SMJK Keat Hwa 1 Beyond the Facade of Pride 2

This post is based on the article, SMJK Keat Hwa: Beyond the Facade of Pride  and SMJK Keat Hwa: Kisah Guru Pembuli which I wrote a while back. After being a whistleblower about a teacher who verbally abused and used her position to intimidate students, I found myself in a spot because kids started telling me about what the teacher had done. What was I to do? Should I just brush it aside and keep quiet about it like most of the teachers had been doing?

The shocking thing was the teacher had been in the school for about 18 years, way longer than me and I do not know how long she actually has been like this. But based on hearsay, former students 27-28 years old said she was a mean teacher. If that is to be believed, then she has been at it for more than 10 years, and getting meaner.

The following is a timeline of the sequence of events which took place. Information is taken from audio recordings of meetings, incidents and telephone conversations. So, here goes... this will be a dual language post. This is kinda like a PAK21 approach in dissecting the whole incident in a timeline for analysis.

The objective of this timeline is to explore how the Principal seemed to renegade on his words and decisions over and over again.

The acronym for the teacher will be CT for class teacher, the teacher who allegedly was bullying, intimidating, etc the kids.

Tarikh	Insiden	Komen
24/10/18	Pelajar meminta pembetulan markah untuk Ujian Bulan Mac dalam Slip Keputusan kerana terdapat kesilapan. Guru Kelas (CT) meminta pelajar berjumpa Penyelia Tingkatan 5.	Pelajar cuba mencari Penyelia Tingkatan 5 tersebut 2 kali tetapi gagal.
25/10/18	Pelajar memaklumkan kepada CT kegagalannya mencari guru tersebut dan telah dimarahi 'bossy', 'sombong'. PK1 dimaklumkan tentang insiden ini kerana cara dia memarahi pelajar tersebut tidak wajar.	Pelajar-pelajar lain mula menceritakan pelbagai tingkah laku lain CT seperti menyumpah, menyindir perawakan pelajar, intimidasi, bertindak keterlaluan dalam menghukum pelajar untuk kerja rumah yang tidak disiapkan.
28/10/18	CT menghantar mesej WeChat kepada Ketua Kelas (KK) menyuruh pelajar tersebut berjumpanya. Satu mesej berunsur ugutan juga dihantar. Pelajar tadi berasa amat gelisah dan ketakutan. Saya telah berjumpa dengan Pengetua berkenaan mesej berkenaan.	PK1 juga berada di Pejabat semasa saya berjumpa dengan Pengetua. Saya telah memaklumkan kepada Pengetua, seseorang guru tidak seharusnya menghantar mesej berbentuk demikian. Apatah lagi, perkara yang mencetuskan ini berlaku kerana CT sendiri yang tidak konsisten dalam pengendalian kertas ujian/peperiksaan.
30/10/18	Waktu pagi di kantin, saya telah berjumpa dengan PK1 di kantin. Di situ, guru lain telah bercakap panjang lebar tentang sikap pembengis CT dalam kelas. Pada waktu rehat, Ketua Kelas memaklumkan kepada CT pelajar tersebut tidak mahu membuat pembetulan markah lagi. CT telah meluru naik ke kelas dan memarahi pelajar itu sekali lagi. Kemudian, CT telah memarahi Ketua Kelas (KK) kerana menurutnya, KK telah menyusahkannya dengan meletakkan mesej 'ugutan' tersebut dalam WeChat kelas.	Waktu CT meluru naik ke kelas adalah sejurus selepas rehat. Waktu tersebut merupakan waktu guru lain.
31/10/18	7.10 pagi, waris pelajar menelefon Pengetua kerana pelajar (anaknya) telah menunjukkan tekanan emosi di rumah. Waris bertanya apakah tindakan seterusnya. Pengetua mengatakan beliau sedang menunggu arahan dari PPD. Pengetua meminta waris berjumpa dengannya. 7.15 pg, Pengetua masuk ke kelas dan telah bertanya kepada beberapa orang pelajar yang ada dalam kelas pada masa itu samada mereka ada apa-apa aduan tentang CT. Dalam keadaan tergesa-gesa, beliau telah meminta seorang pelajar menjadi saksi tiada aduan. Dalam situasi itu, seorang pelajar telah bangun dan mengadakan dia ada aduan. 7.20 pg, pelajar-pelajar diminta turun ke Pejabat. Barisan pentadbir lain juga telah diminta ke Pejabat. Pelajar-pelajar telah menceritakan apa yang telah dilakukan oleh CT sepanjang 2 tahun menjadi guru kelas dan sabjek mereka. 8.00 pg, perjumpaan di antara waris, Pengetua dan Barisan Pentadbir. Waris telah mengingatkan sekolah, buli secara lisan juga boleh membawa kesan yang amat negatif. Sekolah seharusnya merupakan tempat yang selamat. Waris bertanya apakah tindakan yang akan diambil. 10.40 pg, KK dan penolongnya masuk ke bilik saya. Kedua-duanya kelihatan tertekan. Mereka memaklumkan CT berada dalam kelas. Saya bertanya kepada mereka samada CT memarahi mereka. Jawapan mereka adalah ya. 10.50 -11.40 pg Kelas menjadi amat emosi. Pelajar-pelajar marah dan kebingungan kerana jaminan telah diberi oleh Pengetua dalam perjumpaan pagi. Ada pelajar-pelajar yang marah sehingga nak mencabar Pengetua. Pelajar telah mengulang semula apa yang dikatakan pagi tadi. Semasa Pengetua masuk, seorang pelajar sedang menulis dalam Buku Rekod Kehadiran dan Pengetua telah melihat perkara tersebut.                                                                