Archive for the 'ST Forum' Category

On Education

Published
by
admin
on June 4, 2008
in Education, Random, ST Forum and Singapore
. 103 views | 0 Comments

Local teachers seemed to be growing lazy

From Straitstimes.com, 4th June 2008
Schools should not rely on it and ministry should act
WHEN I attended a teacher-parent meeting because I was told that my Secondary 4 son had fared poorly in his school examinations, I was shocked. I expected to see a handful of parents and their children. Instead, it seemed as if the school had summoned all the parents.

When I questioned several teachers why so many of his classmates had also fared poorly, the standard responses were along the lines that my son’s class was ‘a very challenging class to teach’.

My son needed more help, I was told. Their suggestion was that ‘he sign up for tuition lessons and attend all the remedial classes we have planned for the holidays’.

What is wrong with our education system today, where we are so reliant and dependant on private tuition and enrichment classes? This is great news for tuition centres and the enrichment centres like Mindchamps, Adam Khoo, SuperCamp for kids, Lorna Whiston, Julia Gabriel, Shichida and the lot, who charge very high fees and make big bucks due to the very real fear and desperation of parents who want their children to do well.

But what if you are not in the ‘privileged group’ who can afford the thousands of dollars needed for tuition? What if you are a heartlander struggling to make ends meet?

Will your child be able to keep up with children from more privileged backgrounds, whose parents shell out $2,000 to $3,000 every few months for various extra private tuition classes?

The present education system is counter-productive to producing well-educated and well-balanced students. Instead of enjoying studying, students are stressed out and failing in too many subjects.

The Ministry of Education must be more proactive in ensuring that students are less reliant on external tuition or enrichment classes, and ensure a well-balanced education for all.

Tan Eng Hong

MRS JOHN YAP: ‘My son entered Primary 1 this year, and I chose a school that I thought would be more holistic. But one teacher recently suggested that my son get tuition and learn the lessons ahead of the class so that by the time she gets to the lesson, my son can follow it. A check with some of my son’s classmates also revealed that many parents would do their children’s homework so that they can finish it on time. The children get tons of homework, frequent tests, and, yes, a list of homework for the June holidays which includes maths and English exercises, reading 10 story books, making a model of the school, producing a health booklet and writing a journal thrice a week. On top of all that, there is a friendly reminder that there will be Term 3 tests after the holidays! I hope my son’s school is in the minority. Something is definitely amiss when there’s so much homework that parents feel they have to do it for their kids just so their kids can cope, and where the solution given to improving a child’s academic results is to get tuition. Now I understand why everyone I know shoves her child from tuition centre to tuition centre. My son is not attending any enrichment classes or tuition centres because I don’t think they will make him a smarter or better person.’

‘Tuition has become an almost non-negotiable necessity.’

MADAM CHOO SWEE LIN: ‘My child is in Secondary 1. For the past six meet-the-parents sessions, I took in the teacher’s feedback and did all that I could to help my child. But the seventh meeting turned out no different; it was another ?what’s the problem with your child’ session. The school should be a child’s primary source of education. Now that tuition has become an almost non-negotiable necessity, does it mean the primary source has failed in its role?’

‘Are these parents going to complain to their children’s future bosses for giving them too difficult tasks?’

MR TAN GUANGFAN: ‘I refer to Mrs Lisa Ng’s letter, ?Why tuition centres for elite students flourish’ (May 24). I am a former student of one of the elite schools she listed. Tuition can be useful but I do not think that students should be overly dependent on private tutors. I am disappointed that parents are blaming difficult examinations. Are these parents going to complain to their children’s future bosses for giving them too difficult tasks? At 18, it is time for teenagers to learn to accept challenges and take failures in their stride.’

‘This is the new education system: Children request tuition.’

MADAM LEE SIM LIAN: ‘My daughter was very upset because she didn’t do well in her exams and has asked for tuition. This is the new education system: Children have to request tuition because they think they have done badly.’

I still distinctly remember when I first started education in Zhenghua Primary School way back in 1995. Among the first things that my form teacher told us, was something along the line of “Some of your parents may want to put you ito private tution classes. Personally, I feel that tution classes are unnecessary and the school will provide you all the education you will ever need.”

How things have changed now. Teachers are now recommending to parents of weaker students to enroll them in tution classes. Does this really means that the students are beyond help and really need additional lessons, or does this means that teachers nowadays are throwing off their long held responsiblities of providing education to all students?

