Tuesday, April 29, 2008
# - 7:53 AM
My blog is dead... So is my tagboard... Today went to Child at Street 11... Haha the kids there so cute... Got one very violent... Haha, the kids all cut their hair, still quite cute nonetheless. No more common tests, like i cared about them anyway... Haha...
Do you know how it feels to be misunderstood, perhaps I shouldn't have cared in the first place.
Monday, April 7, 2008
# - 1:56 AM
The history essay was given back to us today, only got 15, not including the bonus marks. ZK was right(first time :P), my essays don't have the fluidity. From now onwards, I shall read through whatever I written before I hand it up. This habit is going to be hard to change since I hate reading through what I written, but I shall not be complacent when writing, nor would I be complacent in guarding my valuables or Mas Selamat.
Read
ArticleThe news article should be the one the VP mentioned; correct me if I am wrong. Regarding Mas Selamat, I don't have anything to say, mrbrown has already said it all. However, I don't exactly agree with the VP regarding his speech to us about complaceny with regards to our valuables. First and foremost, I must clarify that I am in no way using words to attack the VP personally(I don't feel like getting expelled). Nonetheless, I feel that some of his points have been misrepresented. The school is meant to be a safe place, and so is our home. Yet, we can't prevent thefts or robberies happening at our homes. Similarly, we cannot prevent thefts from happening in the school. Putting blame on us for not taking care of our valuables is clearly forgoing the fact that our safety and our belongings are entrusted to the school by our parents or guardians. Likewise, at home, we are entrusted with keeping our things safe. Other than the fact that both the school and our homes are paid for using our parents' taxes, or simply from their own pockets(or CPF), a school and a home is clearly different. In our own homes, we have every obligation to be responsible for our own vlauables. However, in schools, this obligation has to be shared by both us and the school. If the school cannot prevent outsiders from coming in to steal our things, then the trust given to the school has been misplaced. When things go missing in the school, both parties are complacent. The students did not take care of their own belongings, and the school's security system was breached(if it was committed by an outsider). In this case, how is it that we are blamed for almost everything? When the theft is committed by our own students, it is still up to the school to instil proper moral values, if not, what is the point of CME lessons. As mentioned by the VP, students, at this age, are easily susceptible to bad influences(sadly that is true) and are more than ready to commit acts of crime. Again, the responisbility falls to the school, to make sure their own students are of proper moral upbringing. Nonetheless, this resposibility also falls to the parents.
In conclusion, it is true that as the owners of the valuables, it is our responsibility to safeguard things that belong to us. But to push the blame to us, it is simply unfair and irresponsible.
I had to type this with one and a half hand, the injured arm pressing the space bar. Zzz, my arm is so tired that i shan't bother with a good conclusion(not my forte) or with reading through.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
#World Autism Awareness Day - 5:51 AM
World Autism Awareness Day falls on April 2, which is tomorrow.Autism is classified as a developmental disorder which affects 1 in 150 children. The prevalence rate is rapidly going up in the US, partly due to the expanded diagnostics boundaries. Nonetheless, autism cannot be taken lightly.
Sadly, help for autistic children in Singapore is limited. There are special schools and centres dedicated to helping autistic children, but are not given the resources needed to do more. The Singapore government has not been actively pumping in monetary resources to aid in the expensive therapy treatments, resulting in autistic kids being a financial burden to their parents.
Ironically, the government pumps in a lot of money to bring in the so-called foreign talents, just because they are able to bring economical benefits to Singapore, or simply make more money for the government. They give citizenships to them, give them the benefits of the education system and most of them leave after a few years working in Singapore for greener pastures overseas, without serving NS. How can we provide so much financial aid and benefits to people who are not even born in Singapore, and yet fail to give the simplest care to these special needs children? Does it mean being autistic one does not qualify as a Singaporean? Are people who can make money the only concern of the government? People with autism may not be able to bring in economcial growth, but they definitely can contribute to the society through different ways and means. Meritocracy applies regardless of race, religion, social standing, but not if you are slower than others, have a lower IQ or simply unable to contribute financially.
Note: Foreign talents come from countries not linked by a causeway, able to drive up to, or linked by ferries.