The Chinese School I attended when I was a kid was called Kin Kuo at the Kuo Min Tang headquarters on Stockton Street in San Francisco. The teachers there were really oppressive and resorted to physical punishment. Their weapon of choice was the drum stick held reversed with the thick end up.

This teacher whom we called 'diu pei' because he always called everyone a 'diu pei' and his breath stunk. He used to hit students on the head with his drumstick leaving a big bump. The principal, Mok Seen Sahng was a really tyrant too. He used to use a 'gai-mo-so', a rattan feather duster held in reverse to actually whip kids who were out of line. I personally witnessed a lashing when Melvin Ng got into a fight and Mok Seen Sahng dragged them into his office.

We hated Chinese school and the actions of the teachers made us hate being Chinese too. The atmosphere was not conducive to learning. The method of teaching the Chinese language was archaic and had little practical purpose in everyday conversation. I had my share of being rapped on my hand with those drumsticks. It was grueling after putting an entire day at American school to have to go to Chinese school till 7pm. We were hungry and tired. We wound up playing hookie for a week at a time. Chinese parents did not complain of the the beatings because in the Confucian system, the teachers have a higher position in society than the parents.

I was worried when my kids began attending Chinese school at the insistence of their mother. Fortunately physical punishment is not used, though 'faht kei', standing at attention for a long time is still being used. The teaching method is still the same and my kids did not learn anything. They hated Chinese School too and eventually dropped out.

Holding a Chinese brush brought back such bad memories. The principal, Mok Sin Sang is alive an well. I'm surprised none of his old students became Wah Chings and kicked his ass.

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