Using a cliched excuse like “challenging class to teach” does not give a teacher reason to strike off his or her responsiblity of educating the weaker students and leaving that responsibility to private tutors. Aren’t real educators supposed to raise up to the challenge and give their undivided attention to students in need of them to better help them academically.

Imagine you are a toilet cleaner. A few of your designated toilets are super dirty and disgusting, one that, if I may so put it, is a “very challenging toilet to clean”. Can you then tell your employer to seek other toilet cleaners? In short, is it correct of the teachers to throw their responsibilities to private tutors?

My parents were once called for a Parents-Teacher meeting by my form teacher in The Chinese High School, due to my complete disinterest in academic matters. My form teacher asked my parents how I normally spend time at home, and seek my parents’ help in controlling my access to computer and the internet (I was crazy about programming). One of my friend who was a hard core gamer even had his keyboard locked away under the suggestion of the form teacher. Needless to say, our results improved soon after. That is what I thought Parents-Teacher meeting is all about — allowing teachers to reach out to the students’ parents and figure what factors at home that is causing obstacle to academic performance. What is the point of having a Parents-Teacher meeting if all the teachers do nowadays is to suggest for tution classes?

Teachers should be more responsible. Being an educator is a role that I believe only a handful of teachers in Singapore truly qualify for. NIE should do better in educating teachers of tomorrow, so as to provide better education for Singaporeans of tomorrow.

–

A Philosophy Major with thinking disablties

From Straitstimes.com, 3rd June 2008
Does NUS still prefer muggers?
WHEN are two Bs and a C not good enough for entry to the National University of Singapore (NUS) arts faculty? When, it appears, one of your Bs is in that ‘new’ subject, Knowledge and Inquiry (KI).

While people are keen to have a fourth university offering a liberal arts degree, NUS seems to eschew the liberal arts.

Of course, I may be wrong, and biased, since it was my son who received the NUS rejection letter. However, it rankles when he has a bunkmate who has secured a place in NUS with one B and two Cs (and the requisite pass in General Paper).

I watched my son enjoy KI. The subject offered him the chance to hone his critical faculties, debating and research skills.

As a philosophy major myself, I revelled in the discussions we had on moral philosophy, the scientific method, his research paper. I rejoiced in his rekindled interest in physics.

We looked forward to him pursuing his love of military history, politics and philosophy at NUS, confident his Bs in History and KI and C in English Literature were enough. It was not to be.

It appears NUS still prefers students who pass in the traditional ‘mugging’ subjects, and relegating KI to the status of General Paper.

This is ironic, as KI could be considered the most basic of university subjects - it was the only course of study in the past, and requires the skills any thinking, creative person must possess - ability to reason and express oneself clearly and critically, and passion to defend one’s stand.

Angelina Phillips (Ms)

Why is it that it seemed to me as if you are very proud of your son’s “B”? My girlfriend has got 2 As and a C, and she couldn’t even get into a course of her choice. She is now suffering from being in the wrong faculty, one she could not perform in, and one which would make her less academically well-off. Does your son’s supposed obession, interest, passion, whatever you call it, in KI (which in the end only got him a B) makes him different and thus exempt him from other students who have to experience the same inadequecy in our education system?

When I mentioned my A level results, AABC on my blog, a reader commented that I fucked up my Alevels. Now according to that reader’s definition, your son had super duperly fucked up upside down. And you wrote in to complain, “Hey, B is good! I think it is good! I am a philosophy major and my son can discuss with me intellectually on stuff! Why can’t he get into NUS arts?”

Your ridicious tone aside, I understand your point in that subjects like GP and KI shows critical thinking capabilities of a student, while other subjects only reflect how mug a student can me. In Anderson Junior College, 3 or 4As with a just pass or fail in GP is a common. I don’t care what kind of course they can get into, but their lack in comprehensive and thinking skills can only warrant them the status of what I call a background degree holder, someone with the academic qualification but cannot provide anything innovative or value to his place of work or society.

Although I dislike the tone of the letter above, I fully agree with what was being said, that universities should focus less on muggers and more on thinkers. I know Universities all have that in their advertisements, but it is time to do something real about it isn’t it?

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Go ITE directly. Stop wasting your time.

Published
by
admin
on January 17, 2008
in Education, Interesting Read, Random, ST Forum and Singapore
. 126 views | 4 Comments

“Go ITE instead.”

