Bad Memories

Sometimes you just don't know what hit you. It is so unexpected, and after that, you are left reeling...

I was asked by Tuan PPD to do the 2009 performance appraisal for the staff of SMK Munshi Sulaiman because I was the principal there until August 2009.

For the ten years I was principal, I never once did any appraisal alone - I always called for a meeting with my Senior Assistants and Heads of Departments. We would discuss the performance of every staff and only then will I grade them.

For example, teacher X :

• How is his work as a form teacher ? (For GPK HEM and GPK Petang to comment)
• Does he mark his students' books regularly ?
• What about his students' kerja kursus ? (For Heads of Departments to comment)
• How's the performance of the club under his guidance ? (For GPK Kokurikulum to comment)
• etc....

Then, and only then, will I grade the teacher X.

And also, during that meeting, all of us will come to an agreement on who's to get the Anugerah Perkhidmatan Cemerlang...

I HAVE A BIG PROBLEM. I AM NO LONGER PRINCIPAL. HOW DO I GET FEEDBACK FROM THE ADMINISTRATORS???

So I requested to meet up with them - to get some feedback from them. I also told Tuan PPD that without feedback from the school administrators, I can't and won't do the 2009 appraisal.

I was wondering why it took so long for the school's administrators to call me. I requested to meet with them before the long holiday started.

Anyway, yesterday I received a call from school to attend a meeting at 12.30 pm today. So I happily went to school this afternoon.

Only then did I realize that I was not welcome!!!!

I waited a long time for the meeting to start. Where was the GPK 1? She should be chairing the meeting. Someone mentioned that she has to attend a meeting outside school this afternoon. So, why ask me to come today ?

Then I was told that two Heads of Departments refused to attend the meeting, and that they cannot be contacted. They had switched off their mobile phones.

I cornered one of them. She then told me that she cannot understand why I still wanted to do the performance appraisal. After all, I have retired. She also questioned what right I have to chair the meeting since I am no longer principal !

I WANT TO CLARIFY:

• I DID NOT ASK TO DO THE PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL. I WAS ASKED TO DO IT.
• THIS AFTERNOON, THE NEW PRINCIPAL OF SMK MUNSHI SULAIMAN CONFIRMED THAT HE WILL BE DOING THE PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL FOR HIS PREVIOUS SCHOOL.
• THERE WAS NO INTENTION ON MY PART TO CHAIR THE MEETING THIS AFTERNOON. I WAS WAITING FOR THE GPK1 TO DO IT.

After a small confrontation inside the principal's office, the GPK 1 said that there was a "miscommunication". My question to the GPK 1 is "Did you try to communicate with me? How come there was no attempt to contact me, to ask me why I wanted to meet up with you all?"

To the two Heads of Departments, I thought we worked so well together. What happened? What made you think that I pandai-pandai want to do the penilaian prestasi? Whoever gave you the idea that I wanted to chair the meeting?

It is very unbecoming for a newly-retired principal to be treated in this manner, especially by fellow administrators. One thing for sure, I won't be going back to SMK Munshi Sulaiman.

10th Year Priesthood of Reverand Father Peter Ng

On Sunday, 3 January 2010, my church celebrated the 10th Year Priesthood Anniversary of Rev Fr Peter Ng. It was a very special occasion for us, parishioners of the Church of St Henry (located opposite Sekolah Tinggi Batu Pahat), because Fr Peter grew up in Batu Pahat and was ordained a priest in Batu Pahat.

It was a special occasion for me, too. I taught Fr Peter when he was in Form 4 and 5, Sekolah Menengah Dato Bentara Luar. I was his Chemistry teacher.

I watched this fine young man finish his Form 5, went for further studies, started working and then.......gave up everything and studied to become a priest.



It is God who chooses certain young men to serve Him by becoming priests. He..he.. God certainly didn't choose my son, Matthew. When he was very young, I remember him telling Peter "I don't want to be a priest. I want to have lots and lots of girlfriends." :)

Though a vocation (or divine call) is something personal between that young man and God, it must be allowed to grow. And vocations can only grow out of happy homes where children are taught a true sense of values, holy homes where children learn reverence for religion.

I am told that there is a special place in heaven for parents who have given a child to God in religion. Even so, would I have protested if Matthew expressed interest in becoming a priest? ;p

Fr Peter is presently studying for his Masters in Theology. I pray for his success and wish him well in all his future undertakings.