mindset
I just realised, that the song used for the scene where the silly little girl hum the tune to the old tree during "Patchwork", is actually 梁祝. Darn I shouldn't have known this, cause it makes me think that the old tree is a pedophile. Just kidding.
Kids got their posting a few days back. I think the biggest controversy is that many of them, having the same subject combination, is being split into 2 different classes. So they are away from their cliques, their good friends or whoever-they-want-to-be-in-the-same-class-with.
It's funny that despite repeating reminders that I'm no longer their teacher and they should address me by my name instead, they still call me "Mr ???". One of them even ask me how to appeal to change class. Like how would I know? Hehe.
Have talked to those who talked to me about the above-mentioned matter. Glad that they took the optimistic side to things and hope they continue to have an open mind about their new class. I'm more worried about the 2 of them who went on to normal stream. I hope the slower pace will help them get back on track, instead of feeling inferior or giving up on their studies.
Kak Zul was right. Even the most talented and academic able student will fail if the emotional and mental state is not taken care of. Mrs Chua was right, when she said during the sharing session, "A teacher can make or break a student". I
Have we given enough time to our kids to make sure that they do not break? How much is giving too much, such that they will not learn to be stronger on their own? How much is too little, that it will cause them to fall? It is easy to say that if they are mentally strong, no teacher can influence their will. But given their age, where their hormones is changing, and their confuse about their identity, is it too much to ask for to ensure their emotional well-being?
I'm still heart-broken, that one of the scholars, mentioned during the sharing session, "Kids these days are getting harder to teach. How can we teach them well if their parents don't teach them values and stuff?".
I mean what's his problem? Can't we teach that? Just because it's the parents' job, and they are not doing it, will it kill you for you to teach them character and values too? Besides, we are teachers, not professors. We do not just cover academia only. There is so much more about teaching than just academics.
I simply hate it, when groups of people get together for the purpose is to serve a cause, yet the priority and reasons behind its actions is not aligned to the cause. Will it kill you to do a little more, if the cause will be better served? Will it kill you to do a little more beyond your scope, so as to serve the cause better?
Sigh. I wonder how long I can survive this uphill battle in a particular committee in hall. It sucks when the leadership and majority say things like "we should do this because we got less things to do" when that path makes life much more difficult for the people you are suppose to serve. It sucks when the leadership and majority says that they want to redo something, and yet, their mindset is still the same. End result? Likely to be something like the old one, with a different look that's all.
On a unrelated note, I have gotten my results through a leaked means. Dunno if it is moderated or not, but judging from the "satisfactory" result i got from my physics module which I thought I would fail badly, I guess the results have been moderated. My CAP? Let's just say, it is ok enough for MOE not to call me down for academic counselling.
Kids got their posting a few days back. I think the biggest controversy is that many of them, having the same subject combination, is being split into 2 different classes. So they are away from their cliques, their good friends or whoever-they-want-to-be-in-the-same-class-with.
It's funny that despite repeating reminders that I'm no longer their teacher and they should address me by my name instead, they still call me "Mr ???". One of them even ask me how to appeal to change class. Like how would I know? Hehe.
Have talked to those who talked to me about the above-mentioned matter. Glad that they took the optimistic side to things and hope they continue to have an open mind about their new class. I'm more worried about the 2 of them who went on to normal stream. I hope the slower pace will help them get back on track, instead of feeling inferior or giving up on their studies.
Kak Zul was right. Even the most talented and academic able student will fail if the emotional and mental state is not taken care of. Mrs Chua was right, when she said during the sharing session, "A teacher can make or break a student". I
Have we given enough time to our kids to make sure that they do not break? How much is giving too much, such that they will not learn to be stronger on their own? How much is too little, that it will cause them to fall? It is easy to say that if they are mentally strong, no teacher can influence their will. But given their age, where their hormones is changing, and their confuse about their identity, is it too much to ask for to ensure their emotional well-being?
I'm still heart-broken, that one of the scholars, mentioned during the sharing session, "Kids these days are getting harder to teach. How can we teach them well if their parents don't teach them values and stuff?".
I mean what's his problem? Can't we teach that? Just because it's the parents' job, and they are not doing it, will it kill you for you to teach them character and values too? Besides, we are teachers, not professors. We do not just cover academia only. There is so much more about teaching than just academics.
I simply hate it, when groups of people get together for the purpose is to serve a cause, yet the priority and reasons behind its actions is not aligned to the cause. Will it kill you to do a little more, if the cause will be better served? Will it kill you to do a little more beyond your scope, so as to serve the cause better?
Sigh. I wonder how long I can survive this uphill battle in a particular committee in hall. It sucks when the leadership and majority say things like "we should do this because we got less things to do" when that path makes life much more difficult for the people you are suppose to serve. It sucks when the leadership and majority says that they want to redo something, and yet, their mindset is still the same. End result? Likely to be something like the old one, with a different look that's all.
On a unrelated note, I have gotten my results through a leaked means. Dunno if it is moderated or not, but judging from the "satisfactory" result i got from my physics module which I thought I would fail badly, I guess the results have been moderated. My CAP? Let's just say, it is ok enough for MOE not to call me down for academic counselling.
posted by yanjie at
10:44 PM
3 Comments:
"Kids these days are getting harder to teach. How can we teach them well if their parents don't teach them values and stuff?".
Actually, he has a point. It is difficult to undo what their parents have "taught" them. It is very important that we teach them values in school of course, you can't be a teacher without teaching them values. But it does become difficult when the parents do not send the same message as you are.
hmm, to put it in context, that guy was saying that it is harder to teach them academic stuff.
I volunteered at a group, where they have classes that taught kids from dysfunctional families character values. I have witnessed first hand how the kids change when they learn all these character values, and how their academic work improve, even though they didn't provide tuition. Some of these kids were on the verge of being deliquent - some skipped school, some shoplifted, and came from all sorts of family background. Now, the same few have even became prefects in school.
That is why i seriously believe that it is possible to teach kids values even if the parents and family do not deliever the same message. If you ask these kids to role play in scenarios, you could see what kind of message their family is sending to them: violence, "i'll kill you", etc. It was then I realise, these kids don't even know what is considered right or wrong in society. They accept what they see at home as the right way to do it, but if you were to correct them, they are very much willing to change.
Of course ideally, parents and teachers work hand in hand. But if we can't get one side to work, at least we do all we can for the kid?
I have also witnessed first hand, how a little patience, respect, love and care could do so much to a kid, even without us knowing at the beginning. It's only so little from us, yet it's so much to them. Can't we spare a little for another kid to fufil his or her potential?
Yanjie,
You've got your heart in the right place, but you have to come to terms with the fact that "teachers cannot replace parents".
The KTM is actually a little worried for you. Take it easy a little bit and try to not martyr yourself within your first five years of teaching can? :-)
It's a long road ahead and there are all sorts of people. Not everyone is teachable. Only those who are willing to learn are teachable.
Of course, it might be possible for you through your efforts to convince some to want to learn. Nevertheless, dun kill yourself trying to save the world. Just do your best and keep your sanity in the process. :-)
Finally, you have to remember that notwithstanding the nobility of the profession, teaching is a job, which means you will have colleagues and bosses.
Try not to langar with your colleagues and bosses. It will keep your life simpler and allow you to devote more time and attention to what you care about.
In life, one cannot be overly idealistic. Do keep in mind that you can probably do more good in the system than out of it. :-)
All the best in your teaching for the coming year. :-P
Warmest Regards.
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