Imagine that is what your principal said to you during the first week of school in a new year, after you have worked so terribly hard in the examinations so that you get into Secondary 5 and will be able to take the O levels to further your future education by going to a Junior College or a Poly.

The principal told a reporter, “Some…who don’t qualify for poly will end up in the ITE anyway, so they might as well go direct to the ITE.”

When further questioned, she said, “It’s a fact.”

Does she even care about the kind of effort less academically inclined students have to put in in order to go this far and be able to take the O Levels? No. She literally told them, don’t waste your time. You won’t make it. Go ITE now.

How disheartening.

Worst, this principal undermined the fantastic marketing efforts that the ministry and ITE put in over the years in order to alter the view of the general public - that ITE is an holistic institution and not a collector of less academically inclined students.

Yet, in today’s newspaper, Minister of State for Education, Lui Tuck Yew is quick to stand behind her. He said, “The tone of a principal’s message to Secondary 5 students may not have gone down well, but it was one that had to be delivered, for the students’ sake.”

I give an example. If I am outside on the street, and someone is right in front of me, blocking my direction of travel. If I were an untactful idiot I would have said, “Fuck off la, cheebye!” If I am more civilized, I would say, “Excuse me, please.” Same message, different tones. Totally different impact and outcome. Is the fact that message had to be delivered a good justification to disregard the tone that the principal had used?

After I say “Fuck off la, cheebye!” to the person and on the verge of getting beaten to death, can I then explain away the tone of my message by saying what National Institute of Education, Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui said, “it was important to separate the ‘tone’ from the ’substance’ of the message.” ?

And in my last moment on earth, perhaps I can further tell my attacker, as if to save my own grace before I die, “I can calibrate the tone. I can soften it, improve on the presentation, but you really were blocking my way.’”

Furthermore, while I am in hell, I still refuse to admit I am wrong,
“‘My message affected you, provoked you and it impacts you negatively, and it’s an excuse. Or you can stand up tall, just take it gracefully and accept that I am a bastard for shouting ‘Fucking off la, cheebye’ at you, and move out of the way so that I can pass.”

Further more, what category of human beings does the principal’s tone put her under? Is she even qualified to be an educator? Lest a commuter on the street.

What are the reasons behind her action?
(The following are my own humble opinions that should be regarded with a pinch of salt. I am only speculating here. None of the below may be true.)

I suspect she look down on her students. It is common knowledge that academically inclined students tended to look down on students who are not. Being a high flier in the education industry, looking at a bunch of less academically inclined students struggling to improve their future careers and paths MAY seem to her like ants struggling to survive after the onslaught of a big spray of pesticide. Laughable and fruitless. Waste of time. Forget it and just go ITE (or in the case of the ants, heaven) directly. Stop wasting your time.

Another possible reason for her action was perhaps to boast up her school’s ranking. By getting rid of the weaker students, the school’s ranking will definitely go up. As straight forward as that.

Perhaps the least plausible reason was that the principal’s words were “wake-up” call that must be delivered. As illustrated in the earlier example, however, a wrong tone is a wrong tone. Despite the fact that the gist of the message to be conveyed is the same, using the wrong tone has the wrong impact. It can be considered a different kind of message altogether. The principal certainly has not embraced herself in the mind boggling world of English literature before.

I think this incident is a wake-up call to all educators out there. For them to stop being so full of themselves, for them to be more tactful towards their students, for them to really deserve their high pay and educator perks, for them to behave more like a principal, respect their students, and not view school ranking as defining stones on their career.

How successful you are as an educator does not depend on the ranking you achieved for your school, it despends on how you have touched your students an inspired them. In this case, the principal may not even deserve to be called an “educator”.

Quotes
A teacher affects eternity:
he can never tell where his influence stops.
Henry Adams
(Me: So what kind of influence did this principal cast on her poor students?)

What nobler employment, or more valuable to the state,
than that of the man who instructs the rising generation.
Marcus Tullius Cicero
(Me: Are her actions noble?)

The important thing is not so much
that every child should be taught,
as that every child should be given the wish to learn.
John Lubbock
(Me: “Fuck Olevels. Go ITE directly. Stop wasting your time. You won’t make it.” Oh my..)

