!” I was stunned! Goodness gracious me! Being a teacher on duty, your responsibility knows no bounds! No limits! Whatever happen, is and will always be your duty! Seriously, I was tremendously let down by this teacher! What about the other teachers who were in the staff room? They came over asked what happened and just watched .
OMG! None of them lifted a finger to help! Well, there was another teacher that came to help though she wasn’t on duty! I mean, being a teacher, the most important thing is our students! They are our responsibility and how can we afford to say that we have done enough for the week and pass the baton around? To me, I felt that this just reflects irresponsibility. Not trying to boast that I am responsible or whatsoever, but that poor girl was suffering and the other teachers were just watching!

Finally, I managed to persuade the teacher who said NO to send the girl to the hospital! I piggy backed her to the car and accompanied her to the hospital. Thank God the student is all well and ok now.

WHAT WENT THROUGH MY MIND:
While the other teachers were busy watching the situation like a drama on tv, I could not be bothered about them! One of them even said, ‘ panggil beberapa pelajar perempuan angkat dia keluar ke kereta.’ Well, that was the right thing to do, but the school session has just ended and to find students to come and help would take AGES!!! Can’t you do something? I couldn’t be bothered, so I asked the teacher that came to aid, help me carry her out and the both of us did it. Just at the door, I decided to piggy back the student to the car, which was easier. At that moment, what went through my mind was ‘I need to send this girl to the hospital fast! I do not want anything serious to happen to her!’ I was not bothered about what others say about me, gossip about me or even criticize me! All I know is that my duty know no boundaries! Although I was not on duty, I still have to put in my effort to come to my students’ aid regardless of gender, race, or even religion! I am not looking for any APC or whatsoever; I just want the best for my students!

You see, teaching is not just any other career, but a work of the heart! If ever any teacher would dare to say that, I have done enough for my students this week, then I think that the teacher has chosen the wrong vocation. In order to touch the lives that we teach, we have to show them the love and care immaterial of gender, race, and religion! It is true our students come to us in school in search of education and knowledge only but at the same time they are also there to learn about life, what life is all about covertly! If we fail our students in school, what kind of people would they be in the end? Don’t you think it is a pity?