Phew! I'm so glad that the whole Teachers' Day celebration is finally over. It's really a busy week with so many activities lined up for the Teachers' Day celebration.

The song dedication arrangement and the song dedication cards, chasing the class chairpersons for the Teachers' Day cards, the concert audition, the rehearsal, the programme outline, the teachers' day gift for all staff, prizes for the Teachers' Day award, the online voting and last minute change to paper voting, it's really a lot of work.

Fortunately, there's Susan, Patsy and the Councillors EXCO to share the load. Thank God for them. It really makes the whole process easier to manage when it got quite overwhelming at times.

And in the midst of all these, I needed to settle the progress cards for my form class too.

Wonder how I have survived the past week. Needed to prepare my 4T1 for their N level practical exam too, and clearing my English classes for the various CA components.

I still remember I nearly killed my 3T1, as what they put it, haha, to the extent that they cannot breathe in properly. Haha. Everyday for the past two weeks, there's either spelling and more spellings, comprehension tests, process writing, functional writing test or vocabulary test. No choice lah, everytime during lesson, time is wasted on getting them ready for class, be it cleaning the classroom, checking their attire or getting them to go back to their seats. Can you imagine that?

Sometimes, i really hate it. Everytime, when I walk to the class, I would be so inspired to teach the class, but everytime, when I step into the class, they make me feel so lousy and demoralised at times.

Then after scolding them, they will be alright and they would be focused and appreciative. Haiz. It's not that they can't sit down properly and do work. They can, just that they needed more time to settle down.

I remember praising them when they were seriously doing their work. They were like angels man. But they were angels only for a while, the most 45 minutes only. haha. But that's more than enough. And all that I wish for is that they learn to be more mature in their thinking, appreciative in their actions and keen in their studies.


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Back to the Teachers' Day celebration, we had our Teacher's Day lunch at the 2Hot Cafe at Esplanade. Sounds very fantastic right? but it was really a bad experience. It's really a 'Too Hot' cafe. haha. It's an alfresco cafe, and dining there in the sweltering heat is really a wrong choice.

Can you picture this: one table has to be seated in the open without any shelter, and the management didn't even take the initiative to move the table in until the teachers commented about it. Then some teachers were without chairs and again, it took them a fairly long time to get a few pathetic chairs. Bad service ya? and the food isn't that scrumptious too.

So don't be deceived by the happy look on our faces. We are just smiling for the camera and NOT for the food or service. Haha.

After the unsatisfying lunch, we met up with Esther. Yes, she is back in Singapore after a two-week visit to recee the place in Yunnan.

Initially, we were thinking of meeting her at Marina Square or Suntec City but all the carparks were full because of the COMEX fair, so in the end, we went to town instead.

We had a good time catching up with her at Crown Prince Swensen's. No more alfresco dining, but in an air-conditioned restaurant. Haha.

After that, we went shopping, didn't really get anything though cos we were just window shopping. Haha.

Wanted to catch a movie at Lido, but the timing wasn't suitable, so in the end, the royal family sat down for another round of coffee at McCafe, the alfresco type again, but without the stifling heat cos the sun has almost set by then.

Amidst the cafe mochas, himalayan tea, banana walnut muffin and cheesecake, the conversation revolved around finding a man for the evil teacher. Am I really reaching the expiry date that my royal family is so anxious to find a man for me?

But seriously, such thing can't be rushed right? When it comes, it will come. When it's time, love will appear, doesn't it? Isn't all these fated and predestined by God? We'll be in God's good hands right? Maybe that's a good and convenient excuse for me not to press the 'Panic Alert' button yet. You can't expect me to go around actively looking for a man just because I'm in my late twenties or advertise myself on mocca.com. Haha.

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Ok man issue aside. With Sharon's recommendation, I read this 'Stressed Teacher' Blog at http://stressed-teacher.blogspot.com/ After reading this particular "Happy Teachers' Day" post, it really set me thinking.

An extract from her post goes: I would look at my table, cluttered with gifts, chocolates and 'Thank you" cards, and wonder why certain students whom I had helped so much in the past, wouldn't even say a simple 'Happy Teachers' Day' ?

I was pretty upset that students I had gone really out of my way to help, be it personal problems or school work, couldn't be bothered to even say "Happy Teachers' Day. Some students, who often messaged me for help in school work late at night, or just for chit-chat and talk about their future aspirations, also didn't give a simple "Happy Teachers' Day". It was like a knife right into my heart.

I was very upset. I felt very unappreciated and made-used of. Even for students whom I get along very well with in school, they didn't even wish me a simple "Happy Teachers' Day". Maybe you could say I have a serious ego problem. Maybe you are right. But I am human. I am not superman.

I'm sure some of us teachers do feel that way, I share the same sentiments as her, just that we don't express such displeasure openly in words, and I feel that the 'Stressed Teacher' has expressed such emotion aptly in her entry. As students reading this post right now, how many of you are guilty of causing such discontentment to your teachers?

Sometimes, I wonder, is it so hard for students to just pen a 'thank-you' note or give a card to their teachers to show their appreciation for the hard work and effort that we have put in, for the concern and encouragement that we have selflessly showered our students with. We don't need fanciful or expensive presents to satisfy our ego or boost our self-esteem, but all these simple gestures do send a positive signal that all those time and effort spent on the students have been worthwhile and appreciated.

To all the wonderful teachers, Happy Teachers' Day!! Your effort and hardwork are definitely appreciated by many wonderful students out there, just that they could be terribly shy and find it awkward to express their appreciation or they did not know what to write to show their gratitude. Or perhaps, they choose to express their appreciation for you through their good behaviour in class or the slightest attempt to do well in their studies.

Whatever it is, give them the benefit of doubt and find solace in the fact that there are definitely students who have specially prepared gifts and cards to thank you for the effort and hard work that we have painstakingly contributed to the teaching profession and the future of our students.

Kudos to all the fabulous teachers, all the wonderful colleagues, and not forgetting the royal family!!

Time for the evil teacher to show appreciation to her fabulous students for the things that they have done for her. A big Thank You to all the wonderful students who have made the effort to prepare gifts, song dedication and cards for the evil teacher. I really appreciate it, from the bottom of my heart.

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