Term 3 Week 4 (Blogging Assignment)

Read the following Newsweek article, How to Raise a Global Kid, byLisa Miller (July 18, 2011)

http://www.newsweek.com/2011/07/17/american-kids-immersed-in-chinese-asian-education.print.html

What is the main argument Jim Rogers is trying to make in this article? Do you agree with his argument? Justify.

I think the main argument that Jim Rogers is trying to make is the importance of cultivating a global perspective in children from young. Hence, the best way he thinks to do so is to put the child in a country abroad, where the child can mix with other people and learn different languages and cultures (in this case, Singapore). This prepares them for the future.

Asia is rising with superpowers like China. China's economy has been skyrocketing and is expected to overtake that of the current superpower, America, in just a matter of years. Rogers has placed his child in Nanyang Primary School, arguably one of the best primary schools in the country, so that she can learn a 2nd language, Mandarin. Mandarin would be extremely useful as China's economy develops even further. In the article, Rogers seems very firm in his belief of the importance of learning Mandarin. His house has no TV, has a maid and a nanny who only speaks Mandarin to the kids, and a karaoke machine for the children to learn Mandarin songs. One problem that he continuously mentions is that America does not raise "global kids". Statistics show that only 37% of American citizens have passports, less than 2% of students go abroad during their undergraduate years, and the number of schools which teach Mandarin is practically non-existent.

I totally agree with Rogers' argument. This is because China is rapidly growing and will become the next global superpower. In the future, learning Mandarin would almost become a must. Working with a country like China can provide many opportunities, in terms of business partners, profits etc. Besides China, many other countries can be beneficial for our careers when we work with them. For example, business trips with other countries like France. By making partners abroad, one can expand his business, but first we need to learn their native language.

I think that Rogers' moving to Singapore is a great choice, especially because of our bilingualism policy. This policy can pretty much teach us the things necessary for a future where the ever-rising China becomes the most powerful country in the world and the stagnating America falls behind. English is taught and reinforced because generally it is the medium of communication worldwide. Chinese would be ever-so useful to have in the future.

In conclusion, I agree with Rogers and that Chinese should be a must for anyone who wishes to be successful in the future. Singapore is a cosmopolitan city where the majority of the citizens have an opportunity to learn these 2 languages and their different cultures. We, as students, should treasure this opportunity and do our best to learn these 2 languages as best as we possibly can.

Term 3 Week 3 (Blogging Assignment)

Read the following letter:

http://www.temasekreview.com/2011/07/12/an-open-letter-to-the-education-minister-from-a-secondary-4-student/

(1) Comment on the Janalle Lee's view on the education system in Singapore.

(2) Is an ideal education possible? Explain.

Post your 500 word response on your blog.

1) This letter is extremely well-written, even more so because the writer is only in Secondary 4. It really shows a mature train of thought. The letter focuses on 2 main flaws in our education system, the first being the lack of creativity inculcated into our students and the second being a lack of emphasis on moral education.

The writer has a firm belief that education is learning to answer those burning "whys" in our heads. Humans have a naturally inquisitive mind that always wants to know more. Children go to the zoo and ask, "Why is the giraffe so tall?" They always want to know more. However, the education system restricts our questioning and does not allow us to answer those doubts in us. After reading this letter, I really do agree that we are all "products on a factory line", an apt metaphor quoted from the letter. We are all put into school and through a somewhat fixed and mechanical process, we emerge as capable people who are useful in helping the country. The education policy is so fixed that every person is treated the same way. Some students may have a talent for things like arts and music. However, the education policy stifles their talents and suppresses it. These students aren't given a chance to build on their talents. I have always wondered why Singapore doesn't really have fantastic actors or musicians. I have always looked at Singapore's entertainment programs as trash compared to those of Hollywood. After reading this letter I may have found my answer. It is because these people's talent has been neglected, and this could be because of a major flaw in the education system.

The education system still relies heavily on classrooms and textbooks. This education system, in my opinion, is fit for a third world country as we were before. But now, we have developed and evolved. We are now a first class country. Surely our education system needs a relook and a slight tweak at least?

I really agree with Janelle that the education policy has too much emphasis on A1 and memorizing information. Most of this information would probably be forgotten by the time we start work. Do you think you can remember the 10 abiotic factors that affect an ecosystem by the time you reach 30 years of age? I highly doubt it. Also, our country lacks creativity and innovation. Anyone can memorize the textbook and notes. We need a true thinker who is different from the rest, who can think up new ideas and policies for the future, to allow our country to progress even further. I also agree that there is not enough emphasis on morals and principles. These are the things that would be the most likely to be carried forward for our future, because it can be cultivated and inculcated into our daily lives. So, why isn't there more emphasis on this? I feel that qualities like being diligent and proactive are much more important when we are working, than facts that we would probably forget and are irrelevant to whatever we will be doing in the future.

I really hope that these flaws would be looked at and I hope for a better education system in the future.