Those who educate children well are more to be honored than parents, for these only gave life,
those the art of living well.
Aristotle
(Me: From a parent of one of the students: “‘It is very sad when your principal doesn’t have faith in you and will not give you a chance.’ “)

We cannot hold a torch to light another’s path without brightening our own.
Ben Sweetland
(Me: …)

It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken
joy in creative expression and knowledge.
Albert Einstein
(Me: Again, “Fuck Olevels. Go ITE directly. Stop wasting your time. You won’t make it.” Oh my..)

Teaching is not a lost art,
but the regard for it is a lost tradition.
Jacques Barzun

A master can tell you what he expects of you.
A teacher, though, awakens your own expectations.
Patricia Neal

And finally,

A child miseducated is a child lost.
John F. Kennedy

–
References:
Principal’s ‘wake-up call’ to Sec 5 students had to be ‘conveyed’
Principal’s words of advice to Sec 5 students ill-chosen
Sec 5 class advised: Go to ITE instead
Principal’s ITE advice ‘had to be delivered’
Inspirational Teachers Quotes and Sayings

–
Note to fellow regular readers: I realised that after going into hibernation for so long I couldn’t write as well as before. Sorry about that. I’ll try to blog regularly once again so as to sharpen the saw and prevent it from rusting even more.

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Wi-Fi makes We-Die

Published
by
admin
on June 2, 2007
in ST Forum and Singapore
. 15 views | 3 Comments

From ST Forum, 31st May 2007,

Widespread use of Wi-Fi raises health concerns
IN AIMING to make Singapore a wireless nation, has the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore commissioned any independent study into the health implications that such technology will bring?�

Reports such as the following have me concerned:

# Sir William Stewart, chairman of Britain’s Health Protection Agency, is lobbying the authorities to investigate the health risks of Wi-Fi.

# The Austrian Medical Association is pushing for the government to ban the setting up of Wi-Fi in schools.

# In America, a school in Illinois was sued in 2003 for installing a Wi-Fi system. Parents claimed that the radiation was causing headaches and memory problems.

# Last year, Lakehead University in Ontario refused to set up a campus Wi-Fi system, citing possible health concerns.

As people do not have control over the deployment of Wi-Fi in public and even some private spaces, should we as a nation be so quick to embrace this new technology without first considering potential health setbacks?

Lau Chee Nien

I read this with interest, so I took a dive into the internet and dug up the following (correct me if my source or I am wrong):

-The main group of people complaining about negative impact of Wifi are those who claimed to have this condition known as “EMF sensitivity”, which was not scientifically proven or confirmed yet. Most of those with “EMF sensitivity” complain of mild discomfort (such as itch, feeling of pins and needles) near EMF sources. These discomfort does not equal to negative health impact (such as dieases, cancers, etc). Those with “EMF sensitivity” may very well be having psychological problems rather than any real condition.
-Television screens and computer screens also emits a very large amount of EMF.
-Handphones too, emies a large amount of EMF too.

I certainly await further letters from Lau calling for ban of TVs, Computers, Cell Phones, Radios and many more things over the next few days or weeks. (Just kidding)

Hell, Lau may even start complaining about the harmful EMF from the Sun, and ask the Singapore Government to considering banning it. (Still kidding)

While I certainly do not dismiss entirely the idea of EMF causing some negative health impact, such impacts are certainly minor, and technology should not be made to remain stagnant because of it.

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University Places

Published
by
admin
on June 2, 2007
in Education, Random, ST Forum and Singapore
. 19 views | 1 Comment

I distinctly remember reading the ST forum about a parent complaining that his kiddy with a fantastic grade of A, B and E could not get into any local university, and Singapore government should have foreseen his situation and did properly planning to cater to weaker JC graduates.

I know how godly our government is, but isn’t this parent too much?

The first thought that struck me after I finished reading his highly logically and sensible (urgh, I am trying to be polite ok) letter was whether he or his kid had done any form of planning, or just blindly follow the crowd.

I mean, most people should know that while A level is the most direct way to get into Uni, it is a path with higher risk for weaker students. Those were unable to get into a local Uni with their A level grades will have to either retake the exam, go to a poly, or scamper of to some private of overseas Uni. Certainly the parent who wrote in to ST should have considered these scenarios before forcing/encouraging/recommending/allowing his kid to go into a JC?

What a bad role model that parent is. Blindly taking a risk and then complaining that the government did not do enough to remove that risk.

And then another parent came in.

From ST Forum 31st May 2007,

JOIN Mr See Chee Wee (ST, May 29) and share his sentiments.

