Since I work here up north, I always travel back to Taiping. However, I never used the road leading to TMGS (Treacher Methodist Girls' School) to get to my house. That was until I received an email from Lean See. It was just plain sad for me to see what has happened physically to our beloved school. Academically, she is still as GREAT as ever... can't help it if I am a liiiitle bit bias here.
So, on May 13, 2008..what a coincidence, nasib baik tak Friday the 13th.., I went to check out the school. And I was lucky enough to be able to see Pn. Noriza, the principal herself, when I went to the office. Yup...Ms. Satwant's room, it was a no entry zone for me and most of my friends, at the time we were in there, except for perhaps Judy and Lean See. Even if we were allowed to enter this zone, I guess most of us would just make ourself scarce the minute we saw Ms. Satwant, no correct that, the minute we heard her footsteps. Till now, I am trying to figure out why were we so very afraid of the 'guru besar'. Looking at Ms Satwant, kecik je orangnya.
And Pn. Noriza was ever so willing to give me a tour of the school. The first place that we went after meeting the asst. principal was the former prefect's room at the science building. Memories of me cincanging the katak and testing our blood group for biology. During our time science was taught in Malay; so I only know katak, not frog.
The students at the time were sitting for their exam at the hall. The hall had this dark ambience. Not sure if it was physical or psychological on my part. I would strain my eyes trying to write down the answers, but that could also be because, as we get younger and younger (taboo to say the O-word), the eyes start to play tricks on the brain.
They were sitting on those plastic chairs like the ones at the ice kacang stall where we had ice kacang after netball, hockey, or athletics training. And the desks...I think if I were to search for my intricate and artful carvings, I would be able to find them. You can imagine how old the desks look like.
Then we went downstairs to the teachers' room. Boy, the room was dark..i mean really dark. Really felt like I was in an old gothic church...must be due to the influence of Enid Blyton's book. The blinders that are used to block the rain are so very pathetic. They are more suitable as historical collections at the museum next door.
The workshop we went in was hot. Pity the students who have to do their kemahiran hidup there. Unless we want to teach them how to mahir dalam hidup, mengharungi pelbagai cabaran dalam dunia yang penuh kepanasan, then the room is perfect. It was somewhere at the back of the home science room. T he room needs extra fan..unless we want the anak-anak to look like baked cookies.
Remember Ms. Satwant's house...it now houses a surau and a counselling room..Adoi...sad..so sad. again, dark..
Can't blame the current staff and students of TMGS - I too would do anything to save cost when I am on a budget, especially now with the price hike and all..
we need fans, chairs, chairs, ceilings etc etc etc etc to make TMGS live for at least another 100 years. And also ways to get rid of the monkeys and bats that have been invading the school compound regularly.
The file that was distributed via email only showed a little of what actually has taken placed to the physical features of the school. I don't have a camera. So, I couldn't snap any pictures to show as proof..but we can all go to Swee Bin and Lean See's blog to see them. I must remind myself to get a camera...ada bajet tak ni...
And the field.. must mention the field. I realize that I miss the field very much, and Mr. Quah, Seong Chooi, Zarina (Zainuddin, the athlete, not the actress;-)), Ming Choo (also class of '80 head girl)..after a couple of decades and into this millenium, the field still looks like the way I left it in 1981.
I am sure we can all do something to help our alma mater which has produced many successful and/or popular individuals..people like
- Asiah Abu Samah, now a Tan Sri (former DG of MOE)
- Hasmah Abdullah, now a Dato' (the current DG of LHDN)
- Saran Kaur, now a Prof (one of the DVCs at UKM)
- the Fenner's sisters (Zahrah and Juriah, I think they are either the mother or aunt of KRU respectively, have to get the facts right later)
- Junaidah Aman (former national athlete)
- Lum Sau Fong (former national hockey player)
- Ching Joo Lian (former national gymnast)
- Farawahida, the singer
- Anne and Geetha the radio hosts of HotFM and THR Raaga respectively
- Ariza Zainal Abidin, co-owner of Alya and Co
- Azura Zainal Ratin of TV3
- Fatma Najla, obygyn and medical columnist
- Hasnita Jalaluddin, business lady
- and all the mothers who bring up wonderful successful kidz, all the wives who sacrifice their lives for their husband, and all daughters who make their parents proud for being good citizens of the world
The one thing I have learned going back to TMGS is this - The staff and students are very upbeat despite the dilapidating condition of the school's building.. it could be because, compare to those who were hit by the earthquake in China and typhoon in Mynmmar, their life in the school is still fine..The school still stands.
Now, I think also I need to find some time to check out our primary school at the most beautiful lake garden in Malaysia ..I can bet she too needs our help.
I hope the state and the federal government will help missionary schools like TMGS, Convent, and St. George. Look at their contribution. Don't look at them as an entity that can be cast to the side in terms of financial aid because of the word 'Methodist', 'Convent' or 'Saint'. After all they are trying to educate the future generations of Malaysia and, in some cases, of other countries.
