When monitors lorded over the classroom

I WAS never a class monitor. My teachers thought I was extremely introverted. Actually, I was shy and quiet. A minor stuttering problem caused me to be afraid of speaking in front of the class. With a teeny-weeny bit of jealousy, I would admire the confidence of the class monitors during my primary school days.

- YOGIN DEVAN

Sometimes, we would have two monitors, a boy and a girl. They were chosen because they were bright, always neatly dressed and demonstrated leadership qualities. The class monitor was the kind of person who sat in the front row and paid rapt attention to what the teacher was saying.

Given their inborn self-assurance, class monitors would often feature in the top three pupils in class and would also excel on the sports field.

In some years of my schooling, the monitor would be chosen by our class teacher. In other years, the class pupils elected the monitor.

Historically, the role of class monitor was a position of responsibility, and the badge of the monitor was proudly worn with respect within the classroom.

However, I am given to understand the role of the class monitor has nowadays largely disappeared in our schools.

In the “good old days”, class monitors were student leaders responsible for maintaining order and being the teacher's right-hand helper. Their duties included ensuring classroom cleanliness, reporting attendance, and sometimes even leading the class in simple tasks or exercises.

They often served as a bridge between pupils and teachers, helping to resolve minor issues and promote a positive learning environment.

One of the main tasks of the class monitor was to keep the generally rowdy pupils quiet when the teacher had to attend a meeting, went out for a quick smoke in the staff room, or met up with another teacher for a gossip session about which ma’am was the headmaster’s latest romantic interest.