My son, who excelled in sports at inter-school level (junior college colours award recipient) was similarly rejected by all three local universities with his B, B (General Paper), D and E grades.

I saw clearly the sheer disappointment in his face after he read the third and final letter of rejection when he returned home for the weekend, exhausted from his basic military training on Pulau Tekong. I could imagine what went through his mind - the apparent lack of consideration given to the effort and time he devoted to athletics. This is despite the liberalisation of the universities and the supposed importance the Government and universities place on a well-rounded education.

Hearing of similar experiences reasserts not only the lip service paid to co-curricular activities in Singapore but also the mercilessly meritocratic nature of the system.

Jayampath De Silva

While I think this kid had done well with his B for GP, I think that a D and E is no go. Using his passion in athletics as a convenient excuse for the kids lower than average academic score doesn’t make sense. I also have my doubts about the writer’s definition of a “well-rounded education”.

A student can be free to pursue whatever he wishes. I spend all my time, energy, attention and soul on only 2 things during my JC years. My girlfriend and programming. None of the above are A Level requirements. However, can I use these as an excuse if I get lousy grades? No. And I didn’t. If I want I would have said that Singapore has its Romancing Singapore programmes and should give more better grades to students who understands love. And Singapore should also give me higher grades because was appeared in Digital Life as a creative and IT-inclined Singaporean, exactly the kind of talent that Singapore wants. I don’t exactly know how much the the guy’s son spent on running around the tracks or fooling around with balls, but I can safely say that no one can beat me in the amount of time I spent on my girlfriend and my programming.

Hell, if your interest lies outside what mainstream education has for you, stay away from mainstream altogether unless you are totally confident and capable or doing so many things at the same time. Otherwise, you will be like the guy above, exhausted and rejected, unwanted by anyone, unable to pursue both mainstream education and his own interest.

On a personal level, I think that everyone should be free to pursue his or her interest, but the sad truth in Singapore is that if you want to stay in the mainstream in Singapore, something have to be given up unless you are really capable of concentrating on two things at once.

–

My guide for my sister, when she was considering going to a JC was this: If you do not qualify for the first 5 JC in Singapore, or you did not get less than 10 points raw score for Olevel, please forget about going to a JC, because you may not be able to hold up against the tough competition and get into a local Uni through the JC route. Poly may be a better choice.

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ST Forum Discussion 12/03/2007

Published
by
admin
on March 15, 2007
in ST Forum and Singapore
. 265 views | 1 Comment

You need brains or lots of dough to pursue higher education

REFER to the two forum letters, ‘Is the aim of education a set of perfect scores?” and ‘Poly route shut for average students’, (ST, March 8).

The first writer appears a little too harsh on A-level students in Raffles Junior College.

In the second article, the writer underscores a very significant fact of Singapore’s competitive world of educational achievements. Average students are having difficulty getting into poly because applicants nowadays are having better entry results.

For RJC students who ‘weep” on getting their results, may I say that this reflects the ‘Rafflesian Spirit” of aiming passionately for excellence and perfection. It shows the ’seriousness” such RJC students attach to their achievements, whether in studies, sports, contests, et cetera.

‘Weeping” is an emotional release not of weakness, but of overwhelming feelings and passion.

Having studied in RI, I am proud of the ‘Rafflesian Spirit” in helping to inculcate excellence and a broader mind.

When students are still young, chasing for ‘paper qualifications” is perfectly normal. There is plenty of time after finishing studies for non-academic achievements.

Each JC student understands his/her own priorities and limitations better than most of us.

Short of getting the best examination results, chances of further studies can be very limited without parental financial support.

Singapore is not a wonderland if you do not have brains (reflected in examination results) or money to pursue higher education.

Lim Boon Tong

My take:
Within the 2 bolded segments of this letter, I highlighted his contradictions liao. “For RJC students who ‘weep” on getting their results, may I say that this reflects the ‘Rafflesian Spirit” of aiming passionately for excellence and perfection.” and “I am proud of the ‘Rafflesian Spirit” in helping to inculcate… a broader mind.” Is he trying to say that “Rafflesian Spirit” refers to narrow minded people who are extremely obsessed with academic excellence, or is he trying to say that “Rafflesian Spirit” is about having a broader mind?

“Singapore is not a wonderland if you do not have brains (reflected in examination results) or money to pursue higher education.”
While it is true that the society as a whole judges brain from examination result, in actual fact both does not share a direct co-relation.

