Dearest teacher.

Dearest teacher,

I'm going to write this in a civilised manner, hopefully without any agitation or any form of rudeness.
I will respect you because you are a human, that and you are my teacher. [And supposedly with more experience than me]

Your lessons are interesting in one way or the other, but this has gotten too far (for me). It started during the musical week, when I was wearing the grey jacket (that I had worn since the first few months of the year) and you told me that it wasn't really good to wear jackets on such a hot day. However, for me, it was not hot at all. It was alright for me, seeing as I was already used to the heat. I just shrugged and took off my jacket, because after all you were the senior and you [were supposed to] have more experience than me after all. I was fine with or without my jacket, but I preferred my jacket.

I think that was when it all started.

I continued to wear my grey jacket, and every time you came into class, you would tell me to take off the jacket. I would, because I didn't want to get into any trouble.

And then it turned back to the normal timetable, in the morning.
I still wore my jacket.
And you still told me it wasn't good for me to wear my jacket.

And today was when you triggered everything.
You made me so angry--so agitated and annoyed.
The last time a teacher made me feel that was in primary two.
And I was burning internally.

You said to do something about the jacket, but I insisted that I was fine and it was just in the morning, and that I had enough sense to actually take my jacket off if I felt hot. But you just stood there, at the door. And then you started saying things to the whole class about 'resilience' and how we had to be 'resilient' and that I would not be able to survive in colder countries in the future if I kept wearing my jacket in such a hot climate.

I took off my jacket, just to make you leave. Because I was literally burning with rage or even annoyance.

What is resilient?
It means to be able to recover quickly from difficult conditions.

May I ask, what does being able to 'recover quickly from difficult conditions' have anything to do with my wearing a jacket on a normal day because I felt like it? Were you trying to say that I had to break off from my comfort zone? It seems highly exaggerated to say that the jacket I was wearing on a daily basis was my comfort zone. Were you suggesting that without my jacket, I was in a 'difficult' situation? If you were trying to insinuate that--how could you assume such things? I certainly do remember taking the jacket off myself on several (often, I would think) occasions, all without any prompt from you.

Couldn't you--excuse my crudeness-- differentiate between 'resilient' and 'personal preference'?

Resilience is a quality found on the inner side (of the mind and emotions), not of the outer body. It is like fear, totally mental. What had it to do with my wearing a jacket? That, I still do not get.

And why do you have to force your thoughts on me? You were advising me not to wear my jacket because it was a little too hot in this climate. I accepted your advice and took it in good heed.

However, I do believe that it was up to me whether to act on the advice.

What you did not have to do (completely unnecessary) : force me to take off my jacket.

I can survive without my jacket. Also, regarding that point about not being able to survive in cold climates--excuse me, ridiculous!

Oh, so because I am wearing a short-sleeved jacket, I will not be able to survive in colder climates? Do you honestly reckon that I would wear sleeveless in a freezing temperature of minus three degrees? No. I would have to wear a big coat or even a windbreaker. And hence that point--is totally redundant. Furthermore, the human body adapts pretty well to any environment, hence I am certain I will not collapse and die upon reaching a country of a cold climate.

Furthermore, the only chances I will probably get to visit a country would probably be during the global classroom programme. During which I am sure, my host or the teachers will not allow me to go around skipping in singlets or even normal clothings outside the buildings--especially not when there is a storm. If I were to be trapped in a snow storm, I would lose my life immediately regardless of whether I am used to wearing a jacket and keeping warm, because snow storms are dangerous.

You are human, despite how much longer you have lived than me. And I do understand that we need mutual respect. So please do respect my preference and wishes to actually decide for myself whether to act on that piece of advice you've given me.

Please stop forcing me to take off my jacket.
It's already making me frustrated with you--furthermore what with you claiming homosexuality is wrong. (even though that is a totally different matter)

And I have one last poem for you.

Ironic little classroom

The teacher sits and enjoys
tea in class(room!)
while jotting down rules that
aren't too 'hard' for
'responsible, matured children' like
us--tiny, wide-eyed litle
kids stuck in big,
starchy uniforms and our
skirts almost reaching our feet.
'No eating, drinking or
Running or engaging (it's a new word I'll have to remember!)
in conversations during lessons--
And no phones...' the list
drags on to form tiny
question marks that float
above our little nodding heads.
'Sweep the floor, clean the
teacher's table--' that's our duty
rooster (or roster?) that clucks at us
every single day.
'And clean your table! It's yours--'
'And the teacher's table is getting dusty--'
Ironic (like spoons?) that they don't
care much for their own tables--
'Don't damage your tables! They're school property!'
Oh, now the school has marked
'my' table as theirs (And my chair!)
Lessons taught always differ from
each other--
From 'mutual respect, everyone is equal!'
To 'you shouldn't talk back to me! Apologise!'
When we're just sweetly asking (without
any co-no-ta-tions)
'Why are you using your phone, teacher?'
And in this pin-drop silence,
I fiddle with my speech cards--
And the teacher's leaning against the door,
checking her phone again and
murmuring under her breath to the
teacher next to her.
They share a laugh but
There's no one to call their names (and make them stand)
or even a glare.
'It's rude,' they say.

Yours,
a little ignorant, irritating, idiotic child who knows nothing at all. Oh, and wears a grey jacket.