THE SIC HOSTEL MASTERS

By Dato' Shaari Mohd Noor

A teacher was tasked to reside in the hostel in order to supervise the hostellites assisted by hostel Prefects. Since the teachers quarters attached to the hostel building came with extra rooms a couple more bachelor teachers were housed there with the title Asst Hostel Masters.They were from the West Coast having 'graduated' from Malayan Teachers Colleges in the United Kingdom, something to look up to with awe at that time. Their rooms were directly opposite our Day Room used for our prep. One night the music from their room was so loud thus disturbing our studies. Getting fed up one of the students flung rambutan skins right into one of these teacher's room. This angered them.

Subsequently a hostel assembly was called and we all were given verbal thrashings. One of the Asst.Hostel Masters even challeged the thrower of the rambutan skins to a fight. But no one responded though after the assembly the particular student, a body builder, informed us with glee that if there was a fight that teacher, a skinny fellow, would be flattened like roti canai from the Kedai Junction!

The writer would not blame this particular student because these couple of teachers, young as they were too, liked to display their arrogance and looked down upon us as if we just came from Lojing !

THE WALKING TIFFIN CARRIER

Those particular teachers supplemented their hostel food with outside ones sent up in tiffin carriers. One of them gave a standing instruction that if he did not return from his usual outing by 9 pm. the students could eat his share. So, one night he returned looking for his tiffin carrier. As it was already 9.30pm  the students naturally took possession of the food. Before they could share the 'loot' they could see that the teacher was running amok....there began the passing of the tiffin carrier from one scared fellow to another  ...until a cheeky fellow plonked it into a Prefect's room.That poor Prefect had a lot to explain to this teacher.

WRITER'S PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

It was Chinese New Year and one of these teachers was presented with bottles of beer by his friend. As he was about to finish his drink outside his room I happened to pass by whereupon he ordered me to wash his beer mug. I hesitated while being apalled at the fact that strong drink could find its way into educational institution. But since he threatened me I had to obey him..

In another instance after delivering a message from my class teacher to another teacher un another class. ..as I exited the class and forgetting to close its door this teacher (not the Asst Hostel Master) shouted at me in a thunderous voice that could bring the roof down: "Close the door you MANNERLESS IDIOT". In later years one of my friends told to me to forgive him. YES I DO AND I DID. But to forget is a bit difficult.

PROLOGUE

The last paragraph is just a few instances of a few teachers only.Let be remembered that MOST of our teachers in Sultan Ismail College were a dedicated lot with some of whom were like fathers to us. Without their unselfish guidance we would not be where we are today. They were the real 'kingmakers'. I call upon Muslim friends to recite Alfatihah......to those Muslim teachers who have left us. May Allah reward them with His Blessings and place their souls amongst the solehin. Ameen Ya Rabbal Aalameen.