Lesson 6: Trust no students

Wanted to write this post two weeks ago, but was held back by other more important matters. My relief teaching assignment has been extended once more for another 2 weeks. Yes, i can too imagine all the parents jumping when their child report this great news to them. 2 more weeks of income for me!

Last week was pretty easy. It was exam week so i didn't have to teach, the only thing i needed to do was to invigilate. Unlike secondary school exams, the students in primary schools continue with their lessons after their test, but luckily all my periods had been used for the tests. Walking around and collecting test paper was pretty much all i did for that 3 days.

This week however was different. It was a mad rush to finish marking all their test papers but since i was just a relief teacher, i didn't have to contribute. So the papers of my class were offloaded to the other teachers. That made it a little complicated. Teachers being teachers naturally mark their own class's papers first. That said, my class could only get back their test papers later than the other classes. Because of that, i had a shorter amount of time to go through the papers with the kids. As i was not part of the marking team, i didn't know what they had discussed or should i say why they rejected some of the answers. In fact i didn't even look through the papers until the day i was going through with them. I had to do the questions on the spot and at the same time, explain the answers to 40 kids. Now be reminded that these kids are not from the average classes. They are from the top 2 classes in primary 5. And what they best known for? Yes fighting and arguing for marks, they would go all the way out for that half mark. Its all coming back. Sorry teachers, now i know how it feels. To be fair, many of the students did have answers which were worth taking a second look. My job was to reject as many as i can but of course with justification and reasons, but as i was not part of the marking team, i wasn't sure why their answers had been rejected. All i could promise was that i'll check. I did! When i brought back those questions to the marking team and clarified with them, they couldn't even convince me. Not convinced myself, how was i to reject these kids? Eventually they gave up and handed my questions to the HOD who eventually rejected all alternatives. She did the explanation herself. When the "real" teacher was there, the kids sucked it all up. The fighting spirit they used against me vanished somehow. Sigh..

Just this tuesday, as i was going through the papers with one of the classes, the principal walked in, apparently due to the noise generated. There bound to be some noises when test papers are returned! It was still tolerable but she walked in nevertheless. Walked a few rounds around the class asking the students really lame questions, and demanded them to respond back with a " yes miss T". No names as usual. As she was walking around, she kept mumbling something about seeing how the students learn, i seriously doubt that. I bet she was just checking up on me. Although surprised by the sudden guest appearance, i continued anyway as though she wasn't there. It did feel strange having a principal walking around the class. Her presence however did help make the class much quieter. As suddenly as she appeared, she disappeared through the back door of the classroom, leaving the class quiet for the next 5 minutes.

Now to the event of the week, the lost of scripts. On wednesday, 2 pupils came to me to have their marks amended as there were some tabulation errors. As i was not part of the marking team, i couldn't change it myself. Had to bring it down to the marker to have the marks amended. Simple enough, sacrificed my break time looking for the marker during my break, and spent the rest discussing with the markers on which answers to reject or rather reasons for rejecting the alternatives. Such had been the way i spent my breaks for the past few weeks. Anyway back to the story of lost scripts. As i spent quite a bit of time discussing, i was late to fetch my class back to their classroom after recess. Went down to the canteen only to find a few prefects finishing up their meals. 2 of them, classmates of the students with amended marks. One of them was supposedly the first in class, the other was also seemingly responsible. So with the scripts in my hand, i thought i could rely on these 2 to return the scripts to their classmates as i would not be going back to their class anymore. How wrong i was. 10 mins later while i was going through the paper with another class, the prefect whom i passed the scripts to came in with a very anxious look telling me that the scripts were gone. i went "WHAT!" While it was not due to my direct negligence, i knew the blame will fall back on me. Then she went on saying that she went to the toilet leaving the papers on the table thinking that the other prefect would look after it, but guess what? The other prefect simply walked off to return the plates. When they both came back, the test papers were no longer there. How could they do that to me!!! Spent the next break frantically running around the school looking for clues, was so close to even start digging the bins, (i was standing infront of the open bin, had already borrowed a pair of tongs from the cleaning lady) when this school attendent walked past. He asked what i was searching for and i told him papers. Then he replied saying he saw the papers on the table earlier, took it and passed to 2 malay girls who happened to walk pass. That was the last clue i had of the missing scripts. As the time they were picked up was right between 2 recesses, the 2 malay girls could be from any level. Announcing the lost throughout the school was not an option either.

Took a break on Thursday. The school had a "learn from home" program for primary 5 and 6 students, in preparation for any possible outbreak of an epidemic whereby schools are closed for a long time.

By friday, still no news of the missing scripts. By then, news had already spread to the principal and vice principal. Met the principal today who looked at me disappointedly and shook her head!! Can't believe it!! For so much effort i put in to help these kids, the many hours i volunteer and that is what i get in return? Frankly speaking, i am disappointed by the reaction of the principal. Oh well, the march holidays are here, so will have a week of break. In anycase, this post is likely going to be the newest post for a long long time...