Investiture Programme

This week of seminars, talks and excursions, dubbed the Investiture Programme, will mark the end of my NIE course. I can't help but look back at those memorable times when I was physically present but mentally absent during lessons, bitching with my favourite mates Dappy and Peiying, meeting assignment deadlines, and observing weirdos around us and wondering how they could be teachers. It is amazing how this year has passed us by just like that, and it is getting increasingly daunting as the start of the three-year bond looms nearer. Maybe misery loves company, because the three of us love to whine about the pains and hazards of teaching and forecast about our definite job switches after the three years. I am so grateful to have met them.

Today, we had a compulsory excursion to the Science Centre, as they wanted us to experience the latest initiatives there and tap it as an educational resource. However, many of us felt that this seems more relevant to the Science teachers. Nevertheless, we had a great time enjoying playing around with the exhibits, especially the walk through the eco-garden.

Peiying having fun being an illusion

Me and Peiying

We spent the whole week attending talks on financial literacy, MOE code of conduct, pay package, CIP, health matters etc, but Peiying and I spent most of our time planning our own future expenses while Dappy was sleeping away. On the last day of the week, there was another excursion to the Sembawang Air Base, to look at helicopters, tanks, choppers and hunks in uniforms. With that, it concluded my honeymoon stay in NIE, but not the friendships I have made (and the $9.90 library fine I incurred).

Ah Sir's Birthday

Celebrated Ah Sir's birthday by having a yummy dinner at Sushi Tei, followed by dessert at nydc cafe.

Those chummy staff at nydc brought Ah Sir a slice of cheesecake and insisted on singing her a Happy Birthday song, despite of her embarrassed protests. It was our sneaky attempt to help her solicit unwanted attraction in public, and we succeeded.

Our birthday girl

Our birthday girl could not wait to gobble down the cake

Ah Sir, don't forget your birthday resolution! We will be watching!

2/2 Chalet

Was honoured to be invited to 2/2's chalet at Costa Sands in Pasir Ris, and it was a great joy seeing them again and asking them about their results (is the latter an inevitably-acquired trait of teachers?). Was initially warned by friends not to go to students' chalets, lest I see heartbreaking sights of them smoking, drinking and making out. Fortunately, this is a really decent class and the only vice they indulged in was playing mahjong (although they did not have monetary stakes, their deep knowledge of the mahjong rules made me feel slightly uncomfortable).

So I just sat there, enjoying the tasty food and catching up with as many of them as I could. It happened to be Godwin's birthday that day, and they had planned a nasty surprise for him. At 9pm, his buddies carried him (he weighed only 45kg!) in the darkness from the bedroom to the main door, where the rest of his classmates waited there and ambushed him with loud poppers, confetti and a plate of whipped cream smashed into his face. While everyone roared the Happy Birthday song merrily, he stood there stunned and wiping the cream from his face in disbelief.

Tengkang and Sidney dragging Godwin by force

The real cake emerged after they finished singing

Godwin gamely posed for a picture despite his greasy predicament

And who is gonna clean up the mess after all the fun?

Took some shots with them, which I can add to the huge heartwarming photo album they presented me during Teacher's Day.

Why is everyone from 2/2 so cute and innocent?

When two girls and I were about to go home, some of them escorted us all the way to the main road. How sweet of them.

Taking our final shot at a kiddie playpen at the lobby

For a moment, I wished I could go back and teach them again.That's the problem when you get too attached to something or someone.

Are our jobs 24/7?

Just read a Wanbao article on the primary school teacher and her sexy bikini shots, and was fuming when a parent who was interviewed said that teachers are on the job 24/7, meaning that they have to be on their most appropriate behavior all the time. And because students are everywhere, teachers cannot do things that tarnish the respectable image of a professional, mature and decent teacher.

What nonsense. We have our lives and we are free to indulge in the vices that we embrace. You cannot guarantee that all teachers abstain from smoke, alcohol, carnal arts, gambling, cussing, lunch-time affairs (I was shocked (and slightly inspired) to read a confession of a teacher on her lunch-time affairs in school in this month's Woman Weekly), sexy wear, indiscriminate littering, maid abuse etc. Of course, as teachers, we are conscious that we are being watched in society and we do feel the pressure to be an 'exemplary role model' in public. But not all the time! (But of course, carnal acts with students is a HUGE no-no, no matter how horny the teacher is).

And why do parents have to slam this stereotypical image on us just because we are in this profession? And when we make mistakes or go against their expectations of us, we have to undergo their criticisms, eat the humble pie and be shamed. Before they look upon us with their holier-than-thou attitudes, they really need to examine their own upbringing of their brood, which for many, is even more inferior than how a zookeeper takes care of an otter.

I think the safest image is to wear long-sleeved tops with pants, accessorized with dorky specs and an equally nerdy husband and kids.