Restore Your Smile

The Story of Teachers

The next morning, James came to school early. He intends to chat with Mr. Arif about the Princess Gang.

After arriving at the teacher's room, it turns out that Mr. Santo has come and is waiting for him. He had already heard what happened with James yesterday, both about his performance after from the IPA XI class, as well as the subsequent incident where James dared to call Priscillia to the BK room.

"Good morning, Mr. James," he said as James arrived at his desk.

"Good morning, Mr. Saint." James replied to the greeting.

"Sorry, Sir. Don't mean to interfere, but is it true that Mr James has been targeted by the mob as well?" ask Mr. Santo to be brave.

James remained silent. Actually he does not include people who like to tell stories about himself, especially to people who are not too close. But he remembered the words of the Doctor yesterday, that Mr. Santo was the last person in this school who was the target of the Princess Gang before him.

"It looks like it is, sir." James finally chose to speak as is.

"So, what have you experienced?" ask again.

"Bumping the mop bucket, almost tripping over the rope, and yesterday the egg fell."

"That's almost similar to what I'm going through too, sir."

"That means Mr. Saint is a new teacher as well? " Change James asked.

"Yes. Me and a few new teachers came in at the beginning of the semester. One of them who entered along with me was Miss Evi, an English teacher who sat to the right of Father. So, the age we teach here has not even reached 6 months," explained Mr. Santo.

"I was shocked when I experienced what you are experiencing now, because that time the only thing I experienced was. Some of the other new teachers I asked, were most only troubled by their attitudes and questions in the classroom. But they didn't get watered or flour fall like me.

I only understood when I got an explanation from the doctor Lusi in the UKS, if the one who suffered such an attack was just a male teacher. And I'm the only new male teacher that's coming in this semester." Mr. Saint told his story, exactly as the Doctor told James yesterday.

When Mr. Santo told me, Miss Evi came and occupied his desk. He did not want to interfere with the conversation of the two men beside him. But upon hearing the term 'attack', he could not help but get involved in the conversation.

"I'm sorry if I suddenly took part in the talk of the Fathers, but the 'attack' that Mr. Santo was referring to just now, is it something to do with Priscillia and friends?" ask Miss Evi.

"Rubber, Miss," replied Mr. Saint.

"So it's true that I heard that Mr. James was attacked yesterday and finally you called Priscillia to BK?" ask Miss Evi again, this time to James.

"Yes, Miss." James' replacement replied.

"Sorry, Sir. But is Mr James not afraid of being fired? Honestly, all this time I was also very disturbed by their attitude in class. But I try to hold back from remembering their family background." Miss Evi recounted her complaint.

"That's also what I wanted to ask Mr. James. As long as Mr. James and Miss know, Priscillia has never participated in outdoor sports activities. There's only reason. Since I don't want to look for trouble, I'm just silencing it. But the truth is I'm annoyed and feel disrespected as a teacher." Mr. Santo followed along to pour out the problems he experienced.

"If asked, fear of being fired or not, yes fear. But I'll call Priscillia to talk about it in a good way. Even if it was considered a mistake, how else would it be? Fire it! As long as I know, if in this school there has been a power abuse so severe. And I'm grateful, I don't need to linger working in such a place" James replied firmly.

The two teachers were silent at James' words. They acknowledged the truth in the words of the young teacher before him, but they did not dare to bear the risk.

"I'm not as brave as Mr. James. This is all I've been thinking about resigning after this 1st semester is over. I can't stand their behavior" I'm Miss Evi.

"If you may know, how bad they did in class to make Miss feel like this?" ask James.

"They ask absurd questions, which have nothing to do with matter. Even if they ask in English. They also do not hesitate to humiliate Me in class, if I do something wrong. I am also human.

I know most of them were sons of the sultan who had been abroad many times. Many of them are fluent in English. Even their English is better than mine. But as Saint said, I also need to be valued as a teacher." Miss Evi let out her heart.

After Miss Evi told me such a story, all fell silent. They both understand how he feels. The feeling of helplessness that the Poor feel when dealing with the Rich. A feeling of pressure is the influence of a power.

"I can't comment much. Of course I hope Miss Evi can rethink the decision of Miss, because finding a job now is not easy. Besides, it's sad if we lose a co-worker as beautiful as Miss?" Mr. Santo tried to melt the atmosphere.

Hearing that Miss Evi blushed in embarrassment. James who heard and saw such a response became even more distraught himself.

And finally the conversation closed automatically because the school entrance bell rang. Mr. Santo and Miss Evi resigned because they had a teaching schedule.

James is still sitting at his desk. He plans to face the principal to hand over the RPL he has made.

Looks like the key to the answer to this case is in Mr. Arif. Maybe after talking to him we can know more about them, either their personal or even their target criteria. I need to find a chance to talk to her soon ! james said in his heart.

...****************...

"Sorry, Sir. Can I have some time to talk for a moment?" ask James.

