Parents now a problem, interested or unconcerned

2008/10/06-NST-

THERE are two different types of parents but both can be a hindrance to teachers trying to provide a good education to their children.
Some parents constantly nag teachers about trivial matters, or are up in arms when their children are punished even if it's justified. And then there are those who just don't seem all that interested in their children's education and treat their teachers more like babysitters. Many teachers feel this over-interest, or the lack of it, are the main challenges they face. A teacher at a primary school in Pudu, Kuala Lumpur told the story of a Year One pupil who frequently plays truant to go to a cybercafe.

"When the parents found this out and questioned their son, he told them he didn't want to go to school because he was scared of me. "Believing their son, the parents came to our school and complained about me to the headmistress instead of reprimanding the boy for not going to school."She said that in fact she didn't even know the boy and had been in his class only once or twice as a relief teacher.She said another teacher had been threatened by an ex-convict because his daughter refused to go to school, saying she was afraid of the teacher.She wonders if children are becoming more cunning and manipulating their parents.Or is it that parents are not taking the time to check with the school when their children complain?A senior English teacher at a secondary school in Seri Kembangan said some parents treated schools as places to keep their problematic teenagers. "Often these children are weak in their studies and can't follow the lessons, so they disturb the others or sleep. "Some of the upper secondary students have night jobs and come to school just to sleep and rest." And when the school contacts them to discuss their children's problems, she said, the parents don't turn up. It is only when the school threatens to suspend or expel their child that they finally come to the school.A teacher who taught at a secondary school outside Kluang, Johor, said she was surprised to find many of her upper secondary students working part time as waiters and waitresses at a hotel.She feels this shows a lack of interest on the part of their parents in making sure they get a good education."Instead of providing a proper environment to encourage their children to study, they seem to have given up on them," she said.The Seri Kembangan teacher also raised the issue of indiscipline, saying that the schools often don't receive the support they need from parents and other authorities when there is a problem.She said the discipline teacher's car was vandalised twice after she had disciplined a group of problematic students. When she lodged a police report, it was suggested that she ride a bicycle to school instead."The police forget that they should play a role in disciplining students guilty of vandalism, playing truant or extortion. "A police warning can act as a good deterrent," she said.In order to produce excellent students, she added, everyone must work together -- the school administration, teachers, parents, community leaders and the police.

Many teachers complaint of parents' interference

2008/10/06 -NST-

NATIONAL Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Lok Yim Pheng said the union has received numerous complaints from teachers about parent interference.

"Parents today are so powerful they can get teachers or school heads transferred."Complaints from parents divert teachers and the school administration from their normal duties. They get bogged down preparing reports and in meetings with the Education Ministry."But she said teachers must enhance their communication skills and work to establish a strong teacher-parent-student relationship. Today's parents are more knowledgeable and demanding.

"Teachers, parents and students should work like one big family to improve the quality of education."

World Teachers' Day: 'The kids adored me and I became a teacher'

2008/10/05 -NST-

HIS is a story of passion and devotion.
Teacher and sports coach Arunandy Subramaniam has dedicated close to two-thirds of his life to moulding minds and changing the lives of the young.And the 57-year-old has never for a second thought of calling it a day.Today, the sports coordinator at Sri Garden School in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, is back at doing what he does best -- building up the sports circuit of a school.The former Kuala Lumpur chief athletics coach is just as appreciated for his teaching track record, for having been the recipient of the excellent service award -- twice at state level and once at the national level.
Looking at how the well-built, spirited man rattles on about work, it is hard to imagine that teaching was once Arunandy's last choice of profession. Being a teacher was "a coincidence", he said.Back in 1971, the sixth former was awaiting his results when he decided to take up temporary teaching at the school he was studying in, St Thomas in Kuantan.It turned out to be the best decision of his life."Looking at our teachers back then, we thought it was such a hassle managing boys like us. "But the four months really changed my whole perception of being a teacher. "I did sports and the kids adored me. That was when I thought maybe I was wrong, and maybe I'd make a good teacher."The four-month stint led to a love of a lifetime.Arunandy stayed on to become a maths and physical education teacher for 17 years, before being posted to Kuala Lumpur due to his involvement with the national team.He then spent two years at SMK Sungei Besi, 10 at SMK Cheras and five at SMK Miharja.In every school that he went, sports took centre stage -- even at a facility-deprived school like SMK Sungei Besi.The school consisted of a four-storey block, a tarmac and two parking lots. So he got the support of the parents and took the students to various places to carry out sports activities.This included ferrying students to the Bangsar sports complex for tennis and swimming and the army camp for athletics.The process repeated itself when he was posted to SMK Miharja during his last five years in service.When Arunandy left, the students got him a card saying, "You're one in a million.""When I saw the card, I started to cry. I felt so touched the children appreciated what we'd done for them. I told my wife that the card was worth more than all the money in the world."Arunandy is grateful to the teachers who taught him, saying they were a dedicated lot. Sadly, he said, the profession had declined. "Teaching is just another job today."Something must be wrong when parents were prepared to pay so much more to send their children to private schools, he said."I find many teachers who think that the school is the part-time job, and giving tuition a full-time job."This lack of passion stemmed from the wrong selection of teachers, said Arunandy.Many who genuinely wanted to become teachers were denied entry, while those who failed to get medicine, pharmacy and dentistry courses were given teaching, he added."I believe that teachers are born, not made. You can send the person for a course anywhere in the world, but he or she will not make a good teacher if he doesn't have the love for it."Arunandy also lamented the lack of appreciation for teachers today. He recalled an incident that happened when he was manning the traffic as the morning session students were leaving the school and the afternoon students were coming in."One parent dropped off her son at the gate in a car. She told the boy: 'You better study hard. If you don't, you'll end up standing at the gate like that teacher.'"But of course, the profession's ups eclipse the downs. And nothing beats satisfaction."When children you've taught 20 to 30 years ago still come to visit you, that is the best. You don't need anyone else to evaluate you. The kids are the most honest judges."