12.30 tgh, Pelajar-pelajar telah meminta perjumpaan dengan CT setelah keadaan lebih terkawal. Namun sesi perjumpaan dengan CT berakhir dengan pelajar-pelajar berasa tidak puas hati dan terkilan. Dalam sesi ini, pelajar-pelajar telah berterus-terang kepada CT tindak-tanduknya yang telah menyebabkan mereka rasa terluka di hati. Pelajar-pelajar juga memohon maaf dengan harapan CT juga akan berbuat demikian. Namun CT berkata dia tidak bersedia untuk berbuat demikian.	Waris juga telah bertanya samada Pengetua telah berjumpa dengan pelajar-pelajar untuk mendapat gambaran yang sebenarnya. Pelajar-pelajar lain telah berlari ke kantin memanggil rakan-rakan mereka untuk ke Pejabat Pengetua. Pengetua telah memberi jaminan pelajar-pelajar tidak perlu bimbang dan tindakan akan diambil. Persetujuan telah dibuat di depan waris CT tidak perlu lagi memasuki kelas memandangkan tinggal sehari lagi sahaja Cuti Belajar SPM akan bermula. Untuk hari itu, pelajar-pelajar akan ke Bilik Kaunseling untuk sesi kaunseling dengan Kaunselor sekolah semasa waktu CT. Saya telah mengikut mereka ke kelas. CT berada dalam kelas. Saya tidak memasuki kelas, cuma berdiri di luar sahaja. Keadaan agak tegang bila CT melihat saya. Seorang Guru Kanan lalu dan saya memintanya untuk memerhatikan keadaan sementara saya turun ke Pejabat mencari Pengetua. Orang yang pertama saya temui di Pejabat ialah PK HEM dan beliau terkejut bila diberitahu pelajar diminta berada dalam kelas. Pengetua telah mengarahkan pelajar yang berada di Bilik Kaunseling untuk kembali ke kelas mereka. Kaunselor telah menelefon Pengetua meminta penjelasan dan kaunselor diberitahu ia sememangnya arahannya.
3/11/18	Waris telah menelefon ke PPD tentang kes tersebut. Namun dari rekod panggilan telefon tersebut, didapati pihak PPD seperti tidak ketahuan. Pegawai telah meminta sedikit masa untuk mendapat kepastian.	Urusan dengan pihak PPD menunjukkan cara walaupun skop tugas pegawai dinyatakan, namun cara operasi adalah amat kucar-kacir sekali.
4/11/18	Saya ditemani oleh seorang rakan dan 2 waris telah ke PPD dengan surat aduan. Kami juga menjelaskan kepada kedua pegawai di PPD kejadian yang telah berlaku. Kami diberi jaminan PPD akan membuat siasatan.	Pegawai PPD cuma berjumpa dengan CT. Mereka langsung tidak berjumpa dengan pelajar. Bagaimanakah keadilan akan dilaksanakan jika siasatan cuma di satu pihak sahaja?
27/12/18	Mesyuarat Guru telah diadakan dan kami langsung tidak tahu kami bakal ditukarkan. CT tidak hadir dalam mesyuarat tersebut kerana dikhabarkan sedang bercuti di Turki.	Persoalan di sini, bolehkan guru-guru mengambil cuti pada hal tarikh mesyuarat guru telah ditetapkan awal-awal lagi?
30/12/18	Panggilan telefon dari Pejabat Sekolah meminta kami mengambil Surat Penempatan Semula. Saya telah memaklumkan kerani saya akan mengambil surat kemudian kerana ingin membuat aduan ke KPM. Kerani itu kemudian telah berkata saya sendiri yang mencari pasal kerana kes CT marah adalah perkara yang amat kecil sahaja. Saya cuba menerangkan ia bukan perkara kecil kerana melibatkan seorang guru menyumpah pelajar untuk mati, bukan sekali tetapi hampir setiap minggu. Dia tidak percaya CT menyumpah budak.	Apakah yang menyebabkan kerani memberi reaksi sedemikian pada hal saya jarang berinteraksi dengannya kecuali untuk urusan rasmi sahaja?
31/12/18	Saya telah ke JPN dan kami berjumpa dengan Pengarah. Kes kami diserahkan kepada seorang pegawai. Semua bahan telah saya serahkan kepada pegawai tersebut. Sudah lebih dari sebulan, setiap kali saya mesej pegawai tersebut, beliau tidak menjawab. Dari perbualan juga, nampak seperti pihak PPD dan JPN 'segan' bertindak kerana SMJK Keat Hwa adalah sebuah sekolah conforming.	Konklusinya, seorang guru adalah bebas untuk bertindak sesuka hatinya asalkan tidak melakukan kecederaan fizikal dan mengikut apa jua arahan dari pihak atasan. Dari peringkat sekolah ke PPD sampailah ke JPN, tindakan guru menyumpah adalah sesuatu yang remeh. Guru yang melapor ditukarkan sebagai pertukaran untuk guru yang membuli untuk bertukar. Sesuatu lagi, CT telah mesej dalam WhatsApp Sekolah dan juga WhatApp Panitia BM mengatakan dirinya telah dianiayai oleh saya. Dia telah menyebarkan mesej dalam group WhatsApp Geng Keat Hwa saya telah bercakap bohong mengatakan dia menyuruh budak mengisi Buku Rekod Kedatangan. Sebenarnya amat menghairankan tuduhannya kerana pelajar-pelajar sendiri yang menceritakan kepada Pengetua perkara ini. Satu lagi, semasa Pengetua masuk ke kelas dalam insiden 31/10/18, seorang pelajarnya sedang menulis dalam Buku Rekod Kedatangan. CT telah melenting mungkin kerana telah dinasihati oleh Pengetua, namun dia seolah-olah tidak boleh menerima teguran dan telah menggunakan platform WhatsApp Geng Keat Hwa untuk menyebar pelbagai versinya sendiri dan juga mendapat sokongan dari rakan gurunya yang lain.

