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 Teachers instruct and share knowledge, motivate and inspire those under their charge. They transform and enrich lives, and shape the future by nurturing the leaders of tomorrow. With such heavy responsibilities, it is no wonder that the teaching profession is said to be the noblest of all professions; it is the profession that teaches all other professions.
In this issue, the spotlight is on teachers. Read on and find out how they view their profession as they share with us their aspirations, challenges and teaching experiences. |
Times
have changed, but the
ACS Spirit
Lives on at ACS (Independent)! |
Dr Andrew
Yong
Dean of
Physics |
 I am a true blue ACSian and the most memorable days as a student in ACS were the four secondary years from 1989 to 1992. During then, I grew up with the same bunch of classmates as we were the only Higher Chinese class in the cohort. I spent a lot of time too with friends in the Boys’ Brigade, and we were very closely knit due to our small cohort size. Back then, as the number of students were much smaller than what we have now, it was easier for us to get to know each other better.
Moving over to the new Dover Road campus in 1992 was memorable, as there is still some parts of the school that I can associate my secondary school days with. Examples are places like my former classroom, 4A3, which is the third last classroom on the green level. Or SAC vendors who were around when I was still a student, like Meng Keow (Drink stall OASIS) and the chicken rice stall lady (West Wing stall). And even my former teachers and non-academic staff whom I remember from back then, like Mrs Alice Teoh, Mrs Yoon Lay Beng and Mdm Asmah. The sense of familiarity with places and people is heart-warming and it is what makes me want to return to the school to teach.
Now that I am a teacher in the same school I attended, I have noticed that although some things have changed, ACS students are still fun-loving and will always rise to the occasion when required. Indeed, the good old ACS Spirit lives on!
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Phee Beng
Chang
Deputy Dean
(Acting) TOK & Deputy Prefect Master |
 As
I was from a neighbourhood Mandarin-speaking
school, there were some challenges settling in
when I first joined ACS (Independent). I recall
contemplating a transfer on my first day in
school as I felt so ‘lost’ with the boys around
me speaking in strange accents - and they spoke
English!
However, what changed my life were the wonderful
teachers of ACS (Independent). For example,
under the tutelage of Mdm Loh We Fong, the F9
grading I received for my first Additional
Mathematics exam eventually turned to an A2 for
my ‘O’ Levels! I must have given my teachers
much grief and anxiety, but I think in quieter
and calmer moments when my classmates and I quit
our shenanigans (these moments were few and far
between), they must have been confident that
they have prepared us all well.
I returned to ACS (Independent) to teach after
completing my Master’s degree as I knew I could
utilise my strengths to good use and make a
positive difference to my charges. It was not
long before I realised that the students I was
teaching was no different to those during my
time – confident and easy-going. Dealing with
them as a teacher gave me a sense of déjà vu as
I witnessed the same growing pains, squabbles
and camaraderie I had once experienced. In
short, they are alright; paraphrasing our
Principal Mr Hodge, they are not sweating the
small stuff, and have their heads tightened on
right when it comes to the stuff that really
matter. As long as we continue to have dedicated
teachers like I used to have, the students will
remain alright.
No, not merely alright, but in the exponential
realisation of our school motto. What is yet to
be is however already outstanding and ever
growing better. I am happy to have been given
the change to just tag along for the ride. |
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