2) I think that an ideal education is possible. One thing that I think needs to be changed is the focus of the education system. It should be more focused on the PROCESS of education, rather than the end result. Fostering the inquisitive minds in our country, in my opinion, is several times more important than getting A1s for our tests. Also, the above flaws should also be worked on. Our education policy isn't bad, in fact it is very successful. However, I think a slight tweak to the system will make it pretty much ideal already.

Term 3 Week 2 (Blogging Assignment)

Water is the essence of life. Without it, life cannot be sustained. Over 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, however only 3% of it constituents the life-giving resource that people need. This limited amount should be distributed out evenly so that the countries can sustain themselves, but this is hardly the case. Wealthy countries have the money and the resources to buy as much water as they want. On the other hand, poorer countries who do not have the money cannot afford water, thus leading to water-shortages. The presence of droughts in some of these areas aggravates the problem. This leads to the issue of whether water should be treated as a human right or a commodity.

Undoubtedly, water is necessary for all living things. It has been proven that the average human cannot survive without water for more than 3 days. Since water is so vital for human survival, shouldn’t every person get what they need? Water as a human right means that water can be distributed to anybody who requires it, regardless of wealth, social status and power. However, water as a commodity means that only those who can afford to purchase it at its market value can get it, while the rest are doomed to die of thirst. Unlike commodities like soft drinks that we consume for pleasure, water is the fuel that keeps us alive.

There is much debate on this issue. Many think that water should be a human right, because the millions of people who can’t afford it would die otherwise. Humans NEED water, without it life cannot be sustained. However, others argue that water should be a commodity, because they believe that such a precious resource should not be given freely, and only to those who have actually EARNED it. Personally, I feel that water should be a human right, but hey, I’m a kid. What do I know?

Term 3 Week 1 (Blogging Assignment)

Maids come to Singapore to earn more money to support their families back home, who are not as fortunate as us in terms of finance. Hence, they tend to work harder. For these maids, I think that a weekly day off is fair because they are working 7 days a week, everyday working from morning to night. Personally, my maid cooks most of my meals, does the laundry, and cleans the house. Because she has done so much, I think that she deserves the day off. However, other Singapore employers may think that their maid has done a sloppy job, and is not happy to give them a day off every week. I think that they would be dissatisfied if the weekly day off policy is legislated. Hence, this is a very debatable subject. On one side are those maids who earned their day off, and the other side is the maids who do a slipshod job and take the day off. Hence, I think that if the policy is to be implemented, employers should have a choice to appeal to the agency to take away this privilege if the maid seems like she does not deserve it. Another suggestion that I have is to change the policy to a day off every 2-4 weeks, depending on the employer. The employer has to give a day off at least once a month, and can choose to give more if the maid deserves it.

Sec 2 Home-Based Learning

1) In many war torn countries, children not only are deprived from education, many were also forced into armies to fight. These child soldiers are often treated as "pawns". Many countries use these children to fight because of their lower cost to maintain. Children will need less resources than a grown adult. However, children in our society would slowly be introduced to life and are protected by their families. Children of these ages would often be at home, safe and sound, rather than learning to fight in war. We should not take our safety for granted, since we are lucky enough not to be born in a war-torn country.

Steps in Analysis
	Point	Evidence	Elaboration
1.	Point of View narrator's PoV	Speaks from a third person's point of view. "Could we...."	By writing from a third person's PoV, he can understand the inner thoughts and feelings of the children and convey them in the poem.

2.	Situation and Setting Children enrolled in the army at such a tender age No chance at education for these children	"Chalk and blackboards will not be... From this life they cannot flee, and these children are not free"	Chalk and blackboards- objects used in classrooms. Shows that there is no education for these children. The children are also unable to escape from the war, which probably implies that they are forced to join the war.
3	Language/ Diction Rhyme	"light...fight" "flee...free" "chance...dance" "soul...hole" "flight...light"

4	Personal Response There is little future for these children	"chalk and blackboard will not be, to this door there is no key"	These children are forced into the army where many will die at war. Those who survive will still have no education, which does not allow them to reach their maximum capabilities. They are born into a living hell where they are trained to fight since young. From this I think we should not take our lives for granted because we have a chance to be somebody, instead of a mindless soldier fighting without a cause.

Term 2 Lesson 2: War - A personal Response

Another gunshot was heard. Another soldier fell.

The surroundings were a mess. Where houses stood previously, a pile of splintered wood and mutilated furniture was strewn all around. Amidst the chaos of war, crying was heard. The wailing of children who had just become orphans, families whose homes had been so mercilessly destroyed. That was what war does, destroyed families and ruin lives.

Soldiers continued their march amidst the wreckage. With guns in hand, they bravely march into battle, knowing that a single gunshot could end their life. Every second was like their last. They trudge on, with sheer determination to save their destroyed country.

Looking up, a dark cloud drifts across the sky. Suddenly, the sound of a gunshot reverberates through the air. Time seems to stop for the soldier who was targeted, as the bullet penetrates his vest and punctures a hole in his chest. Clutching his chest, the victim gags, blood flowing out of the wound. He collapses, and breaths his final breath.

Yet another life claimed by the cruel war.