Timelining... that's something that I picked up from teaching history. I found that when we are able to put things in their places in a timeline, we will be able to infer and make many conclusions, and see the bigger picture. Most of the time, when we look at events/incidents in isolation and only have hearsay(s) as our source, things become muddled up. Doubt and falsehood creep in. In this case, there are audio recordings and screenshots of messages to fall back on for more details.

There are many inferences that can be made from the timeline. There are many questions which can be asked. One of them is the inconsistencies in the Principal's way of dealing with things and the words he say. For example, the parent calling him on 31/10/18 to ask him what the school was going to do. There is a recording of the conversation and it is interesting to note that he said that he had informed the PPD and was awaiting them to instruct him what do. So what does a Principal actually do at school?

Also, when the parent called the PPD on 3/11/18, the records seem to show that the PPD seemed to be in the dark. A call later, the certainty of the PPD in the know seemed still not to be there.

In the subsequent meeting between the parent and Principal (and admin), a decision was reached that the students need not see the teachers again. Again the Principal renegaded on his words and sent the students back to their class. The incident after that was one which would have been avoided had he just kept to the decision made.

So many decisions were made, and so many promises made too... all broken by the same man who made them. It seems that he will change his mind like the wind. Whoever is doing the blowing, he will oblige.

The lie that makes a man shapes the institution that he leads. And that institution is SMJK Keat Hwa 1, shaped after the image of this Principal. Words are but like clanging cymbals in this institution. Autocracy, patronage, favouritism, fear, racism..... are schools now the breeding grounds of these? If so, then we will be going the way of Zimbabwe, Venezuela.... and by then, most of us will not be spared....

PAK21 - Where do we go from here?

There is so much talk going on about PAK21 or Pembelajaran Abad Ke-21. As usual, when there is something new, changes are expected. It was the same with the implementation of PPSMI in 2003 which was then reversed in 2012. I think 2020 marks the last batch of PPSMI for those schools still teaching Math and Science in English. Soon after we had our MBMBI and then the DUAL Program. All in all, our Malaysian education is generally in a very confused state, having gone through many flip flops over the years. This flip-flopping is also a reflection of our nation's inability to grab the bull by its horn and move forward. 

But, now, with the Industrial Revolution 4.0's effects knocking on our shores, we basically do not have much choice but to bring in changes into our education system. Else we will be gobbled up by the waves of changes. While PPSMI is dead, there is the DUAL Program. In essence it is the same thing like PPSMI, only difference being not all schools are carrying it out. And so, there we have it, instead of our education system uniting and providing an equal platform, we now continue to build another new divide between the haves and the haves-not. 

In all this confusion, enters the PAK21. To me this is more of a pedagogical change rather than a systemic one. PAK21 is to prepare us for the challenges of this century. The challenges to come are going to be way different, so they say. Reason is because we will be up against machine learning. AI is going to change the way things work it. Changes are now happening at a dizzying pace and catching up comes with a whole new set of catch phrases these days.

And so, you have teachers the most confused lot as usual. Some are attaching PAK21 to gadgets. I think that is a mistake. Some are saying that we are already doing PAK21 and there is no need for fancy gadgets because most schools don't have them. They are wrong too, I believe. Yup, there is no need for fancy gadgets but I think gadgets like projectors (or smart tv screens) and tablets/computers should be making their way into the classrooms.

So what is this PAK21? PAK21 is about the skills that we need to get our students to have before they enter the job market, so that they can be the engine of growth to our country's economy.

And so what are those skills that they need? The usual list will include critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, leadership, initiative, productivity and social skills. What many sometimes forget are the following: media literacy, technology literacy, information literacy and flexibility. I might have missed out a few others. These are the other skills that we need to catch up with the world. Digitalisation has entered our lives and it has entered big time. And it is changing the landscape of jobs.

However, the point is this. For those who insist that PAK21 can go on without the gadgets, they are wrong. The workplaces of this century has changed. Computer literacy is a must these days and an educational institution fails if it cannot incorporate that into its classrooms. Computer literacy is necessary for media, information and technology literacy. And the latter are required so that the flexibility to adapt to the constant changes around us will be functional. But the gadgets and tools are just a part of the PAK21, a smaller part.

The bigger or more important part remains the skills - critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, etc. To train that is the main challenge because for that to take place we need people who can show the way to the students. Those would be the teachers. 

The bigger question would be this. Are the teachers able to cope?

In today's fast changing landscape, a teacher who teaches from the textbook is archaic. A teacher who does not have the linguistic skills (read that as English, in Malaysia) is also a katak di bawah tempurung because that teacher will find it hard to relate to many things as Malaysia cannot seem to churn out enough materials of substance in BM. Also, a teacher who doesn't read is also ineffective because things are constantly evolving. 

