Astro

I decide to take a break from my chores, sit back on the sofa, put my feet up to rest and catch some interesting programs on TV. I understand our satellite TV Astro has hundreds of channels. But there seems to be only one ‘program’ on all the channels every afternoon – SERVICES CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE! It is a very boring show – a blank screen with only one silent and still character -a yellow dot. I don’t have the patience to leave the TV on to time how long this ‘show’ goes on everyday but I’m disappointed that I’m paying for it!

Shouldn’t we consumers be demanding compensation from Astro for such bad service? We should be getting a rebate on our monthly payment for all the NO-SHOW hours. I thought that satellite TV was a very advanced medium of communication and a result of our progress in Science and Technology (form 2 Geography!). Thank goodness I have only subscribed to the basic package in Astro and thank God for RTM – Reliable enTertainment for Malaysia. Nothing to shout about but it doesn’t let you down every time it rains.

Promotion for 6th form teachers.

Note : 1) To my children – you need read no further. This is going to be very BORING!
Btw, my posts are not meant for your entertainment.
2) To my students – you may learn a little about school politics so please feel free
to comment.
3) To my bosses (hopefully to the highest level) – please take note of the contents.

Two weeks ago a letter was sent out to parents asking them to provide a stamped self-addressed envelop to their child’s class teacher so that the child’s final exams results can be posted to them. To date I have received ONE envelop! Since it will be the holidays, I threatened to deliver the results personally to their homes if they do not hand me the envelopes this week. I’m waiting to see how many fell for this threat. Anyway, I expected this response from my 2 Seroja kids and that is why I have already got my envelopes and stamps ready. I also heard some of the students intend to give wrong addresses! What has this got to do with the title? This is just one of the many challenges a 6th form teacher won’t face.

Last year a decision was made to treat 6th form classes as a separate department in schools and several new posts were to be created (read promotion) for teachers. Apparently some teachers were called up in December 2007 to apply for these posts. Early this year when school reopened, there was a scramble among teachers wanting to teach 6th form (I suppose to qualify for this promotion exercise) and the teaching time-tables were rearranged several times. However there were numerous complaints by teachers, especially from those whose schools do not have 6th form. I thought there was a case to put this decision on hold.

Several days ago the principal announced that the 2nd promotion exercise was underway and told teachers qualified to apply. I paid little attention to this as I don’t teach 6th form and I was also in a hurry to get back home to finish some chores in preparation for Deepavali. However as I was leaving the office, the principal asked me if I had collected the forms to apply. I felt very honoured by that question but I told her I don’t teach 6th form. I interpreted her question as she recognizes me as one who deserves to apply. That alone was like a promotion for me. Thank you Puan Nurul.

The following day saw many teachers in serious discussion about who had been successful in the 1st promotion exercise. No official announcement has been made and I am in no position to question these awards. I just want to highlight my work load in comparison with the 6th form teachers.

The subjects I teach are only given 3 periods a week, so 24 periods a week sees me going into 8 classes every week. Class size ranges from 22 – 37 students ( P.Moral classes) and 32 – 35 students in my Geography classes. In total I face 254 students every week and that also translates into that number of books to mark, coursework to check, exam papers to mark, etc. I am also not privileged to teach non-examination subjects, so my 24 periods is solid covering of syllabi to prepare for exams. While flipping through the school magazine, I couldn’t help noticing the size of the 6th form classes. Some as small as 11 students! And how about the number of students taking certain subjects? Sorry, I don’t have the statistics. But as for me, my 4th form Moral classes were considered too small so they were later combined so that I have 36 students in my form 4 A/B class and 37 students in my form 4 E/F class.

Another salient point to note, NO STUDENT goes for P. Moral TUITION. So even if the pass rate of my P.Moral class is just 50%, I can claim total credit for it. Not only is there no tuition for this subject, there is also no demand for tuition because it is considered unimportant by the students. Very few students also go for Geography tuition. In fact I always advice my students to invest their 1st month tuition fees in buying several Geography revision workbooks , then be disciplined in answering the questions. This way they save tuition fees and time traveling to and from tuition classes.

Academic work aside, administrative and disciplinary work is also more challenging in the lower forms. I have sent out more than 50 ‘surat amaran’ for absenteeism to the parents of my 2 Seroja children. Imagine how difficult it would have been for me to collect fees from these children if I can’t even get them to give me stamped self-addressed envelopes! I could go on and on and on…..

Anyone reading this and thinking why don’t you try teaching 6th form? For your info I have taught 6th form from 1985 to 1990, until I went on a transfer to a school with no 6th form. I am up to the challenge (read privilege)! I understand it is easier to teach 6th form now because many go for tuition! Boss, don’t you think I can handle MUET? Would love to give it a try!