What's happening to our schools today?

(pix courtesy of BorneoPost.com)

What's happening to our school today?

A good question to ask ourselves. Malaysia has gone so far in terms of its development and technological advancement. But, what remains unfix, unsettled and shameful is the attitude of the citizen here. ( read pride and shame of being Malaysian )

Over the past few months, the number of headlines highlighting the 'good act' of teachers in the country has not been few. From time to time, we see yet another case of teacher being brought to court, teacher slapped by headmaster in school, students got canned, student got slapped on the face by teacher, and teacher killed.

Yesterday saw yet another case of a warden punishing 200 SMK Bawang Assan girls in the pond under heavy rain. What could possibly be on in the warden's mind when he/she executed such punishment? Is he/she out of his mind or is he/she purely satisfied of his/her act?

If you read the comments on this is shocking blog, you'll hear comments suggesting teachers and wardens should not behave such unprofessionally. Instead, they should take on positive punishments like punishing them to clean the toilet etc etc etc.

But, here's my point:

Truly, the culprit is at fault and should be punished. But what’s obvious was that she didn’t admit her guilt, resulting in unworthy punishment for all girls. This is so wrong a thing to do.

Yet, we can’t just judge the news by its surface. This might not be the first time the warden encounter a clogged toilet bowl of sanitary pad.

The fact that the warden got so furious and irrational might possibly be caused by the many encounters of such incident.

And as Kiu in the news pointed out, “I think the warden was angry as it is expensive to fix a clogged toilet.” I think he has a point there , mainly because broken or clogged toilets in schools are often left unrepaired besides taking a long, slow, circuitous manoeuvre to repair them (i've seen this happening hundred times in my hostel here yet NOTHING has been done).

Yet, what’s said by many of us here is very true. Education, as remarked by Lynda Yong, raises students’ awareness of the importance of hygiene and cleanliness in school as well as at home.

As adults, we need to be patient and be able to control our emotions, particularly when dealing with kids’ misbehavioural problems. A lack of any of these will result in dark cases like this.

Let this be a lesson to all.

Week 4

It's been an up and down roller-coaster teaching 5P class over these four weeks. In these weeks, i had shared happy moments with my kids, and they too had shared happy moments with me. At times, we laughed, but most of the time, we concentrate in what we are doing.

But kids will always remain as kids, they like to test you, they like to get your attention, they fail to bring books to class, and not forgetting they fail to complete their homework. That's why i am put to these kids, to remind them, to scold them, and to be firm with them everytime they did something undesirable.

The fourth week has been a busy week for me. The first thing i walked into the staff room early last Monday morning, i was told to attend relieve classes. Not long after, my supervisor from IPBA messaged and said she wanted to observe our elective classroom this week. As my elective class fall on that particular Monday only (two lessons of elective in a week), this means i had to arrange another day with other teachers for my supervisor.

Thinking that everything will be alright after that, another notice came. This time, my supervisor Pn Nazirah came over to me that told me that she wanted to observe me on this Wednesday. God, so many things to prepare for this week.

But everything went on smoothly at the end of each day. Smoothly doesn't mean no problem. Instead, it means having to overcome every problem with great perseverance and patience. and i thank God for that.

As next week (which is this week) all of us will be back in IPBA for debriefing sessions, this means i will not have time doing revision with my kids who will be taking the July Monthly Test in another 2 weeks time.

Hence, i attempted to make this week a week of revision and practice. Come to think of it, it's not really of revision and practice as my kids do not know anything or are weak in Simple Present Tense. Mind you, Simple Present Tense is one of the most difficult tenses to teach. Think about it and you'll understand what i mean.

In some ways, teaching Simple Present Tense correlates with Subject-Verb agreement (SVA). Students need to learn how a sentence is formed before learning about SVA. So, there i was giving them a lot of input about how a sentence is formed.

The process of teaching them this concept is not easy as English is such a complicated language. As far as they learn to recognize and identify the correct answers, sometimes they can easily forget what they've learn. So, behaviourist theory comes in. Practice after practice. Exercise after exercise. Man, last Wednesday, i actually used four periods (taking relieve class) to teach them about SVA.

Reflecting on this week, i found that my kids are slowly getting more interested in learning the language. How i know? Simply by looking at their response and reaction when asked them questions. They were more eager to talk now.

Yet, i have to keep myself reminded always that this is a language lesson. A language lesson means speaking complete sentences, i.e. he is singing, and not singing. Though their sentence may be incorrect, but who cares. It's the effort that matters.

It requires a lot of bravery and effort for weak students to actually speak up in class. And if they do, why not appreciate it.

Reflecting on my lesson plan, there are still rooms for improvement. Talking with my supervisors and my cooperative teacher made me realized that my lesson lacks of engaging activities and materials.

I admit it is my fault to be so lazy to go and search for more activities and materials. But, in order to teach this kids effectively, i need to come out with a lot of interesting materials and activities.

With the Monthly test coming up, i don't know how my students will perform. I should have been in school this week teaching them something, but time doesn't allow.

I can only hope that my kids will practise what i've taught them the ways of learning English. And with hope, they will show some improvement.

Way to go, Mr Ling.

my class

This week marks my fourth week of prac. The last three weeks have been tiring and worthwhile. As usual, school starts at 7.30. By 6.30 i have to get my ass up already, fetching a taxi at 7, and arriving in school 15 minutes later.

Teaching 5P has never been so wonderful and great. From the first day i walked into this school, this class has never failed to be labelled as the low-proficiency class, the notorious class and the hopeless class.

Today, I can say that this class has been a wonderful class to me though not always. The students never fail me in doing what i expect of them. When I ask them to speak up, they at present will at least try and say something although it may take more than one minute for them to think. When I ask them to do homework, they would finish it immediately and eager to hand in before the end of period.

Over these few weeks, I begin to see changes in some students' attitude. There's this one boy who couldn't speak a word nor understand a word i said in the first week. Not only was he not trying to understand what i said, he didn't bother to listen. He would rather talk to his friend sitting next to him. Last Thursday, when i asked him why he liked the cricket than the ants in the story of 'The ant and the cricket', he answered, 'because...[30 seconds later]... he can sing'. Immediately i praised him in front of the class. And there he was, giving me a big smile. :D that's a little accomplishment from my students.

Yet, language is not learnt overnight. There are challenges ahead of me. What i have accomplished at the moment is simply to inspire them n their interest to want to learn the language.

What is lacking is the learning opportunities to further develop their language. This group that i am teaching, they are deprived of a family background that will ever encourage them to learn, not to mention speak in English. So, besides making sure that my lesson plan does not bore them excessively (language learning is NOT always fun k! u need to PUSH them!), I need to make sure that the students get ample homework to practise their English, particularly grammar.

July Monthly Test is coming up end of this month!!! i have a high expectation for them. i want all of them to pass though i know at the end of the day, i am thinking of the impossible! The last mid-year exam, only 5 of 20 of them passed! This time around, i want to make CHANGES yo! This coming week and next week, i will make extensive grammar learning with them! Mind you, none of them can write a perfect simple sentence, i.e. I go to school.

One problem about family who doesn't care much about their kid's education is that they don't mind whether the kid goes to school or not. Having a simple cold means my kid doesn't have to attend class today already. Mannn... this is not good. I wish i can talk to the kid's parents.

Yet, my conversations with some of my students largely showed that their parents are too busy working outside, as factory labourer, fruit seller, security guard and postman.

I have to think of strategies how to attract my students to come to class. Any suggestion guys? talking to the particular student right? i am doing that now...

Learning English is not fun, but Mr Ling can make a difference!

Way to go!

Wish me luck...