PSLE results release: saying sorry now a little too late

By Dzar Ismail

My friend, a teacher had mixed feelings about the PSLE results today. A Foundation student he taught, managed to get into the Express stream. His parents beemed with pride, came up to my friend and cried. They apologized profusely. Why?


Sometime early this year, they lodged a complaint to the school principal because they felt that my friend's teaching skills were not conventional. My friend got a warning letter. An unneccesary warning letter.


Visibly upset with what he felt was an unfair verdict, he could have toned down. But, he soldiered on because the student's parents did not proactively help their child at home with his studies. The results were eminent early this morning.


So when they came to apologize, and thank my friend, it was too late. Damage was done. The warning letter will affect his grade and his bonus.


Ladies and gentlemen. This is why we lose quality individuals in the teaching fratenity. The system is quick to penalise our teachers just to appease their stakeholders.


Not all teachers work for the money. Many I know do it because they want to unleash every child's potential, regardless of the family social climate they come from.


I've seen many posts thanking parents. Here's one to all the teachers for a job well done.


This first appeared as a post on the Facebook wall of Mr Dzar Ismail on 24 November 2016. Do join in the discussion over there if you have thoughts to share.


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