While some of his other points are quite valid and insightful, they appeared to be edited by an editor at SPH, especially statements towards the end.

Lim Boon Tong should be friend with Wee Shu Min.

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ST Forum Discussion 15/02/2007

Published
by
admin
on February 15, 2007
in ST Forum
. 18 views | 0 Comments

Feb 15, 2007
School tests near CNY hard on some students

CHINESE New Year is just around the corner. Foreigners, particularly those of Chinese origin, are naturally excited and many are anxious to return home.

Students from China are in an exuberant mood - they can be with their parents and grandparents on this joyous occasion.

However, this enthusiasm has been dampened for some as some secondary schools seem bent on preventing them from leaving on time.

As Saturday is Chinese New Year’s Eve and almost all flights out of Singapore are fully booked, many students have to fly out on Friday.

However, what some schools have done is set an important test on Friday, making it impossible for such students to catch their flights.

And a few have done it with little prior warning, forcing the students into a mad scramble to cancel or change their flight tickets.

While the school curriculum is no doubt important and attendance must be maintained, is it really necessary to conduct a test at such a time and deprive the students of a reunion with their family during this traditional festival?

Education should encompass all areas of life. Observing cultural practices and maintaining close ties with family members are as vital as school textbooks and tests.

Daniel Chan Wai Piew

Link

First Impression: What rubbish!?

My Take:

I simply love quoting from people. Especially people who refuse to make any sense:)

As Saturday is Chinese New Year’s Eve and almost all flights out of Singapore are fully booked, many students have to fly out on Friday.

You made it sound as if it is compulsory that students have to catch their flights on Friday?

However, what some schools have done is set an important test on Friday, making it impossible for such students to catch their flights.

So you mean schools should willingly and purposely keep friday free so that students can skip school?

And a few have done it with little prior warning, forcing the students into a mad scramble to cancel or change their flight tickets.

Not the students scramble la. It is parents like you who played a role in encouraging Singapore’s next generation to skip school.

While the school curriculum is no doubt important and attendance must be maintained, is it really necessary to conduct a test at such a time and deprive the students of a reunion with their family during this traditional festival?

Where is the link? And since you prefer the reunion, skip the test! Nobody had any problems with that! Not as if your kid’s school will have a lower MSG because your kid skipped the exam.

Education should encompass all areas of life. Observing cultural practices and maintaining close ties with family members are as vital as school textbooks and tests.

What a sweet sounding way to say that “Education should teach people how to skip school”.

Damn, this is very unfair. Poor souls like me will have to endure the test will rich elites in the country can skip school and fly half way around the globe.

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ST Forum Discussion /02/2007

Published
by
admin
on February 6, 2007
in ST Forum
. 15 views | 0 Comments

Hot water? That’ll be 30 cents please
TWO weeks ago, I brought my wife and five-month-old daughter to visit VivoCity.

After enjoying the shopping mall, we proceeded to Food Republic for afternoon tea and also to feed my daughter.

I brought along a milk bottle to the drink counter and asked for some hot water to warm the milk.

To my surprise, I was told that hot water is chargeable at 30 cents.

I highlighted the fact that I was already ordering a soft drink for my wife and tea for myself. The operator insisted that nothing is free and continued to chastise me for expecting to get hot water for free.

It is not the cost that concerns me, but the fact that Singapore is encouraging family friendly practices but yet, such a scenario can present itself.

John Tan Lip Ann

My take:
HUH????!!! Dotz….

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ST Forum Discussion 03/02/2007

Published
by
admin
on February 3, 2007
in ST Forum
. 104 views | 9 Comments

Ch 8 serial portrays unrealistic picture of educators in Singapore

The current Ch8 serial at 7pm, ‘Let it Shine’, portrays a very unrealistic picture of educators in Singapore. Most secondary school teachers work ‘from 7 to 7′ on weekdays and carry on with our work during weekends.

Few of us would have the time to search for a missing student until midnight for days on end, and the lead character Yoyo played by Felicia Chin is hardly seen marking, planning or handling administrative work. Instead, she gets to leave at midday almost every day to spend time with her students or boyfriend. Her male colleague, ‘Madman’, at one point applies for a one-month no-pay leave to cycle in Thailand. I cannot imagine how this could possibly be granted in any school during term time. Their principal is stiff and authoritarian, and tells a student that he is truly a ‘rotten apple’. MediaCorp clearly has not kept up with the changing image of school leaders. Many principals are authoritative but nowhere as old-fashioned and insensitive as the character played by Patricia Mok.

