A newly posted school leader once met with my colleagues and I in the Humanities Department. She was from a reputable school and she told us to finish teaching the O-level syllabus by June.
At that time, I was already somewhat experienced in the O-level game and told the school leader that this was not possible. The students in our school did not have such a bandwidth to absorb the content by the time she stipulated.
“You should believe in our students and not use words like ‘bandwidth’.”The school leader said.
I told her, “Mrs. ____ , I only believe what I can see.” My HOD at that time was staring at this exchange in horror, as though she was watching a car crash!
My colleague intervened to defend me. He said something along the lines of “Yue Heng does believe in the students…”
Now that I am a few years shy of 50, I thoroughly regret this conversation. I was young and 冲动.
A veteran colleague once told me: “人人都要听好话.” (People like to hear nice things). I should not have countered her in front of my department. School leaders are supposed to motivate teachers. She was doing her job. I had disrupted the show.
There is a Korean phrase 알겠습니다 (al-gess-seum-ni-da). It basically means “I understand and will comply.”
So when boss says something that even though may not be feasible, we can say the equivalence of 알겠습니다 and then afterwards go back to reality!