Saturday last was another day which I believe should touch the hearts of SMK Seafield teachers as we sat together to hear the experiences and testimonies of some caring people. We learnt to understand the peculiarities of some learning patterns of dyslexic children and the use of the Adlerian therapy for low esteem children.
Puan Sariah Bt Amin, a fighter for the cause of dyslexia spoke in the capacity of the President of Persatuan Dyslexia Malaysia and coyly teased us that some teachers could have been dyslexic in our younger days except that we did not recognize the symptoms then. Dyslexics are passionate about what they do and will go all out to accomplish though they seem to be learning slowly in class. If you tend to get dates and time mixed up ; you can be dyslexic ! I am guilty of that now ! She proposes that parents and teachers who come across children who seemingly get confused with alphabets, speech and interpretation of numbers and would like further tests can contact them at 0342515618 and they may be able to offer some help. The society is funded by foreign banks to her chagrin as she lamented on the lack of local funds. From her heart she told me that being an ex teacher her passion is on the slow learners not on the fast ones. She remembered that as a student from the Malay Medium stream, she found great difficulty in learning the English Language when she was placed in St. Mary's Kuala Lumpur. But someone touched her. That someone was a nun in the school and took pains to privately teach her after school hours and today her fluent discourse is proof of the connection. Puan Sariah told me " I want to be like her (the nun) when I grow up and help others ." So she's doing what she has always wanted; to help others. In her 60s I believe, she told me that how one leads one's life will be revealed during one's wake service. Aha... who comes and how many come to pay you the respect will signify the legacy you leave behind. What great truth. So live a life whereby people will remember you fondly by; not by the amount of money you leave behind; that's' her cheeky advice. How true.
This robust mama Puan Faezah Salleh, assistant to Puan Sariah shares from the heart of a mother as she witnesses the strengths and weaknesses of her dyslexic son.
Faezah says that her dyslexic son is creative and more of a right brainer. He develops skills kinetically and are good with his hands. The computer and architectural studies are other avenues of development where dyslexics are best at. Their passion in areas of speciality cause them to be focused in the fields they love. Faezah says her son is simple, generous and gives freely as compared to his siblings ; she loves him for that. Here is one mama who goes all the way out to confront the learning pattern and believes that dyslexics are full of hope as testified by a renown architect in a local multi national firm. He joined the Malaysian Dyslexic society after finding out that he was dyslexic at the age of 42 even after a post graduate program from the University of Melbourne. So, there is hope.
The teachers of the school were further treated to a professional talk from the heart of UKM's Professor Dr. Zuria bt Mahmud and her protege Madam Chua Lay Nee on the Adlerian method of counselling low esteem children.
Prof Zuria says the position of the child in the home plays an important role in the self esteem of the individual. Most first borns are responsible and take the role of the most responsible sibling and some even avoid marriages to take the role of the mother and father. The second one is most different and plays a more cheeky role but when the eldest in the home fails in her first born role, the second one rises up to the occasion. Therefore self esteem in a child has a strong connection with their position in the family line. Her outstanding statement is ... it doesn't matter how you were born , where you were born... more importantly is what you do with your life and what you become. She fell in love with her spouse on the first date after he told her that he was employed as a grass cutter during semester breaks to fund his own university studies. That's what she looks for in a man; one full of integrity and and capable of hardship. Adler, was a champion for the cause of the low esteem. The Adlerian principle is basically coined to help the less motivated overcome the inferiority complex. To apply the principle effectively, the teacher must first strive to make the students love them so that love becomes the basis of change and trust. 
Her protege, Madam Chua spoke passionately about her findings and studies. A counsellor in a Chinese vernacular school, she shared how she grouped a particular Malay child who being low in esteem in the midst of Chinese students became a story of success after using the Adlerian Approach.This Malay child after sessions of peer collaboration, sharing and encouragement passed a public exam the following year with scores of distinctions with particular mention on the Chinese Language which was a feat. Many learners and speakers of the language among the Chinese fail to acquire it. She was overjoyed and believed firmly on the Adlerian Approach. So she invites the counsellors of the school to use this approach to help the low esteem.
She had us in stitches when she shared how difficult it was to coax some Chinese students with low esteem to study as their favourite backup phrase was : My father never went to school and yet he is making big money ! How close to our hearts the statement was! But yet it is our challenge to change the mindset and advocate literacy...
So it was a day of learning, sharing and encouragement to the teachers. The teachers can go berserk at times seeing to the many needs and wants in an enclosed classroom but at the same time having to rise to the occasion. May we remember what has been taught in moments of discouragement through their success stories.
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