Wednesday, October 27, 2010

TO PUSH YOU BEYOND LIMITS

Man Jadda Wa Jadda...

It is such a powerful mantra that drives an author whose book is being read by me at the moment to be the man that everyone dreamt of being. To be able to study at two great universities in the northern hemisphere, having a great job as a journalist, are what makes that miracolous mantra, a great dream realiser of him deems worth to be examined, at least to me.

It is what makes being successful requires lots of sacrifices, hardship. It is a formula to be what you want or need to be/to have. If you want your dreams to come true you have to work hard. You need to put on a great amount of efforts. I know I sound corny like always but I've seen the formula works with last year's form 3 students at least for some of them. Sir Yusri's efforts in ensuring that they attended extra classes day and night to an extent that they had to be detained in a cell or we call it ISA, or homeworks which to them having those works finished are beyond their own capability (even though it is not, they are actually capable of doing more than that). A thing that these students should thank Sir is that, he always pushes them to do things beyond their usual own set limit. It is a lesson that Sir has managed in making you learn from, that you can do more than what you think you can.

And I am pretty sure, this year's PMR students will be able to witness their sincere efforts to bear fruits that taste even sweeter seen from the way they act for their dreams. I am proud to see your tremendous attempts at achieving your dreams.
As SPM is only a month away, I want to do my part as a teacher to apply the same formula, which is by forcing you to work hard. I think I should not waste my time thinking which ways are the most suitable, as we will never in the know of what is right and what is wrong, what matters most is that I must ensure that you put on efforts more than you can imagine and at least you by the end of the day you will not end up regretting in the future, asking yourself why you did not work hard enough for your used to be future? Like I do now

Sunday, October 24, 2010

RUSSIAN PROVERB 'A FISH ROTS FROM HEAD DOWN' RINGS TRUE

Dear students,

Many a time, while teaching you all last two years, if my memory could recall that i ever said ' study hard and don't be a teacher'. Some students just laughed at and brushed off the idea as they thought i made jokes like i used to in order to ease a strain of teaching and learning .In fact, i said what i meant like what Robert Deniro once said in The Heat ' I do what i said and i said what i mean'. Maybe i made joke and when i reflect there is some truth in the said words.Given the fact that the situation and challenges faced by teachers are more 'unique',complex and daunting as like it or not we many times have to compromise our principles by sweeping some truths under the carpet for the sake of school name and others.Thus, the problem persists and sooner or later becomes a malaise which no remedy could help cure it.

Take for example, cheating exercise deems no longer an option but necessity practiced by best yet noble students with noble intentions to help those in need .Some teachers even the principle himself at one of the reputable schools in Terengganu asked his students to have a glimpse of the answer for Arabic paper pasted in the toilet. He might have justified his action by claiming his act was out of nothing but to help students pass the subject.Realising or not he actually based his claim to Machievelli's popular maxim's ends justify means.The ensuing problem is almost all students will now have a new perception on the act of cheating itself as something relative and no longer a grave mistake. The shouldn't in our era are not longer applicable at present. What else should we do as it is learnt our State Education Director himslef admitted yet boasted with our students who were smart cheating during the exam and teased other state education directors by challeging to do just the same.What a shame! forget the quality

Lately myriads of disciplinary cases unheard of before are common that some schools including our school have to sweep them under the carpet considering the matter might become worse.I once felt guity but the feeling is thinning as it seems to become an acceptable practice at school.And i think i am just a trainer or instructor not an educator as i could not convey a message that could bring about changes to their demeanour for better. Students caught hugging, robbing and kissing or within the knowledge of teachers for doing so yet they remain as student leaders to the shame of others let alone to be examplary ones. And may be we have but little or no choice or school name is always above or we are afraid of our own shadow even we are in the know that what matters most is substance!We seemingly rather look great though hollow inside!

In short,though to exagerate a bit what Russian proverb says 'A fish rots from head down' rings true. Sadly, i am in the middle, i hope i am the bone that rots the last and become fertiliser to help fertilise a wild flower. And again I hope God has better plan to help us the weak address this small malaise.


Sir

Sunday, October 17, 2010

A COMFORTING FRIEND

Abu Nu’aym (Rahimahullah) narrates in Al-Hilyah that Mu’aadh bin Jabal (Radia Allahu ‘Anhu) Said:

“Knowledge is a comforting friend in times of loneliness, it is the best companion during travels, and it is the inner friend who speaks to you in your privacy. Knowledge is the discerning proof of what is right and what is wrong, and it is the positive force that will help you surmount the trials of comfort, as well as those of hardships. Knowledge is your most powerful sword against your enemy, and finally, it is your most dignifying raiment in the company of your close companions.