"Oh ... With pleasure. What do you want to talk about, Mr James?" The old man asked back.

"I'm interested in what Mr. Arif said about Priscillia and our friends in our previous talks, sir. May I know further?"

"Does this have anything to do with what Mr James had yesterday?" Mr. Arif asked with a wise smile engraved on his face.

"Yes, Sir. Apparently you've heard of it too."

"Of course I heard. Many teachers were surprised to see Mr. James' performance at the time. And as if that was not enough to cause an uproar, the incident of Mr. James directly calling Priscillia after that was immediately a hot topic," said Mr. Arif while chuckling.

James was silent to hear Mr. Arif exposing the effects of the incident he experienced yesterday. A reddish tinge began to appear in his ears. He did not expect that his spontaneous act of calling Priscillia yesterday could be talked about so much among teachers.

Seeing James who was speechless, Mr. Arif immediately changed his attitude, "Sorry, sorry, Don't get me wrong. I'm not laughing at Mr. James. I was surprised and amazed by Mr. James' firm attitude. As long as I teach here, no BK teacher has dared to call Priscillia and her comrades to the BK space."

"Sorry, Sir. If you may know, how long have you been teaching here?" ask James.

"Not long. I just entered this school last year, along with Priscillia. The difference is I signed up as a teacher, he signed up as a student." Mr. Arif chuckled again.

"Have you been told about Priscillia?"

"certainly already. Before the new school year begins, the teachers are gathered first by the principal. We are told that this year the school is entrusted with educating the children of the most influential people in the city. One of them is the daughter of the chairman of his own foundation. Therefore we are asked to pay more attention to our attitude and professionalism in teaching."

"Do you know about their actions towards the new teachers, which occurred a few months after they entered?"

"Yes, I know. There were several male teachers who experienced events that were almost similar to those that Mr. James experienced at that time. Honestly, at that time I was also anxious to wait for my turn. But luckily that turn never came."

"Do you know or think of any particular reason, why you can't target them?"

"No. I don't know" replied Mr. Arif short.

"Then, what was their group's attitude when you were studying?" James changed the course of the conversation. He remembered what Miss Evi had experienced. Something that may be categorized as mental hazing, referring to the story of doctor Lusi before.

"As I said before, they're good, smart, critical kids." Mr. Arif replied with a smile.

"They didn't do anything that might trouble you? For example asking strange or difficult things? Or maybe embarrass Mr Arif if you make a mistake?"

Mr. Arif laughed. "Yes ... Sometimes they do ask strange questions, something out of the material being studied. But as long as it's related to physics, I don't have a problem. Because it's my field of science, right?

Of course I also had trouble answering it. That's where I see that these kids are critical. Their curiosity is high. But I don't think it's anything troublesome. I'm proud because it means that my student thinks. And that means they're smart.

Shame Me if I'm wrong? Hm ... I don't think yeah. I was never wrong. Wrongly calculating or miswriting the formula. Understand, I realize I'm old enough. And they remind me. Does that include embarrassment? I don't feel that way." Mr. Arif ended his long answer.

Hearing that James was stunned. Difference in way of thinking! It could be that Mr. Arif and Miss Evi experienced similar treatment. But the way they respond is opposite. So the effect caused is different. Mr. Arif is still teaching with pleasure. Miss Evi taught with great distress and ended up wanting to resign.

So it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the power play they had previously suspected. Mr. Arif also knows the background of Priscillia's family and friends. But he continued to teach as usual. That's because he has a different point of view.

James was amazed by this teacher in front of him. He also wanted to learn from Mr. Arif how to judge things without prejudice. Become a true educator. Maybe this is what papa-mama meant at their talk last night.

"Thank you, sir. I learned a lot from our conversation this time. Sorry if I asked you too much." James closed the conversation.

"What's wrong. I'm glad I could help. I know Mr. James is also trying to recognize his students in order to be a good BK teacher. Keep the spirit up, sir.

Being a teacher requires a lot of patience. I know, sometimes they can be naughty, even a little out of bounds. His name is also young. There's still a lot of energy. But I hope that with the scientific field of Mr. James, they can get the right guidance and direction in acting." Mr. Arif conveyed his support and hope to James.

"Yes, Sir. Thank ye. I'll remember." Then James withdrew.

A lot of new mindsets that James learned this time. He was told that he still had a lot to learn. Next, he had to talk back to Priscillia. But this time to better recognize the character of the Princess. Not like yesterday, the atmosphere is like a hearing or debate with a interlocutor.

But James knew he had to wait for the right time, because Priscillia had just called him yesterday. If he calls in a relatively close time, there will be misunderstandings and other unwanted effects.

James chose to be patient. He realized what his mother said yesterday was true, if Priscillia is also one of the key figures to explain or even end the case of hazing this teacher. Yeah ... Hopefully this will end soon, James prayed in his heart.

...****************...