Teacher quality will remain the greatest challenge in the success of PAK21 and we have an uphill task because for a long time, many of those who entered the teaching profession in Malaysia, especially from the late 1990s to the early 2000s were basically those who could not find employment elsewhere. The teaching profession became a haven of refuge for many of these people... correct me if I am wrong. Over the years many have been comfortably entrenched... 

Many of our teachers have been conditioned by our exam oriented system too.Many teachers today are unable to bring the world into the the classroom because they, themselves don't read. Their comfort zones are so wide that many happily exist like the proverbial ostriches with their heads in the sand. Many teach without inspiring. All they aim for is just the A(s). Students are no longer challenge to think for themselves. Tuition classes prep students to answer exam type questions so much so that simple 'thinking questions' often baffle them. All you need to do is just take a look at the quality of answers of our students for the why and how questions and it will be painfully glaring how our students don't seem to be able to think much these days. 

Those who can be pushed continue to score the A(s) but many leave without the necessary skills. Those who cannot be pushed get bored to death in class and these become the lost numbers in our system. This group is getting bigger because they see no relevance in the lessons carried out in the classrooms. Relevance... most teachers are finding it hard to relate relevance to what is taught in class and it is boring kids to death.

So, PAK21. If we are serious about maintaining our place even just in Southeast Asia and not have 'newcomers' like Vietnam leapfrogging us, we really have to look seriously into proper allocation for equipment procurement and teacher training and continuous professional development.

My two sen for today... 

SMJK Keat Hwa 1... Stories Graduating Batch 2014/18. 2017/18

Every year since 2016, when I was given the task to see to the presentations for the Graduation Ceremony of the Fifth and Sixth Formers, I'd try to come out with something memorable.... With the help of a colleague who believed as strongly that it can be a very good thing for the kids (to remember the school by) and also to include those kids who do not take Chinese and are not allowed to attend the graduation ceremony, we would spend a lot of our free time working on this. Much time is required to search for the suitable shots. Over the years we developed the discipline of meticulously filing up our videos and photos. Then there would be the countless hours of editing. Then coming out with the story... that requires inspiration and a feel for what gives it a good feel. Though sometimes we’d whine as we worked on it, the looks on the faces of the students never failed to make us forget all that. 

The first of such videos started in 2016 when I was tasked for the first time to prepare the presentations. I decided to make an extra video from the school dedicated to the graduating kids, blessing them and wishing them the best as they move on in their lives because I truly believed then that if a school does its job well, the students will rise above the bar.... just as my alma mater had done for me. I will always remember the dedication of my teachers which inspired and made me feel that they cared enough. That was the legacy that I had been given and when I decided to be a teacher, that was the legacy I felt should be passed on. 

The joke was, being a Chinese school, everything was very mechanical, structured and a practice run must be done for every event. The Discipline Master, Mr. Lim originally insisted that the video be shown so that the kids do not talk or misbehave during the graduation ceremony. I had a hard time convincing him that if the videos/presentations were meaningful and relevant to them, they would respond in kind. There was no need to show them.

Suffice to say, on that day, the kids were more focused on the screen than being disruptive. Meaning... I learned a long time ago that when you are able to to give meaning, the responses will always be positive. The problem with many of us today is we do things without much thought. We just want to complete a task more to satisfy our conscience than anything. And that is why there is so much brokenness. We have lost much of our community spirit in that sense. 

This video is more poignant for one reason. I would be part of the story because I would leave the school too, though I did not know it at that time. However, the circumstances in which I was made to leave left a very bad taste in the mouth as well as a deep disappointment in the system that I am in... in that I had been let down even though I stood up for the kids over a teacher who verbally abused kids and used her position to intimidate the students. Till this day, I cannot understand why a teacher needs to show that kind of 'power' over her students. And to make it worse, the Principal, 'the man in black in the video" had no courage to do the right thing. 

So this particular video will have meaning in part that both of us (my colleague and I) are part of the stories. Because in the ordinary, I discovered gems of extraordinary in those of our students. Many of my own former and some, whom I did not teach reached out to me and made our story even more extraordinary and hopeful. We found the extraordinary in the courage shown by students to voice their support and anger at what they perceived as injustice. We found comfort from those who messaged us privately to express their thanks. These will be among the stories that we will bring with us... and this is also why I will continue to plod on.

And a special word of thanks to Lim Chun Ming and Ahh Jie (Ah Black... and dunno what other nicknames he has ... 8)) For the last few years of working together... these kids were at this since they were in F3. 

Apologies for abrupt ending of the music... I was working on it from my iPad and there seemed not to be a fade off function... so the music got chopped... Had to remove the original music scores due to copyright issues. So, I had to change it...

As to the graduating batches, may each of you find your place in life... The best is always yet to come if we work towards that... 

SMJK KEAT HWA 1 - Kisah Guru Pembuli

Seorang guru (dan seorang lagi rakan guru yang memberi sokongan moral) memberi tekanan kepada pengetua untuk melakukan sesuatu agar tindakan seorang guru pembuli dihentikan. Namun, entah apa yang berlaku, guru pembuli pula mendakwa dirinya difitnah oleh guru tesebut. Guru pembuli tersebut kemudiannya juga mendakwa dirinya telah meminta untuk ditukarkan antara sebabnya, kerana fitnah tersebut. Namun kedua-dua guru yang cuba melindungi pelajar-pelajar daripada dibuli secara berterusan telah ditukarkan ke sekolah lain. 

