Write about a conflict you had with a teacher or parent and how it was resolved.

Written by: Claire Koh (Sec 1-3, 2023)

It was a mundane morning. Clouds drifted across the clear blue sky, signalling the end of the rain. It was yet another day of Home-Based Learning. As I set up my laptop for the usual morning check-ins with our form teachers, I pondered, When will this pandemic end? How long are we going to have Home-Based Learning? 

“Class, please refer to Google Classroom to check on what online and offline work you have for today.” Mrs Tan, my form teacher instructed, as I logged on to the online video conference. 

Immediately, I checked Google Classroom and Student Learning Space (SLS) to see if I had any extra online work. Having done my online work late at night the day before, I sat back onto my chair, munching my sandwich.

“Now, I’d like to inform everyone about today’s offline work. Your English teacher has requested you all to do chapter 6, worksheet 7. Your Math teacher has also requested everyone to do…” Mrs Tan announced, in a stern voice.

I stared at the pile of undone worksheets on my right. I thought to myself, why bother telling us to do our offline work instead of checking whether we did so?

“That’s it for today. Class, you may now exit the meeting.” Mrs Tan said. Instantly, I exited the meeting, switching to another tab. Bubbling with excitement, I started playing my favourite online game, forgetting about my offline work. 

Within what seemed like a mere few minutes, I received a notification on Google Classroom that Mrs Tan had wanted to hold another meeting. Logging on to the meeting, I wondered why Mrs Tan had wanted to hold another meeting. 

“My apologies, I had forgotten to inform you that school will re-open next week, Monday,” Mrs Tan announced, as I sat up straight, listening in horror, “ Please complete all your offline and online work by next Monday. Any failure to do so will receive disciplinary action.” 

Hearing that, my face turned deathly pale and my hands turned cold and clammy. As we logged off the meeting, I glanced over to the mountain of worksheets sitting by my desk. I knew I was in deep trouble. 

As I rummaged through the messy pile of worksheets, I thought to myself, How am I going to finish this? Just as I started to do one worksheet which was supposed to be done two months ago, my mother came into my room. 

“Hey honey, is there any offline work today? Your father and I are thinking of bringing you for lunch.” I said yes, instead of usually lying that there was no offline work. Nodding, my mother walked out of the room, closing the door behind.

A shiver ran down my spine as I broke out in cold sweat. Quickly, I immediately get back to doing my offline work. It was a Friday, how was I going to finish two months worth of worksheets in two days? 

Two days passed, and it was Monday. Everyone in school was full of excitement. “Hey Jane! It has been so long!” Mary, my best friend exclaimed cheerfully. However, anxiety was written all over my face as I had not completed even half of the worksheets. Immediately, Mary knew that something was wrong and asked me what had happened. Sighing, I explained to her how I decided to procrastinate doing offline work and play online games instead. Hearing my explanation, Mary has no words. She could only tell me that I was in for a scolding from my teachers. 

As I dragged my feet into the classroom, I took a glance at Mrs Tan, with my other subject teachers beside her, welcoming the class back to school.

“Good morning class, good to have you back. Your teachers would like to collect your worksheets.” Mrs Tan announced, as I fidgeted in horror. 

As Mrs Tan proceeded to collect my worksheets from me, she realised that I had only done less than half of them. An angry frown creased her forehead.

“Jane Tan. Why is it that you have done only close to half of your worksheets?” Mrs Tan asked sternly, glaring at me with fury in her eyes.

“I…I was playing online games.” I hesitantly told the truth. 

Fuming with rage, Mrs Tan ordered me to follow her to the discipline master office. I was red with embarrassment, as the whole class eyed me. I was sweating buckets. 

In the office, I glanced at Mrs Tan explaining to our discipline master the situation. I knew I was in big trouble. As expected, Mr Tan, our discipline master, gave me a severe tongue-lashing. Then, he proceeded to call my parents. My mother was extremely furious that I had been lying to her. Boiling with rage, she dragged me home and gave me a spanking that I would never forget. I was then suspended for a week in order to finish my work. Not only was I required to finish my work. Not only was I required to do my work without breaks, my mother also took away all my electronic gadgets.

This incident was etched in my mind forever. I deeply regretted my actions. If I had not been distracted with my laptop and the online games, I would not have been stuck in that trouble. After this incident, I rarely used my laptop as I feared that I would get addicted again. This piece of technology had caused a great predicament for me!