40 Hate Bittersweet Goodbyes

The flag ceremony just ended when Sir Jim walked towards the faculty room to get his things for his first lecture in his advisory class, 4E.

He sighed as he thought that most of the time, he was irritated at his students for not understanding math. He always believed that math is an easy subject as long as they put their heart and interest in learning it.

He found it difficult to teach once students show disinterest in learning the subject but he found it amazing when at the last minute, they absorb the lessons quickly like a sponge. He wished that students learn like this every time so he won't be having a hard time in teaching them.

He got his things from the faculty room. While he was going down the stairs, Sir Cesar, the school's computer teacher talked to him.

"Sir J, can you come with me to the computer lab? I need to compute the grades for 4E's computer subject. I don't have the class list of your class and the cards got mixed up in the other classes. It would just be quick," Sir Cesar said and Sir Jim nodded. The cards have to be finalized today for them to give their students on Friday.

"Okay, Sir Cesar. I'll just visit my class and tell them to answer an exercise. Ms. Marie will watch over them for a while," he said and Sir Cesar smiled at him, feeling grateful for his help.

They walked towards 4E and Sir Cesar waited outside as Sir Jim entered the class to tell the instruction of the activity.

"Good morning, 4E," he greeted and the students went back to their proper seats. They stood up, went quiet, then looked at their adviser.

"Good morning, Sir Jim," they greeted in unison and Sir Jim nodded.

"You may take your seat," he instructed as the students thanked him and sat down, waiting for the class to start. They got their book, notebook and pen for their first period.

"Sorry, class. I have to go and do something in the computer lab for a while. I will return once I'm done with it," he said and the class shouted "yes" in unison when they heard their teacher being away for the meantime. This irritated Sir Jim.

'The audacity…'

He called their attention. "Class! Settle down!" They all went quiet when they saw their teacher's annoyance.

Sir Jim sighed. He was disappointed to see the students' excited reaction when he told them he would be leaving the class for a while. It was already their last school year in class yet they were still lazy to learn.

"Open your book to page 374. Solve those logarithmic evaluations," he instructed and the students groaned as they complained the moment they saw the problems they were going to solve.

Sir Jim ignored their reaction. "Write your answers on a one whole intermediate pad. Copy the given and write the complete solution. You will pass this at the end of the period. Understand," he added and the students said "yes, sir" passively. He sighed.

"I will leave now. It will be quick. President, write down those people who're not doing the activity. Give the paper to me once I return," he said to the president of his class before he left.

Sir Jim sighed again when he came out of his advisory class.

"Your students being hard-headed again." Sir Cesar commented and Sir Jim nodded at him.

"Yeah. Especially now that it's Monday, their first class is even math, with a seatwork to do first thing in the morning," he added as his answer and Sir Cesar laughed a little.

"Students these days, they're so lazy! Especially now that they're in their fourth year of high school. How ironic it is to see them like this when in their fourth quarter on their fourth year, they should be serious about pulling their grades up before graduation," Sir Cesar said and Sir Jim nodded. What his co-teacher had said was right.

Sir Jim thought of the situation he had in school. At first, he was against of being an adviser, especially for the fourth years. If a teacher is an adviser, the students under them would be like their children for 8-9 months in school. There would be a lot of happy and sad moments; challenges and memories that they would share as a class. Of course, there would be a sense of attachment.

'I hate bittersweet goodbyes.'

He didn't like being too attached to students. Of course, he would also be happy to know that he was part of how shaping the students' life. One of the joys of being a teacher is seeing their students succeed one of their educational phases in life.

They were walking in the main building of the school. The computer lab was quite far from where they are. They were already near the catwalk beside the three science laboratories. They need to go four floors down to reach the computer lab.

"Sir J, are you available this Friday night," Sir Cesar asked.

"I'll see. Why," he asked and they stopped beside to talk for a while.

"The other teachers were talking about having a night out. Y'know… stress relief from the hectic paper works. We would be eating in [1]Mandarin. All of the teachers from grade 7 until the fourth year are invited. They planned this yesterday," Sir Cesar answered and Sir Jim got excited when he heard the news.

'I needed a break! Why not?'

"Sure! I'll go. Teaching sure is stressful. We need to get together to enjoy once in a while," he said as Sir Cesar nodded and smiled.

"True. It's been a while since the faculty members went out. Remember what happened to Sir Lois? He had too much alcohol and had a concert," Sir Cesar recalled and the both of them laughed as they remember the funny memory they had with the other faculty members.

"I still remember. That was 2 months ago, wasn't it? I'm looking forward for Friday night," Sir Jim said but they were suddenly taken aback when they heard a series of screams coming from the main building.