Who is the queen of the classroom?

The Japanese drama Queen of the Classroom has stirred quite a controversy when it was launched in Japan and Hong Kong. The story is about an elementary school teacher, Maya Akutsu, who talks and moves as gracefully and magnificently as a queen, so to speak, but treats her students in a devilish way.

Akutsu has her own unique teaching philosophy. She wants to show students the stark realities of life before they enter the society, which are slavery for low-achievers and disobedient students, betrayal of friends when it comes to comflicts of personal interests and insatiable demand of hard work.

Despite waves of complaints among teachers and parents, the drama has topped the TV ratings chart. And it's not surprising to find that many Gen-Xers do identify with Akutsu's debatable teaching philosophy.

Being a Gen-Xer myself, I still remember the old school days when teachers were really kings and queens in the classroom and absolute obedience was a must. I still remember my swollen, redden hands when they were slashed by plastic rulers because of my poor handwriting (corporal punishment was not yet banned during my first few years of elementary school. Of course that was unjust as I was sure my handwriting was easily comprehensible), the numerous recesses I spent standing in the playground or outside the staff room because of failures to hand in homework or bring back textbooks, the copying punishment given to the whole class because a few students chat in lessons, the loads of homework having to finish within a short period of time and the sky-high demands of work from my high school English teacher.

I'm sure my experience does not sound novice to other Gen-Xers and I'm sure they have more exciting stories to tell. Those school days thick with strict school rules and demanding teachers have formed our collective memories.

Deep down each of us lies our own version of Ms. Akutsu--be her the OCD-ish discipline teacher who couldn't even accept a dress 1 mm shorter than the standard, the strict English teacher who kept hurling reading and writing assignments at you, the poker-faced principal who wouldn't talk with students, the demanding PE teacher who required students to run miles in sweltering heat or the finger-snapping class teacher who couldn't tolerate a tiny buzz of noise.

Yet, when we look back, we have no more hard feelings and some do feel blessed about the tough training we received. We were trained to deal with harsh situations and were shown the standard necessary to reach if we wanted to excel. I'm not an advocate of corporal punishment or even corporal mortification. And I don't believe in the extreme practice as Akutsu does in the drama. But I do believe in tough training and the value of hardship. I do believe, to certain extent, pain is good. (Of course, I also believe in positive reinforcement. I'm not an extremist.)

Every one of us knows how a vaccine works--a weakened strain of viruses or bacteria is injected in our bodies so as to provoke the production of antibiotics. The same mechanism applies to the development of qualities like strength, determination and endurance--they are nurtured in hardship or even mildly painful experiences.

But now, the tide has turned. Teachers are no longer the kings or the queens in the classroom. Students are.

A couple of days ago, a small piece of news caught my attention. Some parents complained that a school imposed 'corporal punishment' on their Form one children during the orientation camp as their dear sons and daughters have to do 10 push-ups if they fail to observe the rules.

With free-falling population and schools struggling to survive in a competitive market, schools cling to life on parents' and students' comment. That's why school principals have a hopeless fear of complaints from parents and negative publicity.

In an era during which corporal punishment is defined as 10 push-ups and mental torture as having been told to produce a piece of English writing every week, it's not surprising to find the next generation more and more fragile.

Standing in class because students fail to bring the necessary textbooks?
'Oh no, that's definitely a torture to my boys and girls as they will probably break their legs after standing long time.'

Copying school rules because students fail to observe them?
'That's outrageous! Copying is meaningless and harm the vulnerable hands of my child!'

Poor academic results because the students don't work hard enough?
'You should have told me earlier that my kids are not doing well at school! It's your responsibility to get me informed of my kids' every single movement at school.'

Conduct mark deduction because students instigate a verbal fight with others?
'My kids are angels. They would never do such things.'
'It is your responsibility to teach my own sons and daughters. They are your students.'

Ok, parents don't really say these things, but they mean it. Believe me, these are what is happening at school. Many children of this generation are over protected and leading sedentary lives. Do you believe that some don't even know how to peel a banana?

When I was still a secondary student, I was always told my generation was slacker than the previous one. I thought it was crappy as we were doing well. Things have been changing after all.

Now at my mid-twenties, when people say the next generation is getting slacker, I can't agree more.

Well... the older one gets, the more grumbles one has over the youngsters.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Had 12 hours of sleep and an hour of afternoon nap today.

Feeling fully energized and gratified when I woke up ^u^

I'm the kind of person who needs lots of sleep to fuel my days and would spend half of my life in sleep if I'm allowed to. Just can't imagine how I survive the 5-hour-of-sleep days when school starts a week later...