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| Blue is not for teacher |
Pen plays a very important role in education. In my school, most students use a pen to write, to do tasks, to answer the question in the test. On the contrary, abroad, a pencil plays a bigger role in the classroom. Most of the writing activities use a pencil. In Indonesia, generally, a pencil is used only when the students are in elementary school grades 1 to 3, after that, they will migrate to pen.
In senior high school, students usually use a pencil only in doing math or other calculating kinds of stuff. In the English lesson, they almost avoid using a pen. if so, they will ask teacher permission first as if it is a mistake to use a pencil in the English lessons. Where this idea from, and when this idea starts, I never know that. As a teacher, I myself choose to use a pencil than a pen. But my choice is quite in contradictory with other teachers who mostly use a pen in her teaching lifetime.
Talking about the pen is interesting. I had just realized that the color of the pen can mean something. I learned it just now.
I went to school to as usual. After the recess time, an administrator invited me to his room. He said that I should sign a document issued by the province educational administration. I receive a kind of allowance as administratively senior high school teacher is under the province.
I was about to sign the document when the administrator harshly mentioned that I should never use a blue pen to sign the document. I was so shock and asked him why. He explained that a blue pen is only for the principal. Teachers are not allowed to use it unless you are an educational official then you can use a blue pen.
For a few seconds, I stood up and tried to digest the administrator's explanation. I never heard such a rule applied in Indonesia. What I know from generation to generation that a red pen cannot be used to sign a document as it represents anger.
Finally, I borrowed a black pen to substitute for my blue pen. In my heart, I feel sorry for my blue pen as it cannot be used by me to sign any document. I am just a teacher and I cannot sign any document in blue color.
