The White Sheet

Left the school two hours after it ended at 2.30pm. I thought I would be able to finish marking the papers by then, but too bad I was wrong. My mind was heavy with thoughts of the kids at home, I wondered if they have taken their lunch, have they bathe so on and so forth.

I saw, my colleague, Wan Rosna on the field, coaching her hockey team. The day was extremely sunny but she was attired in her Baju Kurung, well, she is a dedicated teacher. For the past few years she has been coaching the netball team, and they have become the defending champion since she took over the coaching of the team. This year, she is put in charge of hockey, perhaps she can do her magic for this team too.

Then, I saw Shahbuddin's car, still parked under the shaddy tree. No sign of leaving the school yet. Encik Shahbuddin is the mastermind behind SMK Aminuddin Baki's unique timetable. This man manages the Examination Unit, the pulse of SAB. Without him, goodnes..I simply cannot imagine how chaotic it is going to be. I hang around at his office nowadays. There are other regulars too, Rasidah, Mizz Mas, Rona, Roni, Mizan and Adzrina, all ladies. We love Shahbuddin's jovial company. He enjoys cooking, decorating and gardening. Above all, he has a great sense of humour. There would be never a day without us having a good laugh when he is around.

When I am up in the staffroom, to pick up my stuff, usually, Kalai would be there to entertain me with stories of her banker hubby and of course her intelligent daughter, Aishwarya. There would be moments when we share our experience clubbing..hahah..for me, the been there done that things. Usually, Len would intercept from her workplace opposite (gracefully loud), perhaps because she too does not want to miss the action. When we are in the mood of being nasty to you-know-who, we would chant our rounds of not-so-nice words, just to relieve ourselves. This would all take place at my workplace.

As I was about to slot my card into the punchcard machine (whatever you call it), the clerk called out my name. She signaled me to take a piece of white sheet of paper from her table. So I obliged. She said, "Nah, Kak Ida simpan sebagai kenangan" (Keep this as a momento).

In my hands was a piece of paper, signed by Her Majesty the Principal. The paper lists all of the duties and responsibilities that I have to shoulder for the year 2009. This is for formality. If I shirk from accomplishing any of the duties stated, I will be made liable for a show cause letter. This is an order, I have been told over and over.

Well, I am only one person, a teacher at school but a wife to my hubby and mother to 4 kids. Phew, I wish it would be that easy, I mean when I am just being the teacher, just one job. Unfortunately, that is not the case here. A teacher is the jack of all treads..she is the teacher, janitor, clerk, typist, nurse, motivator, garderner (in some cases), sports instructor, driver and the list goes on and on..so, when do we actually spend quality time with our students just like our teachers used to do.

Say no more, I would like to share with you my duties for 2009.

1. Secretary General for PTA
2. Teacher Advisor Literary and Debating Club (Niche)
3. Coordinator for Students' Attendance Record for all Lower Forms
4. Chief Assessor (School) for PLBS for PMR
5. Coordinator for the English Language (Form 3)
6. Asst. House Master for Red (sports)
7. Class teacher for 3 Jaya
8. Coordinator for Students of Asrama FELDA Semai Bakti

So what do you think? This does not include all the documentions, reports, marking of exam scripts and other exercises, setting of exam questions, stapling of the exam papers and hundreds of worksheets and the immediate fulfillment of some other ad hoc duties (usually, if there is any VIP visiting, I would be made in charge of the invitation of the VIPs or worse as the Emcee).

Tell me, when is the time for me to sit down peacefully talking to the students. I am thankful for the brief light moments shared with my colleagues, we are not robots programmed to focus on our tasks only, you know.

I am sad to leave school, the students and friends who have fulfilled my life. But I shall not look back as I have no more passion and patience for all these mambo jambos. If you want me to teach, teach I will, but if you want me to enslave my all to this, so sorry, I have to leave.