Persoalannya:

1. Adakah pertukaran mereka sesuatu yang wajar? Seorang merupakan guru BI/Sej dan seorang lagi merupakan guru BM/Sej. Ketiga-tiga sabjek tidak mengalami lebihan guru. Malahan untuk Sejarah, berlaku kekurangan. 
2. Adakah Pengetua telah meyalahgunakan kedudukannya untuk menukarkan guru kerana memberi tekanan kepadanya untuk menghentikan tindakan membeli ?
3. Pengetua kemudiannya telah menyebarkan khabar kononnya kedua-dua guru itu telah meminta untuk ditukarkan. Mengapakah Pengetua telah berbohong tentang pertukaran kedua-dua guru tersebut?

Ini merupakan poster yang telah ditampalkan di setiap kelas selepas satu perhimpunan khas untuk memberi kesedaran tentang kes buli di sekolah pada away tahun ini.

Kebiasaannya, apabila terdapat sesuatu isu yang ingin diketengahkan atau kempen yang ingin dilancarkan   oleh Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia (KPM) Perhimpunan Sekolah akan menjadi tempat untuk ia diwara-warakan. Poster ini diperolehi dari salah sebuah sekolah yang mana pelajar-pelajar telah diberi penjelasan yang panjang lebar tentang isu membuli. Di SMJK Keat Hwa 1, setakat ini, tidak pasti samada ia telah dilakukan dalam Perhimpunan Mingguannya.

Namun poster ini cuma mengandungi maklumat tentang buli di antara pelajar sahaja. Poster memberi rujukan atau tempat aduan untuk mangsa sebagai rakan, guru/guru kaunseling dan ibu bapa. 

Sekolah ialah tempat di mana seseorang pelajar menghabiskan masa yang amat panjang. Oleh itu, keselamatan persekitarannya amat penting. Yang memegang amanah memelihara kesejahteraan pelajar ialah para guru dan Pengetua  merupakan orang yang dipertanggungjawabkan secara keseluruhan.

Berita tentang guru membuli pelajar jarang dijumpai dalam media massa. Yang didapati kebanyakannya adalah berkenaan dengan isu guru hilang kawalan terhadap emosi atau situasi dan bertindak keterlaluan seperti menampar atau merotan tanpa kawalan. Ini kerana pembuli biasanya merupakan seorang yang boleh membawa kemudaratan fizikal dan mental yang berpanjangan.

Buli oleh guru adalah sukar diterima dan dipercayai kerana guru ialah seorang yang dihormati dan dipercayai oleh masyarakat. Jadi siapakah itu guru pembuli? Kebiasaannya, guru pembuli juga akan menunjukkan sikap-sikap yang tertentu. Sikap pertama yang nyata merupakan sifat pembengis tertentu terhadap kelompok yang tertentu. Kebengisan mereka dapat dilihat dari cara percakapan mereka seperti nada. Ia juga boleh dilihat daripada frasa-frasa yang digunakan. Mereka ini biasanya cuba menonjolkan diri, misalnya menerusi pakaian atau barang kemas yang keterlaluan. Mereka ini juga mempunyai kepetahan bercakap yang seringkali digunakan untuk menjauhkan diri mereka  daripada tuduhan. Kebolehan mereka bermain dengan kata-kata sering menyebabkan orang di sekitar mereka mempercayai mereka secara taksub. Pembuli merupakan seorang yang tidak boleh ditegur kerana sentiasa beranggapan merekalah yang betul. 

Seorang guru pembuli di sekolah menengah biasanya membuli dengan menggunakan kata-kata yang akan mewujudkan penyiksaan mental dalam pelajar. Ia juga akan meninggalkan kesan psikologi dan emosi ke atas pelajar-pelajar. Di sekolah rendah, ia mungkin melibatkan buli fizikal.

Persoalan di sini, apakah yang seharusnya dilakukan jika pembuli merupakan seorang guru. Di sekolah, guru merupakan seorang yang mempunyai banyak kuasa terhadap anak murid mereka, terutama sekali jika pelajar-pelajar sekolah amat mementingkan markah mereka. Jika guru kelas pula, gred kelakuan boleh dijadikan satu bentuk ugutan. Ini kerana gred yang buruk mempunyai implikasi yang berpanjangan ke atas seorang pelajar.

Dan jika guru merupakan pembuli, siapakah yang seharusnya melindungi anak murid yang menjadi mangsa? Adakah menjadi tanggungjawab guru lain atau para pentadbir atau pengetua? Apakah yang harus dilakukan untuk melindungi para pelajar?

Tujuan artikel ini dan juga artikel-artikel yang akan datang adalah untuk menunjukkan bagaimana kepincangan dalam pengurusan oleh seseorang pengetua membawa kepada pertukaran guru-guru yang bertindak memberi tekanan kepadanya untuk mengambil tindakan membanteras amalan membuli oleh seorang guru pembuli di SMJK Keat Hwa 1, Jln Kuala Kedah. 

Tindakan yang tegas dan semerta seharusnya boleh menghentikan amalan tersebut dan mewujudkan persekitaran yang selamat semula. Namun, tindakan-tindakan yang diambil (atau tidak diambil) telah menyebabkan keadaan menjadi melarat. 