Tan Chay Lee (Miss)

My take:
There is a reason why TV dramas exist. It helps people to get away from reality. It helps to bring temporary excitement into Singaporeans’ otherwise routine and boring life. How can you expect what is being shown on TV, especially on Channel 8 to be a true?

Covered walkways and air-con make for softies

THERE are more covered walkways at LRT stations and schools are being built in Punggol. Are we making life too comfortable? Surely, some rain and sun won’t hurt, especially for the students?

A covered walkway is a small matter. But is it the tip of the iceberg? Is making life easier and more comfortable our society’s goal? If so, then we are heading for disaster.

Prosperity creates problems like obesity and lack of resilience in the younger generation. We need a roof over our heads and simple meals to keep our bodies going but we don’t need a lot of material comfort to live a quality life.

I give talks to schools and corporations regularly. The teachers and parents tell me that our young ones are too soft. Senior management tells me that those entering the workforce today are no longer as hardworking as the older workers. I tell them I don’t blame the students and workers: It’s the system at work.

It is my theory that the more we are shielded from Mother Nature, the more we lose touch of reality. I am glad to see more parks, and trees being planted. The authorities should be commended but that is only a small part of the big picture.

The harsh reality today is the hot topic of climate change. Severe damage, some irreversible, has been done to Mother Nature from the time of past generations, either through ignorance or greed. World leaders today have the tough job of saving the earth.

Another modern device that makes life more comfortable is the air-conditioner, which Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew once hailed as being among the greatest inventions.

However, the air-conditioner consumes a lot of energy and generates heat. Every year, we are creating more air-conditioned space - shopping malls and other indoor venues.

How much energy is used to power air-conditioners for a population of four million? How much heat is being generated?

Last year, I decided to stop using the air-conditioner at home. It has been many months since. I plan to keep it that way unless we have guests on a hot day.

I grew up in a home without air-conditioning for 20 years. I believe I can do without it. Fans are much more environmentally friendly and cheaper.

Resilience is like our muscles - if we don’t use them, we will lose them. I will be very disappointed with myself as a dad if my children grow up knowing only covered walkways and air-conditioned shopping malls.

Khoo Swee Chiow

My take:
Certainly, things are seemingly getting more and more comfortable today. But that is only on the surface. And that is the kind of observation an out of touch individual would make.

Technology progresses endlessly and life is made more comfortable. However, at the same time while technology itself had become more complicated, our life did too.

The amount of stress and pressure experienced by an average Singaporeans nowadays had increased drastically over the year. Unemployment. Peer pressure. Declining quality of school teachers. The meaningless paper chase. Increasing pace of life. All these puts an unseen burden on everyone’s shoulders. What was simple then had became complex. People used to kill themselves because they were being chased by loan sharks. Now, people jump from HDB flats or jump at MRTs because of their small penis size, failing test results, and to gain sympathy money for his family.

What I see is increasing desperation and complication, strain and confusion.

You say building more shelters is a sign of weakness. Is that cheap comfort a sufficient offset for the increased negative impact that society had on people?

You had grown up without an air-con for twenty years. But perhaps it is time to look beyond your banana leaf fan.

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ST Forum Discussion 01/02/2007

Published
by
admin
on February 1, 2007
in ST Forum
. 347 views | 6 Comments

Looking at the kind of ST Forum letters that had been appearing lately, which completely succeeded in entertaining and amusing me, while at the same time betraying a lack common sense of knowledge on the part of those who wrote the letters, I’ve decided to start a new segment on my blog called ST Forum Discussion, where I share with you guys fantastic letters as well as some discussion. It is inevitable that I may offend some people with my commentary, and for that I apologize in advance.

I WAS upset when I was forwarded a hyperlink to a sound file posted on YouTube by ‘Ximiwakoz’.

The recording, entitled ‘RK House - No PORK’, featured some boys who apparently visited a prata shop at Serangoon Gardens. They repeatedly asked for pork when placing their orders, knowing full well that the shop was a halal one.

The intention was to provoke the shopkeeper and secretly record his heated responses. To up the entertainment factor, the author even provided subtitles in the video clip.

Singapore’s social fabric is woven with the threads of racial and religious harmony. We could grow together as a multiracial nation simply because we have learnt to respect our neighbours’ religions and cultural practices. We can laugh at everything except religious and racial issues.

