Values are instilled into our lives from the time we are born by our parents and caregivers. Values come in the form of religious and cultural beliefs and traditions. To instill positive values into our lives, rules or laws have been formulated. Some say that laws have to be made because of a lack of values. To make sure that the rules are adhered to, there is enforcement.
Just recently, I heard of a case where an intruder molested a senior citizen as she was entering her house after visiting her neighbours. Why are our neighbourhoods so unsafe? We have grilled our doors and windows. We have even installed alarms and fixed locks for exits to the airwell. We dare not even walk in the park nor take up jogging as a form of exercise. We are too afraid of the consequences.
Across the border, however, windows of bungalows are left wide open. There are no grilles and no locks. People can be seen jogging and taking their dogs and children for a walk at a leisurely pace at any time of the day or night. Life seems so safe and secure.
Why is there this disparity between the two neighbouring countries? Have Malaysians lost their sense of values? Haven’t these values been successfully instilled into the lives of the residents of Malaysia? With the teaching of Pendidikan Moral (Moral Education) in schools, why is there still so much crime? Are the perpetrators not afraid of the punishment if they are caught? It is time that we try to find a solution to this problem. We should try to deal with the cause and not the symptoms.
Introspection
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Choices
One of my student’s responses for everything under the sun is “I had no choice.” Are our lives really devoid of choice? In ‘The Road Not Taken’ by Robert Frost, we can see that we need to make choices at every step of the way from the moment we wake up in the morning till we lay our heads on the pillow for the night.
Yes, we do have choices. However, most of the time, we are afraid to make the wrong choice. What do we do then? We decide to join the crowd and do what everyone else is doing. Life does not become a threat then! We ‘go with the flow’.
If, on the other hand, we decide to break free, there will be a lot of opposition from friends and relatives. This is when our true lives as human beings will be tested. Can we take up the challenge to be different? Will we be ostracized? If we dare to venture into unchartered waters, what will our lives be like?
Yes, we do have choices. However, most of the time, we are afraid to make the wrong choice. What do we do then? We decide to join the crowd and do what everyone else is doing. Life does not become a threat then! We ‘go with the flow’.
If, on the other hand, we decide to break free, there will be a lot of opposition from friends and relatives. This is when our true lives as human beings will be tested. Can we take up the challenge to be different? Will we be ostracized? If we dare to venture into unchartered waters, what will our lives be like?
Of things bizarre!
How many times have you come across incidents that were bizarre. An acquaintance considered my life bizarre as I had stayed in the same house for more than 40 years. On the other hand, I considered his life bizarre as he had shifted home on a yearly basis, not only within his country but also internationally (because of various job opportunities that came his way).
Pondering on life, I sometimes can’t fail to wonder why our lives are so very different from one another’s. What would happen if we were in the other person’s shoes? Would we have taken the same precautions and actions that he or she were taking and doing? Life indeed has many routes and each of us has taken our own course of action. Some bizarre, some not so.
For example, I recently heard of a lady who pays her live-in boyfriend RM30 per day to look after their baby. She works twelve hours a day while he stays home with the baby. Somehow, it would not sound so bizarre if it were the man who was earning and she was a stay-at-home mum, don’t you think? Or am I just biased and prone to stereotyping?
Pondering on life, I sometimes can’t fail to wonder why our lives are so very different from one another’s. What would happen if we were in the other person’s shoes? Would we have taken the same precautions and actions that he or she were taking and doing? Life indeed has many routes and each of us has taken our own course of action. Some bizarre, some not so.
For example, I recently heard of a lady who pays her live-in boyfriend RM30 per day to look after their baby. She works twelve hours a day while he stays home with the baby. Somehow, it would not sound so bizarre if it were the man who was earning and she was a stay-at-home mum, don’t you think? Or am I just biased and prone to stereotyping?
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Time Spent Wisely
Teachers should have the time to read up on what research has to say about their teaching methodology after they have had all the facts of their teaching lessons at their finger tips.
Action research should be encouraged among teachers so that they can improve their methodology of teaching.
Personally, as a freelance tutor, and no more working for the government, I find that I have improved my methods of teaching over the years. From merely resorting to filling the time by doing workbook exercises, today I challenge myself to prepare lessons where the students challenge themselves.
Today, for example, I got my Upper Primary students to write a one-paragraph book report.