Through knowledge, Allah, blessed be His Name, raises some people in rank, and He makes them leaders in righteousness and models in morality. The vestige of their faith is avidly sought, their deeds are emulated perceptively, and people will seek and sanction their opinions solicitously and unequivocally. The heavenly angels seek their company and anoint them with their wings, every fresh or withered life they pass by implore Almighty Allah to forgive them their sins, even the fish in the oceans, the beasts of the lands and every bird of prey and migratory bird pray and solicit the mercy of Almighty Allah on their behalf.

This is because knowledge revives the dead hearts and drives them out of darkness into light, and because knowledge is the light of the inner eyes that cures one’s blindness and restores his inner sight”

The question remains: How to make them students passionate about knowledge seeking. Quenching one's thirst for knowledge is a great thing to do. Yet, I find it difficult to brainwash my students into believing that knowledge is a treasure far more valuable than any material gains that humans can obtain. Sigh

Saturday, October 16, 2010

AL MISBAH 2010 NEEDS YOUR WORKS

Dear students,

Those interested to see their works in print, do not hesitate to send in your works as many as possible in any languages you like be they cartoons,comic strips, creative writings , reflections or whatever so long they could convey a message to readers especially dwellers of smas cave.

Why cave? because sorry to say, smas teachers and students are very close-knit that they seem to be indifferent to what happen in the outside world.This entails good and bad effects that everyone of us can make own deduction.I was a bit shocked as one popular guy at smas knew nothing about what happened in Chile where some 33 gold miners were trapped for almost 10 weeks deep inside the mine.i think ignorance is a bliss does not apply in this case as this will further widen our gap to reach truth, the truth that forces both our eyes and mind open and sets us free.

They say, unlike a fiery speech that could be heard just across the hall or the whole school, written words echo down the ages.Write to us and see you written works will have already been in print come January! For details contact our editorial board led by Mohd Fakhri, Aidil, Bob , Ainur, Aina and Iman.

Sir

BEAUTIFUL WORDS

Friendship is reciprocated with betrayal
They require faithfulness along with treachery
Why do You inquire about the destiny of this miserable patient
Who is a play thing for the Healer
O thou who is dying of thirst, do not beg the river
Death is continous if love is accompanied with dignity
The poison and antidote are both in one cup
Flowers rain along with sparks
In the robe of success, failures are hidden
My destiny is asleep with a wakeful stride

Guess who is the writer of this ghazal?

Thursday, October 7, 2010

SPM : TO BE HONEST

Dear students,

This year SPM candidates are the first batch i taught here when i was deported here. This is my fifth year teaching at sabk formerly known as sma though Jheat and BPI are still pulling strings to claim the bigger share. The small rational animals stuck in between become victims.

I have ever taught majority of them as i used to teach 3A 3C and 3D in 2008 upon the arrival. I took the task seriously after mid year break when i found some of them looked struggling to string even basic sentences. The bright ones like Wan Athirah invariably bulldozed words coming her way without thinking of parts of speech.

However, i was surprised as their old-selves seem to have long gone. They looked more determined and bold than ever to score the best grade for English. To say, teacher's factor who hails from Aussie is not an exageration and worthy to mention.

So sleepy now that i could hardly write now. Got to pen off. Till then..

Sir

ALL I CAN SAY IS THANK YOU

Dear students,

Having witnessed after the final buzzer quite a number of you all darting towards us teachers with joy and jubilance clearly written on your lovely faces after skilfully frying on the blank sheets in the exam hall is a testimonial in itself that you did your job well.Result? come on ..enjoy the process !you have already learnt more during the process,something within your control and you know full well of it.Let God decide what best suits us with the process that we have gone through all this while and just accept it wholeheartedly.

We teachers, should never ask for more as I do believe you gave your all as you have several other subjects to cover as well. Upon realising that you heeded our advice to this and that. It is already more than enough for us teachers regardless of the result that is at times at the mercy of the politician in power. Mind you, God is there to reward those who strive and it comes in myriads of ways.

I have nothing to say but thank you as majority of you all attended all the classes held despite tiredness and boredom. But you still could bear with us teachers. I personally did that for nothing but to have a happy sleep as the wise man Da Vinci once said ' As a well spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well spent brings death'. And i of course want to have happy sleep and die a happy man. And again , thank you dear students!

Sir

Sunday, October 3, 2010

DO IT RIGHT

A good friend of mine said, 'Everything is fated, but we have the choice to decide how we are going to attain it.'

As PMR is just around the corner, it means you're running out of time so you will try the best way possible to achieve your dreams of being able to answer all of the PMR exam questions. I really hope you opt for a way permissible and the most pleasing in the sight of God. The BEST way is do things in accordance with the Islamic teaching and surely it means you must avoid cheating eventhough the habit might have been so engrained in some of you.

Put God above anything else, and keep on working and accept whatever outcomes with an open heart as you deserve to be happy for your determination and boldness to do it the right way.