Oh ya! KPM mencanangkan pelancaran Program Ziarah Cakna. Apa gunanya program ziarah ini jika pihak sekolah tidak dapat menjamin keselamatan mental yang cakna di sekolah? Dan ziarah yang dilakukan oleh seorang guru pembuli?

SMJK KEAT HWA... BEYOND THE FACADE OF PRIDE

SMJK KEAT HWA... Beyond the Facade of Pride

After 2 days of picking up a tirade of sorts because I find it hard to comprehend the need for a certain character (which is the Principal, Wong Ghee Hong) to keep justifying his act by lying. I think it’s time to just lay bare the facts that led to the need for the tirades. This piece is about bullying and it took place in SMJK Keat Hwa 1, Jalan Kuala Kedah, Alor Setar, Kedah. The bully was a teacher. A result of this was I was one of 2 teachers who were transferred out by the Principal because he did not like the way my colleague and I were pushing him to resolve the matter. The bullying took place in the form of verbal assaults and also abuse of position as class teacher to intimidate.

Bullying in school. We often read about bullying. Almost 80% of bully cases takes place in schools according to studies. And bullying usually involves students and students. In a school it should not involve teachers. And so if bullying involves a teacher, should we then be alarmed? For me, I think it is something dead serious and should be dealt with decisiveness because teachers are supposed to be the guardians of their charges. Kids go to school not to be bullied by the very people who are supposed to watch over them.

We do read of teachers who slap or cane kids overzealously. But there is another type of bullying which is hard to prove... verbal assaults which often lead to effects which cannot be instantly gauged -  it is hard to see the effects of mental torture and emotional damage. 

In October last year, a student complained that her teacher berated her in class over a misprint in her report card. A report was made to the PK. Who was to know that a can of worms with this teacher who was actually known for her pembengis nature would be opened? The PK talked to her about the complaint and she went ballistic. A message with a threatening tone was sent by the teacher to the class monitor. And if that was not enough, when the student did not want to make any more changes to her marks, she went charging up the class... and went ballistic again. Apparently not going to see her was tantamount to something....

And then other students started spilling the beans. From cursing them to “lompat mati”, ‘mati dilanggar lori” to even invoking the name of God to fail them in their BM (SPM), so many other stories came out. Among other allegations included the mishandling of school magazine and PIBG money (which the school was well aware of), students being given really low marks for their Lisan BM (SPM), students given low marks which they claimed were not true reflection of what were supposed to be, to her being on her mobile most of the time in class to failing student because she had an issue with him. It is just incredible that a teacher can do so much (or so little) and get away with them. The list also goes on to include she making use of her class monitor to do most of her paper work. Students were generally fearful of her because she was their teacher and had to power to give them poor Kelakuan grades which would be in their Sijil Berhenti Sekolah. These allegations came out in a hastily arranged meeting between the Pengetua and the students after a parent called him and asked him if he had talked to the students regarding the complaints about the teacher. In this hastily called meeting, the Principal gave his word to them that he would do something about their complaints. Mind you all these took place over a period of 2 YEARS!!! Can you imagine that the cursing was taking place so regularly? What on earth is wrong with the teacher?

Her meanness was real and students feared her. So, if students actually air such grievances to the school admin, what should have been done? The parent who had called earlier in the morning had a meeting with the Pengetua and the rest of the admin after that hastily arranged meeting. A decision was made by the Pengetua in the presence of the rest of the admin that the students needed not see the teacher again as their SPM study break was coming. And that was supposed to be the end of the matter, or so we thought.

Yet on the same day after seeing the parent and giving the assurance that the students will be separated from the teacher bully, the Principal, sent the kids who were already in the counsellor’s room (supposedly sent there for a counselling session during that teacher’s period) back to her class. Why he did that defied logic but apparently he talked to the teacher bully and the latter assured him that she was a reformed person. All hell broke loose that day. There was a scene in the class as students turned bitter and emotional over a broken promise of not needing to see the teacher again. Relief turned into despair. There is also a recording of this incident which lasted about 45 minutes. Like chickens, the kids were sent back to be slaughtered by the Pengetua.... and they did get slaughtered...

Kids being kids.. they still tried to right things and so as things calmed somewhat, they wanted to seek a resolution. So another meeting was arranged between 2 representatives and the teacher... In our supposedly bermaaf-maafan culture, I guessed the kids were hoping that the teacher will at least say sorry. The kids did... but they walked away feeling more frustrated because the teacher did not. The conversation should make us sick cos racial and religious sentiments were used to try to gain an upper hand... (there is a recording as well)

There were a few more incidents... but the question remains. Should teachers be allowed to bully their will through... In this case, the teacher bully became emboldened over the years. Some investigative work was carried out into her past... an abusive growing-up environment, a teacher remembered after almost 2 decades later by former colleagues as being a pembengis... how did we let such people become teachers of our younger generation...

And so the two teachers kept pressuring the school... because the kids were genuinely afraid and worried that the teacher bully will take it out on their younger siblings. Why kids actually fear that, we should actually wonder. However, the pressuring resulted in the 2 teachers to be transferred. 2 teachers who have not taken any MCs for 4 years, and have contributed much to the school... If the Pengetua really cannot stand them for standing up for the kids, it is really his prerogative to do as he pleases. Yet the Pengetua kept coming up with different versions regarding their transfers. Wonder why? 

