About Teachers (Myths vs Facts)

1. Teachers only work for half day
This is the biggest misconception people have about teachers. Yes, teachers teach according to the stipulated school time but most of the teachers' work is done post-school time. Once that school bell rings at the end of the school session, teachers still have those extra-curricular activities, extra classes, mountains of books to be checked and lessons to prepare. Of course there may be some teachers who've found various ways to handle these workloads but most would agree that a teacher only rests when we sleep, that is if we don't have nightmares about our students.

2. Teaching is easy
Yes, if you are teaching a bunch of robots. The reality is, more often than not, we are put in a classroom with no fewer than 30 students. Imagine trying to teach the Pythagoras Theorem or Past Participle to 30-odd something pimpled, sweaty, noisy, disruptive teenagers who couldn't care less. Still think that we have it easy?

3. Teachers have long holidays
This I can't deny. After spending most of our days with those kids, we NEED the holiday to rejuvenate our body, mind and soul, and hopefully, regain our sanity. But sometimes, we still have those courses to attend, Public Exams to invigilate and not forgetting, taking turns to 'jaga sekolah'. (Personally, I get bored to death when it's end-of-the-Year school holidays. Memang workaholic nutcase)

4. Teachers only teach
As I wrote in my previous post here, teachers are multi-skilled people, sort of like Jack of All Trades, Master in Everything. Every time there's a school function, you can bet your last ten sen that the organizing committee are teachers. emcee, scriptwriter, program book, protocol, gifts, jamuan, just name it.
Teachers = teacher-sportsperson-paramedic-manager-administrator-etc-etc-etc

*** to be continued. To teachers out there (Grace, Cuthess, Dunstan), add your myths vs facts in the comments. I'll add 'em here.