I was hired at Rajang Teachers’ College in Binatang (later renamed Bintangor) on April 26, 1979. At the age of 25, I was tasked with teaching two subjects: Philosophy of Education and Psychology of Education.
Philosophy involves examining the impact of the thinking of great philosophers from the past on our present educational pursuits. We started with Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Tagore, Confucius, Bertrand Russell, John Dewey, Paulo Freire, David Hume, John Locke, and many others.
In Psychology, we covered the development of children and adults, including the ideas and models of Jean Piaget, Sigmund Freud, B.F. Skinner, Albert Bandura, Ivan Pavlov, Carl Rogers, and many other psychologists.
Although both subjects were quite dry, I used many interesting examples from our present-day life to relate to their ideas.
Initially, I did not have the opportunity to teach Arts Education as there were a few lecturers from Kuala Lumpur and locally trained individuals handling it.
However, in co-curricular activities, I volunteered to establish the Photography Club and fully utilised the college’s darkroom.
The club was inaugurated circa June 1979 and has approximately 25 members. After a few weeks, I introduced the concept of creating a Pin Box Camera, crafted from wood or sturdy paperboard.
This activity proved engaging as it allowed members to capture their photos with a pin-sized exposure. To enhance the club’s experience, I invited a Sarikei photographer and shop owner, Ah Ping, to address the club in his Pasar Malay. The members enjoyed this session and received photo credits from the shop owner.
On July 21, 1979, I attended the convocation at USM, becoming the first Sarawakian to graduate with a Fine Arts degree from a local university. The moment filled me with immense pride.
Beyond the classroom, my most significant involvement was in scouting. Having prior experience as a Second Class scout while studying at SMK Saratok in 1969, I was appointed as the Deputy Commissioner of the Rajang Teachers College scout group in 1979.
Alongside my colleague, Sebastian Legak (now deceased), a fellow Iban lecturer, we led a robust team of over 50 Scouters among the trainees.
It was through scouting that I crossed paths with Richard Riot (now Serian MP and Datuk Seri), the Regional Commissioner for the Sarikei region, with whom we frequently collaborated on various scouting matters, particularly regarding registration.
I viewed my involvement in scouting as a means of connecting with people, especially within the scouting community. Consequently, in September 1979, we organized a leadership course known as the Woodbadge Leadership Course.
During this event, I had the opportunity to interact with scout leaders from our headquarters in Kuching, such as Mohammad Said Bolhassan (now deceased), Joseph Kong, Simon Lee (also deceased), James Jamai, and Rayner Lam (currently known as Zasran Abdullah), who assisted us in conducting the course.
Despite lacking prior scouting credentials, I also participated in the course. Little did I know that after achieving the Woodbadge Two Beads in 1984, I would come close to assuming the role of Sarawak Chief Scouting Commissioner.
In 2012, I became the State Publicity Commissioner, a position I held until my resignation in 2019. Joining the scouting movement turned out to be instrumental in my state appointment.
In July 1982, Sebastian and I were selected to attend the Seventh Malaysian Jamboree/Fifth Asia-Pacific Jamboree at Kem Kijang in Kota Bahru, Kelantan. Our RTC group included three trainees who joined the Sarawak Contingent.
Following our journey, we united with the Sarawak Contingent at Kem Kijang, Kota Bahru. Later, we went to Southern Thailand, donning our scout uniforms without passports during the eight-day jamboree.
Additionally, in December of the same year, I participated in Part Four A of the Woodbadge Course held at the government rest house in Santubong, marking the final step before being awarded the two-bead Woodbridge in 1984.
My nearly five years at RTC were unforgettable. In January 1983, I was assigned to teach Arts Education after assuming the role of acting head of the Arts and Social Science Department.
Although I progressed within the institution, there was no news from USM about any vacancies in the Fine Arts Department.
To prepare for this role, I extensively studied various sculpture figures, including Brancusi and Henry Moore. Shortly after being assigned an office, I received a promotion to become the principal of SMK SEDAYA (Sekolah Datuk Abdul Rahman Yakub) in Kanowit, with the reporting date scheduled for May 3, 1983.
Encharang and his deputy Michael Manyin (now Datuk Amar) expressed delight at my appointment. Michael, a former school principal who pursued a Master of Arts at the University of Manchester in England, became my mentor and advisor on various school-related matters.
The promotion was a surprise, as I had leapfrogged over some of my senior colleagues, including Dominic Sullang Majang (now deceased), a fellow RTC lecturer who had hoped for a similar appointment.
On the designated day, the RTC bus, driven by Ah Miaw, accompanied by several lecturers (including Dominic), escorted me to SMK SEDAYA, albeit only to Kanowit town, as the school was located on the opposite side of the Rajang River.
My appointment was deemed crucial due to existing racial tensions among the students and teachers at the school. This was conveyed to me via a prior phone call from the Education Headquarters.
Consequently, I approached this challenge cautiously. Fortunately, luck was on my side, as Senator Joseph Unting of Kanowit organised a welcoming dinner for all teachers in my honour in Kanowit town.
During the event, an Australian Volunteers Abroad (AVA) teacher, Miss Jenny Pearson, seated beside me, remarked that the racial issue would naturally dissipate by observing the interactions between the Iban and Chinese teachers at the dinner.
Her observation proved accurate. By the following Monday, four teachers (two Iban and two Chinese) whom I had called to my office shook hands and stated that they had moved past the racial tensions. This early success motivated me to improve the school environment further.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at tawisalok@yahoo.com.
