What a uninteresting topic to discuss! I'm penning it down to remind myself as an educator, I've the responsibility to be a role model to students. Beside learning, the values and moral are equally important to share with students. One of Phoebe's classmate changed class in the beginning of new semester. Phoebe can't explain why the sudden changed. Out of curiosity, I check it out and was surprised to learn Andria's mum had some disagreement with the teacher in the teaching styles and values and since can't resolve, changing class was the best solution! I arranged over a lunch appointment to find out more and we met up last Tuesday.
Some background to this meeting. Both Phoebe & Andria were in class 1C and coincident in the same team. Back then Phoebe was 'popular' among classmates. Andria was one of them who simply adores Phoebe and only want to be her friend. Learning Andria's weakness, Phoebe exercise empowerment in her own accord and treated friendship for conditions! This was put to a stop and Phoebe changed team. I learn of this saga during teacher-parent session. With Phoebe out of the team, Andria was the target of bully by the rest of teammates. According to the mum, the teammates will throw her stationery out of the class. Andria was a timid and ignorance girl as what the mum describe. She will listen to her peers to win their hearts and this was the disadvantage factor. Once a classmate took over her wallet and insisted to help Andria to buy her thing. This classmate was cunning, on top of Andria's things, she threw in 2 packs of stickers for herself by using Andria's money. Her mum got to know came down to school and hope to discuss this issue with the form teacher. To her dismay, she was told Andria had to learn to survive in school environment! Few more issues arise all related to Andria's. Her mum told me that the last resort was when the form teacher embarrassed her during a learning carnival. It was only after appealing to the school principle that her request was finally granted.
My own account with the form teacher wasn't that disastrous. But from her email reply, she sounded very blunt and determine that her teaching methods best suit her students. She put in teamwork as part of the learning process in her teaching and reward students with point system. This process of learning is fine but the rational of teamwork didn't seem to get into their mind. Students end up pin pointing @ the one who didn't bring credits for the team. As such student learning spirit will be reduce. Phoebe was a victim of this scheme.
School is no longer a place where you make good friends, enjoy learning, gaining knowledge and learn values but a place you have to fight for attention, being recognise, intelligent and smart. The winner will survive!
I pray God will continue to provide me with great wisdom and sensibility to impart the correct values to Phoebe.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Orientation
Yesterday I attended NAFA Freshmen Orientation Program. I felt young and vibrant once again. The registration, welcoming speech and introducing of staffs reminisce those schooling days. Now that I'm one of the student and also a lecturer to my students. I need to role play both roles well. My greatest concern is not mess up both of my schedules, since both my time-tables are schedules back to back!
For MA program, it is very self-driven. So most time I've to disciple on time management. I spoken to the program coordinator who seems to be very nice to work with. He shows me around the studio whereby I'll be station at for the next 1 year. The studio basically is a place where you can work and create your design work, drawing anything related to the area of your study. The size is slightly smaller than a bedroom from what I see. Each MA student will get a studio space while BA students got to share 4 to a studio. Being an early bird, I got to choose my space. I can start moving my belonging by next Monday.
This time round, the teaching schedule was against my learning sessions, so lot of changes were made to accommodate my schedule. Thanks to the modules arrangement person Bee Lian, who has been very accommodating to my request. The NAFA lecturing schedule is in order, but not for my RP facilitating schedules. As the term in RP is on going till 23 Aug, I've problem continue with 3 facilitating days. The class which I've to drop was the best class I ever had. Sigh! It sounded very last minutes but it the best I can do for both school. Thanks to Friso the module chair who granted my request. Another 4 more lessons to go before term break. Meantime, I just have to toggle between work & study. All the best to myself!
For MA program, it is very self-driven. So most time I've to disciple on time management. I spoken to the program coordinator who seems to be very nice to work with. He shows me around the studio whereby I'll be station at for the next 1 year. The studio basically is a place where you can work and create your design work, drawing anything related to the area of your study. The size is slightly smaller than a bedroom from what I see. Each MA student will get a studio space while BA students got to share 4 to a studio. Being an early bird, I got to choose my space. I can start moving my belonging by next Monday.
This time round, the teaching schedule was against my learning sessions, so lot of changes were made to accommodate my schedule. Thanks to the modules arrangement person Bee Lian, who has been very accommodating to my request. The NAFA lecturing schedule is in order, but not for my RP facilitating schedules. As the term in RP is on going till 23 Aug, I've problem continue with 3 facilitating days. The class which I've to drop was the best class I ever had. Sigh! It sounded very last minutes but it the best I can do for both school. Thanks to Friso the module chair who granted my request. Another 4 more lessons to go before term break. Meantime, I just have to toggle between work & study. All the best to myself!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Count down
What to countdown? Neither New Year is around the corner nor I'm leaving for good will. Well, as the matter of fact I'll be back in school to do a MA program this month 23rd! Yes! it real! I've exhausted all my resources to pay for first term school fee that's include using funds from the man in my life, the children and even consider robbing the bank! Ha! Ha! Ha! I bet I don't have the gut to do anything that involve laws.
Am I looking forward? Yees and Noos. Yes, because it took me a year to consider and plan and pen down my research proposal. And probably this will be the last chance to upgrade before my mental processor 'break down' and my physical machine 'give way'. I have reason for taking up this program since I wanted to convert to become full time lecturer with NAFA (Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts). And this is the condition I need to fulfill. However, now it become not a valid reason. Why? Because my long time friend Jesvin no longer with NAFA. As such my objective of doing the program is to challenge myself how far I can proceed in term of academic knowledge and to achieve new learning strategy in the area of design. Hopefully, after completion, I will look at design with new perspective. So inspiring right!
Back to the question. Not so looking forward because that mean I'll be very occupied and busy too! You see I'll continue to teach with NAFA as RP school term will be ending in 1 month time and since I need to raise money for next semester school fee, continue working is the motivation for me right now. How sad! But realistically, this is the way most of us (or just me) are facing with. I don't born with silver spoon so the best solution is to continue WORKING!
Hey, my inaugurate page sounded so pessimistic? Life is beautiful afterall yeah! Guess what! Gotta finish up my grading as much as I can tonight 'cause I'll be 'Out of Town" tomorrow. We will be going for durian trip (sound so aunty right?) and will share with you more in photos in my next block. Wish me good time of eating durians!
Am I looking forward? Yees and Noos. Yes, because it took me a year to consider and plan and pen down my research proposal. And probably this will be the last chance to upgrade before my mental processor 'break down' and my physical machine 'give way'. I have reason for taking up this program since I wanted to convert to become full time lecturer with NAFA (Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts). And this is the condition I need to fulfill. However, now it become not a valid reason. Why? Because my long time friend Jesvin no longer with NAFA. As such my objective of doing the program is to challenge myself how far I can proceed in term of academic knowledge and to achieve new learning strategy in the area of design. Hopefully, after completion, I will look at design with new perspective. So inspiring right!
Back to the question. Not so looking forward because that mean I'll be very occupied and busy too! You see I'll continue to teach with NAFA as RP school term will be ending in 1 month time and since I need to raise money for next semester school fee, continue working is the motivation for me right now. How sad! But realistically, this is the way most of us (or just me) are facing with. I don't born with silver spoon so the best solution is to continue WORKING!
Hey, my inaugurate page sounded so pessimistic? Life is beautiful afterall yeah! Guess what! Gotta finish up my grading as much as I can tonight 'cause I'll be 'Out of Town" tomorrow. We will be going for durian trip (sound so aunty right?) and will share with you more in photos in my next block. Wish me good time of eating durians!
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