The boys who did the recording were deliberately insulting the religious practices of Muslims, and had the nerve to post it on the Web to share what they thought was a smart move.

This deplorable act should be condemned severely. The authorities should investigate the matter.

Mok Heng Ngee

My Take:
I don’t know about you, but I seriously feel that the video is faked, possibly done by 1 or 2 guys voice acting together.

I’m going to attack the above letter line by line using a stupid, guai lan, and smart alec attitude.

I WAS upset when I was forwarded a hyperlink to a sound file posted on YouTube by ‘Ximiwakoz’.

I understand that you were upset being forwarded the link. Therefore your source of agony, despair and anxiety should be directed towards the person who sent you the link. So why write to Straits Times to complain about someone forwarding you a link?

Singapore’s social fabric is woven with the threads of racial and religious harmony. We could grow together as a multiracial nation simply because we have learnt to respect our neighbours’ religions and cultural practices. We can laugh at everything except religious and racial issues.

It is not simple as that. What you are typing out are government message drilled into your head. The reality is slightly different. While it is true that in Singapore, racial harmony exists mainly because of mutual respect, the sad truth is also that when any racial group is offended by another, there is often a lack of actions been taken on the offending group. Singaporeans are generally more forgiving even when they were offended by another racial group. This is a fantastic virtue. In some countries small unhappiness between two racial groups can easily result in civil war.

The boys who did the recording were deliberately insulting the religious practices of Muslims, and had the nerve to post it on the Web to share what they thought was a smart move.

While the notion of using pork to cause rage and fiery in the prata house owner, one must note that what I mentioned above is happening. Despite being offended, the prata house owner is forgiving enough on the two kids (assuming that the recording is real), and despite his outrage, treated them in a very civilized manner.

If the video was indeed real, what a shallow mind will see is one racial group attacking another. However, what I saw was the key essence of how forgiving races in Singapore are towards one another, and one of the key ingredients of racial harmony.

Finally, the writer’s notion that “YouTube post shouldn’t trifle with religion”. What rubbish. It is akin (at least in my opinion) to dictionary should not contain an entry of the word “racism”. Youtube is a reflection of life and society. If you are unable to appreciate the variety, diversity and freedom found on the internet it is highly recommended that you remove yourself from visiting the internet and instead stick with the cold, heartless HDB flat on the small little lonely red dot.

The following video response by a malaysian to the above video is racist. Not the original video.

Quote of the day:
Because of growing up in a controlled environment, most Singaporeans have this dirty idea buried deep in their brain that they can, have the right, and should control the environment and society they live in for selfish reasons. What they find disturbing, must censor. What problems they encounter, must complain. What they like, they expect to have. In front of foreigners and the world outside Singapore, they are clowns. If they are going to stick with these mentality when dealing with everything, it is better to restrict them to their cold, stony, heartless heartland HDB flats.

Please read the comments. I have more to say there.

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ST Forum Discussion 30/01/2007

Published
by
admin
on January 29, 2007
in ST Forum
. 34 views | 0 Comments

Looking at the kind of ST Forum letters that had been appearing lately, which completely succeeded in entertaining and amusing me, while at the same time betraying a lack common sense of knowledge on the part of those who wrote the letters, I’ve decided to start a new segment on my blog called ST Forum Discussion, where I share with you guys fantastic letters as well as some discussion. It is inevitable that I may offend some people with my commentary, and for that I apologize in advance.

Motorists not giving way to pedestrians at zebra crossings
I take frequent walks along Choa Chu Kang Road and Bukit Panjang Road. Although there are a number of zebra crossings along these two stretches, often cars do not give way to pedestrians who use them to cross to the other side.

Many times, the drivers pretend not to see us and continue driving at a fast speed. During heavy traffic, some motorists are forced to stop and pedestrians have to walk their way around the cars.

There are also motorists who do not stop before the stop line at the pedestrian crossings. And even when the lights are still in the pedestrians’ favour, there are impatient drivers who just can’t wait to drive on. This is a common sight in the Orchard area too.

Another selfish behaviour I have seen are cars parking in loading and unloading lots and even the handicapped lots in the car parks. This is rampant in new estates in the Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Batok areas.

Lim Kah Hoe (Ms)

This kind of thing is for ah sohs and ah sohs-to-be to chat about and tell their family one. This also don’t read like a warning to other fellow Singaporeans. It just barely points out how selfish those around you are. Write to ST got use?

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