Malaysian Teachers = Jack of All Trades

I am becoming sick of being a teacher in Malaysia. Teachers in Malaysia are not treated like teachers in the UK, for example. Teachers there are so much respected and being a teacher there means you have a really good professional job. But, here in Malaysia....

Let's take today newspaper headline: Cegah Murid Gemuk (Prevent students to becoming fat). In the news, it is reported like this:

Beliau berkata, turut dipersetujui pada mesyuarat itu ialah mengambil data berat dan ketinggian pelajar untuk dimuatkan dalam buku rekod masing-masing sebagai panduan kepada ibu bapa bagi memantau pertumbuhan anak-anak mereka.

“Tugas berkenaan akan dilakukan guru darjah dan segala maklumat akan dicatatkan pada setiap penggal persekolahan. Dari situ ibu bapa boleh melihat keadaan anak-anak sama ada beratnya ideal dengan ketinggian berdasarkan umur mereka. Turut dicatatkan cadangan kepada ibu bapa akan langkah-langkah yang perlu dilakukan untuk mengurangkan obesiti pelajar,” katanya.

What the heck? Why on earth they just simply decide that teachers are the 'lucky' ones to weigh and measure the kids? Why didn't they ask us, the teachers first before they make the decision? Do they think we come to school and do nothing? Well, I do remember being weighed and measured when I was in primary school 18 years ago. But, those days, I don't think teachers were burdened with so much work as nowadays. The new millennium teachers have to deal a lot of 'necessary' tasks such as buku adab belajar, kad 001, SMM, as well as dealing with millennium kids' behaviours. For goodness sake, we also have to teach than 50 pupils a day, plus all the marking chores etc etc, they still think we have time to calculate BMI. I don't even know my own BMI, because I don't even know the formula to get BMI.

Giving the kids' BMI data to their parents won't solve the obesity problem if the parents do not even care about it. What if the parents don't even know what the numbers really mean? Then, we, teachers, after being a mathematician, we have to be dieticians and explain to those ignorant parents.

I am so pissed off at those Datuks and ministers and Drs. for making such a lame decision. They may have the titles before their names, but they have proved to us that they don't have good brains. People have eaten their first food at home, not at school. Thus, home is the right place to start cultivating young children the healthy eating habit, not at school. Those hands that feed the child should teach the child what to feed himself.

Be My Own Boss!

I have been thinking recently about whether to pursue Masters or start my own business. But now, I have made up my mind. I want to start my own business, pursuing my true dream.

Sebab utama yang menyebabkan saya buat pilihan ni adalah saya mahu kepuasan diri tanpa ada tekanan orang atasan. Yelah, kalau ada Masters and PhD pun still jd orang bawahan. Nak jadi bos, mau tunggu dah tua, baru dapat merasa pangkat tinggi since Malaysia sangat mementingkan seniority dalam perkhidmatan, as well as 'kipas mengipas' (realiti kt sekolah, kt jabatan lain xtau la cmne). Lagipun, saya ni memang jenis degil sikit, alamatnya lagi lambat la kot nak naik pangkat, hahaha xD Lagi-lagi kalau kerja dengan GB dan PK-PK yang emo dan xberapa cekap buat kerja dan asyik suruh orang lain buat kerja dia.

I know my current profession is a very noble one: building a future generation. But the thing is, I am no longer have that much passion to stay and do the same thing for another 30 years. Plus, with the political influence interference in our education system (oh, plus the school politic also!), I rather step down; do the thing I most passionate about and have a hell of good times with my family with freedom. No more I have to think about calling in for MC, CRK etc if I can't come in. No more feeling guilty for thinking of the effects of my absence to school (e.g. jaga seorang anak yang sakit, or tak mengajar 70 - 90 pupils). Earn more money too! ;p

However, this will only be a reality after I have completed my contract. 3 more exciting years.