Meanwhile, the teacher bully sent out 2 WhatsApp messages (screenshots of her messages are available btw) that she applied to transfer out, and that she was maliciously framed by a teacher (there are screenshots available too where she swore by God that she did not ask the class monitor to do her register... and the kids telling the Pengetua that she did that.) One can just compare the teacher bully's whines about being framed to what the students said and how she weaved her way out of accusations in the recordings too... But Wong Ghee Hong chose to close an eye to all her deplorable actions.

If an attempt were to be made to dissect the audio records of telephone conversations, in the class and office sessions, conversations with the PPD officers, WhatsApp messages ... it should sicken us because it really points to a broken system. And the system is broken right up to the JPN. It is broken because the people entrusted to be the guardians of the institutions have failed... They failed because of incompetence, their inability to rise above sentiments and fear. We should weep for Malaysia because in schools like SMJK Keat Hwa 1 which is supposed to produce scores of students with strings of A(s) every year, such things still happen. Conforming school it is.. conforming to a broken system perpetuated by myopic leaders who see only themselves, to the point that when kids took to the social media because they were unhappy, the school clamped down on them. 

Dealing with the problem of a teacher bully. A word of caution to her would be a good start. If ignored... then a show cause letter would have sufficed. Yet, a Pengetua who cannot be a Ketua. You have a Pengetua who wants only to look good but lacks the competency and courage to do the right thing..... and his name is Wong Ghee Hong.

A few years ago, I laughed when students pointed out to the teachers that the then PK 1 (Wong Ghee Hong) was called 跟屁虫. Well, I thought all of us have our own way of doing things. Maybe that’s how he felt he should be to get up there... after all, that the system of patronage is as old as our culture. But now I understand why the kids called him that too... worms don’t have a spine. They are always wriggling their ways into and out of situation. Funny how kids are able to see clearer about a person's character than us, adults.

So, should this give me pleasure because I want to get back at him?? The answer is no. And it is for a simple reason. What future is there for our schools if we cannot take the right actions for our next generation to model on? What use is it to call him spineless when what he is basically is what we all have become? I talked to a Board Member of the school recently and I could see that he was trying so hard to believe what the Pengetua said about the transfers of the 2 teachers. What good is the Board of Directors who cannot see that the school has a Pengetua who seems to be consistent only in doing one thing... and that is LYING? Yet maybe, they want him like that too because he will be easier to control. The PIBG too.... Persatuan Ibu Bapa dan Guru... The Ibu Bapa failed to defend the teachers who defended their kids... So, who in future will speak out for their children, then?

And to make it kinda melodramatic some more.. I bumped into some of my former students today too. They told me this... “KH1 is no longer our school.” 

KH1 is no longer their school... I guess the school doesn’t need their help in the future too... We forget. For most government aided schools, public contribution is what enables the schools to have better facilities for the children. Our current students are our future contributors. But more importantly, the school is where we should inculcate good values in our future generation.

Oh ya disclaimer clause... all the allegations written in this post are gleaned from recordings done during the actual incidents. I supposed I can make them public too if there are requests... the audio recordings but they are a chore to plough through.

One more thing, I have enough MATERIALS (audio recordings, WhatsApp screenshots, letters from parents and students, written accounts, timeline, reports) for this incident which happened in SMJK Keat Hwa 1, Jln Kuala Kedah. And I even went to the JPN... still waiting after a month.... is there any hope for our educational institutions? Is there any hope for Malaysia?

I did a quick Google about teacher bullying. There is not much literature because evidence is so hard to compile. The stuff that I have, it might make a good thesis material or even case study about bullying by teachers in a Malaysian school. It will leave us wondering too why and how the admin seem so inadequate in handling a grave issue like this. It should also make us cringe at out inability to act decisively once race and religion are brought into defence. It should also make us reflect about the values that we really want to uphold and pass on to our younger generation. I trusted the system to do the right thing.. when it failed, I thought it would protect me even if I keep pushing. I am so wrong. The system is beyond repair......???? 

And the KPM is talking about ziarah cakna ... what good will that be if students can't be kept safe from the very people who are supposed to educate them.... 


.... but there will be more articles coming out...

When A School Head is Incompetent

The story continues... it would have probably died if not for 跟屁虫 the liar... wonder why he keeps lying. Being the successful butt polisher, 跟屁虫’s objektif tercapai...Pengetua. There is another story here too cos after he achieved his objective, he discarded the man who believed him and helped him get to his chair.

 Last year he sent out 2 teachers because one of the teachers kept pressuring him to do something about a bully teacher. Yup! A very famous bully teacher existed in the school. She used to cursed students to go lompat mati from buildings, and also sumpah them to die dilanggar lori. Her meanness didn’t stop there. If accounts of students are to be believed, it is horrifying that such teachers are allowed to keep doing that. That teacher went on her own ganging up support blitz... haih! So, despite a meeting involving the top admin where the students poured out their grievances, everything was swept under the carpet.

 跟屁虫‘s lying nature is at his best in the aftermath after he sent those 2 teachers out. A deal must have been struck with that bully teacher cos that bully teacher put up messages in the school’s WhatsApp group as well as her Panitia WhatsApp reiterating that she applied out. Dunno why she must made that known to everyone. Then she also thanked 跟屁虫and 跟屁虫‘s Big Momma for their advice, patience and understanding. It is really amazing how kind they were to this bully teacher... The moral of this story here for all teachers is, according to 跟屁虫‘s philosophy, if a teacher has this urge to bully, by all means go all out and bully. In a conforming school, students got no voice. So if teachers feel they want to go giler... it is fine. He as the Principal will protect the teacher and provide all the necessary advice.... he will find carpets to sweep them under. 😂Actually, he does that cos he doesn’t like mah fan.

