Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Today was the first day of The ISTEAM Expo and Assembly 2021. The Opening Ceremony was said to be very successful. Parents' testimonials are positive. It fulfilled their expectation of what an event is supposed to be like. It could even change students' mind, who first thought of having it online via zoom meeting, then decided to have it in class, offline.

What I see is that the Principal and the event's coordinator seem to be very satisfied with this. Their faces say so. 

Despite the 'great' success, there are things that disturb me. No offence to those who are very proud, but the presence of this feeling is real.

First, there was a moment where three students played in the playground while they were actually not allowed to. I was there next to the playground area with some other teachers. We let them play. I was actually going to ask them to not to play but instead to wait in the hall. However one teacher disagreed and told me not to do that. Then we just let and saw them play. However another teacher, who stuck with the rules, reported in the wa group chat. Some reactions came up. But we just let it slip away.

Second, that an event like this, for me personally, is not supposed to be this 'blink-blink'. This actually one of the things I disagree with the most of the Al Azhar system. They don't really look into the point. The aim to satisfy parents was fulfilled, but the energy we spent for this is unequal. The worst is that we still needed to work over time. 

All and all, I can't change this. I just need to adapt without losing my own perspective.