A Cotyledon and a Charismatic Adult
Monday, September 24, 2007
A revision lesson on the adaptation of a water hyacinth plant which allows it to float on water.
An interview with a recipient of the 2007 President's Award for Teachers, Mdm Yip Jee Cheng
also known as Mrs Jessie Ching to her students and colleagues
18 years’ teaching experience
Current position: Senior Teacher & Head of Level for Primary Six, teaching English Language, Mathematics and Science at Mayflower Primary School
1. After 18 years on the job, why do you still teach?
I find meaning in making a positive impact on the children under my charge. I’ve been teaching 11- and 12-year-olds for most of my teaching career. These children are at a very impressionable age - a difficult period when children are beginning to find a voice for their opinions and ideas, and want to be heard. They can also be more assertive. It’s really heart-warming every time I learn that I have found a way into the hearts and minds of these pupils.
Ultimately, I derive great satisfaction in witnessing my pupils soaring to greater heights as they strive to deliver their best in society. This continues to fuel my passion for teaching.
2. If you were to leave the teaching profession tomorrow, what would be the top three memories you would bring with you?
I would bring along all the success stories that I have “written” with the children under my charge. These are the journeys that we have made together. Every child is unique and as long as he/she has tried his/her best from the first day, I consider that it has been a success. These are stories of perseverance, disappointment, pain, achievement, and jubilation. Simply priceless!
3. And what would be the three most important items (from your desk) that you would take if you left?
I would bring along all the notes of appreciation from parents, pupils and colleagues. The rest will be the memory of the journeys that I have made with these people.
The school garden provides valuable resources for a science lesson about water hyacinths.
4. What is the most memorable thing your students have ever said to you?
One pupil, Ng Kit Chong, wrote the following poem:
You have always been there for me and us, 6J.
You have made our dreams come true.
‘Never give up!’ you always say
and now I tell you that we love you :)
Another pupil, Kelvin Tong, gave me the following verses:
With a special gift for learning,These are words that I will always treasure.
And with a heart that deeply cares,
You add a lot of love
To everything you share,
And even though you mean a lot
You’ll never know how much
For you helped to change the world
Through every life you touch,
You sparked the creativity
In all the 6F pupils
And helped them to strive for their goals
That could not be bought,
No words can truly tell
For all that you did so well!A teacher’s purpose is not to create students in his own image
But to develop students who can create their own images.
5. If you were something out of one of your science textbooks, what would you be?
I would like to be the seed leaves (also known as cotyledons) of every seedling. Cotyledons provide energy for the early stages of the germination process, until the seedling is able to manufacture its own food via photosynthesis. As a teacher, I facilitate learning and help pupils to build on their confidence and realise their potential.
I believe I hold the key to help them realise that all of them can excel. It is more than academic excellence; it is also about aesthetics, sports and character excellence. It is the whole child I am developing.
Scaling new heights - Mrs Ching with her students.
6. How would you like to be remembered by your students?
I would like to be remembered as their “charismatic adult”. This is a term used by the late psychologist Dr Julius Segal. He emphasised that for children to develop resilience, they need a charismatic adult - an adult whom they can look up to, to gather strength from, and who nurtures hope and a positive outlook in their lives.
7. What advice or words would you share with your colleagues and students?
Never give up. Nothing is impossible. A dream remains a dream until you work on it.
Read the interviews with the other 2007 recipients of the President's Award for Teachers:Mdm Parameswary d/o Sundar Rajoo, Montfort Junior School, Mdm Norlita bte Marsuki, Sembawang Secondary School and Mr Yeo Leng Quee, Peirce Secondary School.