First Crust

Tonight was the premiere of the new English drama serial, "First Class". To be honest, I was kind of looking forward to the show, as it was set in my previous teaching school. It was interesting to see Jade Seah and other actors walking around the school during the filming process. This, was about 2 months ago. Even though they were filming in school, I didn't really know much about the plot until i saw some snippets of the show being advertised on television. It didn't leave me impressed. However, I decided to give it a fair-go and watch it anyway. After all, being objective is what matters the most in this case. Yet, what i saw tonight, didn't leave me very impressed at all. In fact, i was rather disappointed. Its not that i cannot laugh at myself, but i felt that the show didn't really do justice to how much hard work teachers really put in for their students.

While i understand that the show is made for entertainment purposes, i felt that the show should also have attempted to inject a does of realism into the show. It is exactly this kind of show that sends out the wrong signals to students and the public over what a real school is like. Indeed, it seems to me that the show is more about the life of a zookeeper rather than that of a teacher. I think it would help if i went in-depth into a few particular characters to analyze why the show didn't quite make the cut in my opinion.

Firstly, the show trivialized the role of individual characters in the school. Take the example of the vice-principal, played by Nicholas Lee. He plays an extremely insecure VP. And the way he acts it seems as if he is a control freak who is extremely ineffective. In real life, VPs never ever 'arrow' work to teachers on the spot nor do they put down their staff in public. That, is unprofessional.

Secondly, the show also made rather broad stereotypes. For example, the effeminate home economics teacher. While i've got nothing against effeminate teachers, i felt that it was unfair to stereotype male and home economics teachers as being effeminate. There are many male home economics teachers who are really masculine. I won't even begin to talk about the discipline master. 

I really felt that the show could have done more to project a perhaps more accurate picture of what the school environment is really like. We don't exclude pupils, in fact, as far as possible, we try to be supportive of them. But when they are insolent, then, its discipline that's required. As teachers, we really try our best for our students, and we're concerned about their future, and not just our own future. Of course, we are also concerned for our own careers, to be realistic. But, i hardly doubt its to that extent as portrayed in the show.

Well, i just hope that the subsequent episodes will be better.

Remember students, this is a show and not real life. In real life, if you behave like one of these actors, you will be dealt with. Seriously. 

Enough ranting. 

Take care and stay safe

Mr Goh