One afternoon during my practicum trainee, I was lecturing a female Sec 2 student for scolding vulgarities in class. I made her stay back and we were outside the General Office when her elder brother (Sec 4) and his friends came and started to challenge me.
"Is my sister the only one who used vulgarities? Why did you single her out?" One of her brother's friends even told me: "You don't talk like an idiot lah!"
The elder brother told his sister: "Don't care about him!" The group walked away. There were no other teachers around. Furious at this blatant disregard for my "authority".
I went after the group and as they reached the car park, more heated words were exchanged. Suddenly, an old Chinese teacher appeared.
He was probably on the way home and sensed that something was not right. Quietly but firmly, he spoke to the angry young boys.
The situation was de-escalated.
After the students had sauntered off, I thanked the colleague for stepping in to help. He said: "我们都是在同一条船." (“We are traveling on the same boat.")
I don't bear any grudge towards the elder brother and his sister. I wonder how they are now!
If this had happened in 2026, I wouldn't even have bothered to lecture a student for using vulgarity. Just a gentle reminder will do. If persist, report to the higher authorities.
Deeply-ingrained habits cannot be changed by lecturing, especially if the lecture comes from someone you have no rapport with.