Its never good enough

I know Ive been taken advantaged of when i stayed 20min past the scheduled time and the mother shoves another assessment book in my face.

Its just never enough. There;s always something new to learn, another exercise to do, more questions to ask.. blah blah..

And its one thing to stay back of my own accord as I feel i want to finish a particular chapter and i dont to leave a few more pages 'hanging there'.. or there's a test on the topic in the next week and the kid still has queries so i feel obliged to finish up.

Its another thing altogether when the mum doesn't show appreciation for my staying back but pops in 20min after the lesson was supposed to end with another assessment book and asked her kid 'Have you asked tuition teacher how to do those questions?'( as if im not around??)

Even her kid felt paiseh and said 'no time already,not urgent one'.

But she persisted, sitting down, waiting for the moment i finish assigning homework and shoved the assessment at me.. repeating, to me this time, ' oh, she tried these questions but some dunno how to do'

and waited expectantly for me to go on from there

I said 'Can i do this next week instead?'

She said ok, but looked rather displeased.

ANd i know ive been taken for granted.
No wonder my NIE friend said never to give your student extra time. It'll become an expectation. Not a bonus.

A thankless job indeed.

This sort of thing actually happens a lot in life. A long time ago, i blogged a 'theory' of starting from a base. Its another example of it at work.

Neways i figure i cant be a good teacher. Not cos i cant teach, but because i cant instil discipline. ANd i think discipline is like 60% of the job. Im too nuah to be a teacher. My threats dont hold. If i say i'll make you do double the work if you dont do my work, chances are i would not exercise that threat. If i say i'll complain to your mum the next time you start daydreaming, chances are i would let it go a few more times cos i'll feel bad abt bad-mouthing the kid and am to be blamed for her getting a scolding.

Hmmmm... Sleepy again..