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Teachers, glad you didn't leave us kids alone!


PFS 55 GTG 2018
A meeting of students honouring their dear teachers. 
©FG

The excitement was palpably clear. Hints of tinges of moistening of the angle of eyes were there but they tried to suppress it. Laughter was free-flowing, so were the stories of an era so distant yet so near. It was a reminiscence of the memory of a bygone era of Malaysia that we yearn to re-live and re-create. Chatter interspersed with occasional bouts of schoolboy chuckling and heckling was drowning the background piped-in music.

A student went, "Gagool (as we referred to one of the fiercest teachers in Form 1; after the character in Henry Huggard Ridley's 'King Solomon's Mines') told me that I stank." The speaker is now a former state football player, who, during school holidays, was forever seen in possession of a soccer ball. It appeared like his main intention of attending school was to play football. He could come to school early, at noon, for the afternoon session, just to play football with whoever was playing. After a hard play in the heat of the tropical high noon sun, he would enter the classroom all dishevelled, clammy and reeking of sweat. It was as though coming to class was an interlude as he would rush to the field during recess and again after school. Disapproving of his overindulgence in extra-curricular activities, 'Gagool' and many teachers would admonish him. He, however, defying all odds, secured a place in the state football team and is doing well in his career too.


And another went, "My economics teacher, Mr NB was so crossed with me that I kept getting poor grades in his subject that he said that he would eat his shoes if I passed my economics." "That spurred me to push hard. When the A-levels results were out and I got through with flying colours, the first thing I did was to ask NB, 'would you like ketchup with that, Sir?' "

Thus went the night with talks of moments that left a mark in their respective lives. Something that may be trivial to some, which the teachers did in the course of their day to day duties may have been a game changer in some. The bottom line is the respect of people of the yesteryears gave to figures of authority. Unlike the people of the 21st century, folks then gave their undivided support to teachers. If a student was punished in school for whatever reason, the last thing that he would do is to complain to his parents. He knows that that would signal another barrage of missiles from the parents instead! Such was the trust in the system. Everybody did their given job well with dedication. Job satisfaction was not measured in terms of monetary figures but in unspoken deeds of appreciation, staying true to the profession and moments like this.

Pink Floyd must be wrong. We need education. Our thoughts need to be controlled and steered towards the path most travelled. Only after that can we venture to areas less explored. We need sarcasm as we need to see the other side of things, from a different perspective. Did I say it makes you witty? We are all another brick in the wall but left to our own devices and the elements of Nature, we would wither away. We need the resilience to fight a good fight. All in all, don't just leave us alone! 

Thank you for all the guidance and the selfless contributions that went beyond the call of duty. 


  

 
©FG


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