Teaching is more than just feeding knowledge. Effective teaching focuses on why and how to do it too. The goal should be to spark each student’s imagination, to find a hook in their heart and mind so that they feel a need to learn the material. Time to time we hear tales of teachers proving to be extraordinary when it comes to their passion for teaching.
Here’s one such story of a teacher’s journey chasing his dreams and motivating hundreds of students to dream and reach for the sky. Kathiresan Moorthy “The Malaysian Samuthirakani” who started his primary education at SJKT Karak following his Secondary education at SMK Setiawangsa, Kuala Lipis.
Always fascinated by teachers and dreaming to be one, Kathiresan unfortunately failed to secure a credit in the national language during his SPM exams — which was one of the main setbacks from pursuing his dreams. Refusing to give up, he sat for the repeating paper which he again failed and continued to attempt for the following years — while working part-time in the canteen of a teaching academy. Watching the teaching trainees made him hungry to achieve his dream even more, and after 6 long attempts — he took a vow that this would be the last and gave all in in 7th attempt. He finally aced the paper , clearing it with an A.
Kathiresan found new hope in pursuing his dreams, soon after he was in a school teaching as a substitute teacher, seeing his hard work and passion for teaching the school offered him a 3-year contract to teach. At this point the teacher wasn’t exactly the certified teacher, he wanted to be more than a substitute and applied for teaching courses. For 3 long years he was rejected every time, just when all hopes seems lost he was offered a teaching bachelor at Raja Melewar Teacher Training Institute. Kathiresan graduated with a first-class degree and the Praktikum cemerlang Award.
The teacher soon found his way to his first posting 400km away from his house in SK Kampung Aur, Rompin. Located in the rural part of Pahang, the main population living there were Orang Asli and many of the students there have never seen an Indian man up close before. When he first arrived there the only accommodation available for him was an old wooden house build in the 60s. Speaking to RAAGA, he said…
“The living conditions were extreme, there are days I would wake up and find a snake slithering in my bed . I lost count of the sleepless nights. When it rains there would-be power cuts and I would sit in the dark all night long with just the light from a candle. I was alone and the only family I had were my students, that place did a number on me. “
Despite the harsh living conditions “the sattai teacher” was determined to teach and made his way to the school only to find the students were struggling with Mathematics and his attempt to teach the old-fashioned way didn’t really get through to the students as they were shy to the newcomer. Kathiresan took 2 months to gain the trust of his students he would star he classes with his version of 3M “ Makan , Minum & Menari” where he would give his students snacks in the begging of the class and let them dance to a song every day, he would only start he lessons once the kids are cheering and happy.
After he gained their trust, he came up with more unique was of teaching he tried to simplify whatever he could, he insisted to use popsicle sticks as instrument to teach as the kids loved to eat ice cream. Soon after he was the students favorite not just because he a good teacher but as a friend, Kathiresan notices lots of students arrive to the school hours earlier due to the school bus schedule.
Wanting to do something for his students in those hours, he came up with interesting games to play with kids — chess, sports, and teaching mathematics using rocks and leaves. He even took around 20 of his motivated students jogging for a few minutes, everyday to help them get in shape! The teacher had to drive in the dark early as 5 am to be with his students but he didn’t mind and added…
“They are like my kids, I wouldn’t let my kids be alone unsupervised. I love spending time with them if my presence helps them even a little, I’m happy.”
Through his journey for 2 years and 6 months in the school he has achieved remarkable things where he saw his students who couldn’t even count to 10 — passing their math test. Kathiresan was happy seeing his students progress, recognition to his efforts the Rompin District Education Office has awarded him and praised his efforts. Now he has been transferred to a new school where he awaits for his passion for teaching to mold more young minds!
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Just when we taught the teacher couldn’t be more inspiring, he surprised us with news — where he adopted a student losing their dad. Under the teacher’s guidance the child excelled well in all his public examinations, where in UPSR he got 6 ‘A’s, PMR 7 ‘A’ 1’B’ followed by 7B, 2B and 1C in SPM. Now he is now enrolled at IPG Kampus Bahasa Melayu and will be graduating this year. Kathiresan also mentored two others as his students, both whom are successful today.
A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning. Teachers like Kathiresan are truly a blessing, we are expecting great thing from him! Do you have your own real life Sattai teacher? Share it with us. To all, Happy Teacher’s Day!
via GIPHY