by Freddy Tay

Created on: July 21, 2009

Amidst the aloofness I hang on to go by the bad times, there are still traces of serious and hardcore stuff I want to express. Teaching allows that. For once in my life, I see my young self through these students. I would laugh at the thought of it!

Secondary school students go through puberty, that is when they will have to face further psychological trials, like mood swings and confusion. They lack a certain level of self-control and are curious with just about everything. It is difficult to keep up with them for the whole lesson. But that is really what students are, and they should really enjoy themselves whilst at this period.

People see them as noisy, boisterous, and at times, downright rowdy. All these misdeanours conspire to persuade people that these traits are linked to delinquents. Programmed response? Indifference, nonchalance, patronising. Yes, I cannot deny the fact that the students are like that, but I suppose I can still blame puberty for this.

I have got to see their strong points and encourage them to take the path that best protrudes their talents. Some are uncertain of their future, some are gung-ho about their hobbies. Indeed, educating a batch of students with a generic lesson is tricky. But I will try.

The misbehaving students are fun to be with. They are game for everything. Culprit? Curiosity. Personally, I think the loveliest way to express curiosity is to explore one. Ever watched Kids Say the Darnest Things? Yes, I am like the chinese Bill Cosby. I have my throaty laughs whenever I hear absurdities from my students. Plenty of students bombard me with that throughout the whole lesson. You cannot help but be amazed by their creativity, the triumph on their faces when I offer them my laughter. What is surprising is that if you offer them your laughter, they will be easier to handle. I suppose that is pretty much cause-and-effect in action.

The behaving students are fun to be with too. They exert more self-control and are easier to handle, not that I enjoy teaching them more than the misbehaving students. They do have stuff to offer too; life experiences, moral values taught by their parents. Pretty much the regimental and rigid moral structure that supposedly 'sustains' a safe society.

It is too early to judge them just yet, I have yet had enough fun in school.

Rather typical you might say, eh?

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