 But that story above will be continued another day. Now, the amazing lies that 跟屁虫is capable of. Soon after students found out, a few students took to the social media and ranted. Funny how harsh 跟屁虫 and his band of Pak (Mak)Turut(s) can be. If we go by the way he handled the teacher bully, he should be totally accepting and understanding of the students rants. After all, bad behaviour?? Small matter nia. It should be allowed just as the teacher bully was allowed to do all kinds of mean things to student and then considered as biasa... boleh diterima. But, the poor student was hauled up, even the police was used to intimidate that poor kid.... And the kid wasn’t even showing bad behavior. Poor use of language maybe but basically she was just voicing an opinion. That’s supposed to be a good thing. Supposed a PAK21 desired skill. And 跟屁虫 told the kid, he tried to explain to the two teachers who were transferred out. But those 2 teachers turned their backs and did not want to listen to him. LIE NUMBER ONE

 Next, 跟屁虫 talked to a teacher in the school... He told this teacher, let’s called her Pn M. He said the the 2 teachers are really good teachers, very hardworking. He and his big Momma assistant were very shocked when they received their letters of transfer. He told Pn M, maybe the 3 of them after discussing with the PPD, the two teachers also decided to transfer. Lol! This 跟屁虫 really good at spinning stories... the worm that he is... memang sah. LIE NUMBER TWO

 The spins keep coming... 跟屁虫 is an incorrigible liar. He continues to spread the word around... he goes round and tells another teacher... almost the same thing.. it is actually none of his business. He claimed that the two teachers applied to transfer out. And that the 2 teachers and the bully teacher discussed with the PPD and all agreed to transfer out. WEI... he got otak in between his ears onot???  Lying is in his DNA. The two teachers never asked for transfer. LIE NUMBER THREE

 Now.. let’s have some real story. The two teachers were damn mad at 跟屁虫 and went to see him. But earlier they had been told by the office to collect their letters of transfer from the clerk. They insisted on seeing him. He had no choice but to see them.  Now for some truth...This was what happened actually. When the teachers walked in, he sat at his chair, madness that seemed to be reeking from his eyes. The two teachers tried to ask him the reason for the transfers and the response was most the CACAT ever... He went on and on like a dead broken record why it was not his business... at one one point he said, “Who are you to question me?” At no given point was there any civil discussion... The man who sat in front... behaved as though he was worming his way out of a tight situation (he must have had a hand in) like a spoilt brat.... And at one point, he asked to office boy to show the teachers out of his office.... THERE YOU HAVE IT... this same worm who went round telling other teachers how shocked he was to know of the transfers... etc, etc... He was lying and lying and lying.

To be able to sit in the chair of a Pengetua by being a 跟屁虫... well, I think it can still be quite accepted though he makes a good joke... but to be a 跟屁虫 and want to sit in the high chair but use lies to cover up ... well... I guess we can all now learn many things from him. Oh ya! the message for the teachers... if you see a kid being bullied, or beaten up by a mad teacher... do nothing. Cos if you cannot tahan seeing that, and keep pushing... you get punished. So, better practice the 5Ks (Ka Ki Ko Ka Ki). There is another interesting story on this NONE OF MY BUSINESS angle... and it should make parents squirm that a school can be so callous about their children’s safety...

For one, it should be okay for students and teachers to lie their way through to anything cos that is his signature style... Oh ya... a student told me that he has another moniker.., WongWong....

KEPIMPINAN MELALUI TELADAN... Semua sila ikut contoh 跟屁虫. Hidup 跟屁虫!!!! From now on, that should be the motto of the school... Falsafah 跟屁虫. 😂🤣😂

Oh ya! Hope karma goes one circle and land on their children and grandchildren... at least I’m not cursing here.... but maybe WongWong is saying that everyone who has an issue with him should ... ???

This is from an earlier post...

跟屁虫

This is going to be a first for me... a title in Mandarin. 😂 Been a rather interesting month. Got transferred out of my school because apparently I must have pushed the Principal too much to do something about a colleague who was verbally bullying the students. Yup! Even in ‘famous’ schools like SMJK Keat Hwa 1, such things happen. And the Principal seemed powerless to do anything to stop it. So, here goes...

跟屁虫 is a character who works in a school. It is a well-known school in one of the northern states. He has a real name like all of us but for now, the name 跟屁虫 will do. This moniker was given by students who were so used to seeing him follow the school principal around...

His name has very significant meanings. He is a very good bag carrier and an exceedingly good follower. His greatest talent is stooping to every conceivable level, including grovelling when he feels that will get him to the top.

跟屁虫 is the best kind of follower one can ever have because he will stop at nothing to stoke your ego. He learned from a young age that everyone loves their egos stoked. And he is the master ‘stoker’. 😂🤣

Well, such people who have no principles, lie through their teeth, tongue and and whatever orifices of theirs. After all, butt polishing is their talent, sweet talking is their modus operandi... and lies... 跟屁虫 is the master, unsurpassed...

You see, 跟屁虫 is living proof that you don’t have to be honest or principled to get to the top... and you can continue like this at the top.