Action research should be encouraged among teachers so that they can improve their methodology of teaching.
Personally, as a freelance tutor, and no more working for the government, I find that I have improved my methods of teaching over the years. From merely resorting to filling the time by doing workbook exercises, today I challenge myself to prepare lessons where the students challenge themselves.
Today, for example, I got my Upper Primary students to write a one-paragraph book report.
Worthwhile Meetings
Teachers are always complaining about a heavy workload. Being a teacher does not involve only teaching and the marking of books, but also attending meetings and keeping a record of what transpired at meetings.
I remember once the Senior Assistant of the school I was teaching at insisted that we have a small briefing session every morning. The rest of the teachers could not understand the necessity of taking away valuable time from our classroom lessons on a daily basis. So we had to come to school earlier.
The Senior Assistant always came up with some items to discuss just to fill up the time. Once we even spoke about the cows that left their trail of dung at the entrance of our school the previous night. Surely that was not an item that needed to be discussed among the teachers. He should have spoken to the cowherd!
I remember once the Senior Assistant of the school I was teaching at insisted that we have a small briefing session every morning. The rest of the teachers could not understand the necessity of taking away valuable time from our classroom lessons on a daily basis. So we had to come to school earlier.
The Senior Assistant always came up with some items to discuss just to fill up the time. Once we even spoke about the cows that left their trail of dung at the entrance of our school the previous night. Surely that was not an item that needed to be discussed among the teachers. He should have spoken to the cowherd!
Putting theory into practice
No matter what the public (especially those involved with education) has to say about teachers and the education system in Malaysia through the media, there is a body that rebuts. This body is the Corporate Communications Unit of the Education Ministry.
It seems then that a lot is put down on paper, but the education sector is not aware of the theory behind the implementation of certain policies of the Ministry. It is quite obvious that in practice things do not work out as they are planned to.
I am not throwing the spanner into the wheel but I wonder if something could be done so that whatever is planned in theory can be filtered down to the masses more effectively so that it can be put into practice.
It seems then that a lot is put down on paper, but the education sector is not aware of the theory behind the implementation of certain policies of the Ministry. It is quite obvious that in practice things do not work out as they are planned to.
I am not throwing the spanner into the wheel but I wonder if something could be done so that whatever is planned in theory can be filtered down to the masses more effectively so that it can be put into practice.
Better Quality Teachers
I read in the newspapers recently that someone suggested the quality of teachers in Malaysia be changed. In my opinion, Malaysia has good quality teachers who are well trained. It is the mindset of the policymakers that has to be changed.
Teachers have long been the scapegoats. They merely follow instructions from the higher echelons of the education system. Thus there are schools where students from exam classes have all co-curricular activities scrapped. Teachers know that ‘All work and no play make jack a dull boy.’ However, there is nothing that they can do about it as they need to produce As in their school.
With the Education Ministry dangling the carrot of higher pay and accolades like Master Teacher in front of them, the newly-qualified teacher slowly becomes subservient to the system. Many have given up their ideals during their sojourn as teachers. They are bogged down by paperwork and meetings, which normally means more paperwork. With rampant indiscipline and the unrealistic demands of the head of the school, they are just too tired to cope.
The ideal teacher should have the time to read up on her subject, to improve her knowledge and the delivery of her lessons, to help mould students to excel not only in their studies but also in life.
However, all this is not happening in schools today. Teaching and character-building does not seem to be part of the job description of a teacher today.
Teachers have long been the scapegoats. They merely follow instructions from the higher echelons of the education system. Thus there are schools where students from exam classes have all co-curricular activities scrapped. Teachers know that ‘All work and no play make jack a dull boy.’ However, there is nothing that they can do about it as they need to produce As in their school.
With the Education Ministry dangling the carrot of higher pay and accolades like Master Teacher in front of them, the newly-qualified teacher slowly becomes subservient to the system. Many have given up their ideals during their sojourn as teachers. They are bogged down by paperwork and meetings, which normally means more paperwork. With rampant indiscipline and the unrealistic demands of the head of the school, they are just too tired to cope.
The ideal teacher should have the time to read up on her subject, to improve her knowledge and the delivery of her lessons, to help mould students to excel not only in their studies but also in life.
However, all this is not happening in schools today. Teaching and character-building does not seem to be part of the job description of a teacher today.
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