I lost my specs in ubin. T_T
And i'm burnt black by the sun. My feet and various parts of my body are aching.... and I'm just so fucking glad its BLOODY OVER!!!!!!!
Paper 2 is over. I sure hope my silly kids can do the paper. Mr S's predictions came through! Maybe they can do ok for the paper. I sure hope so! =)
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Sunday, October 21, 2007
School Culture?
Was blog-surfing and came across several interesting blogs about my industry. One of the blogs' recent post brought the topic of school culture to mind. He was comparing the "Elite" schools to the "Neighbourhood" schools and his opinion was that there's really not much of a difference in the end result. Well, of course there's a difference but responsibility ultimately lies with the individual and not with the school.
Well, I do agree to a large extent. Its ultimately your life and no matter which school you go to, it's your decision to sink or to swim. My school (as in the current one) is a typical neighbourhood school. We take in average and below average kids. We see them change over the years, pick up bad habits and behaviour from their seniors, lose interest in studies, lose confidence in their abilities, get into trouble with the police. We also see kids who put in effort. We see them excel and produce intelligent pieces of work. We see kids who entered with below average PSLE scores but graduated with single digit L1R5 and got into top JCs. Granted, they don't make up the majority. But they exists. It's really their choice. No one can force them to study if they don't want to.
The main difference between students from "elite" schools and "neighbourhood" schools is really the school culture. In the non-neighbourhood schools, the students are proud of their school. They are proud of their uniform, no matter how ugly it may be... argh... take for example the green pinafore. =_= Even years after they graduated, they'll look back with a certain measure of pride. Well, it differs from individual to individual but at least it was that case for me. I still feel a sense of kinship when I see kids wearing the same uniform as i did so long ago. And in those schools, students have the mindset that they are near the top of the pile. No matter how much you suck in school, you'll always have that mentality that you are good. It could lead to students being over-confident or arrogant, but it sure beats having no confidence in yourself. Failure is not even considered. And because when you tell yourself you must do it, you will do it.
Our kids on the other hand, do not like the school too much. One kid was so ashamed of our uniform that he would rather wear home clothes out and change into the uniform nearer to school. Sure they love their friends. They are warm kids who like most of the teachers etc etc... but when it comes to school pride, I'm pretty sure they have little or none. They don't have much respect for authority and basically have no standards to aspire to.
Expectations for the students of "elite" schools are high. School pride and culture propels them to strive hard to meet those expectations. When there's no culture in a school to speak of, or when the culture is negative instead of positive, all we can do is to have expectations of our kids. For some of them, the very idea of other people having expectations from them is so foreign that they haven't even consider it before. And I think that this very absence of expectations is widening the gap between the students of different schools.
Argh... I just need to get it all out! Although responsibility lies with the individual, most teenagers CANNOT handle this responsibility. They THINK that they can but are influenced by the culture within the school. The school therefore plays a huge part in making or breaking these individuals. And yes, there IS a difference in "elite" and "neighbourhood" schools.
Well, I do agree to a large extent. Its ultimately your life and no matter which school you go to, it's your decision to sink or to swim. My school (as in the current one) is a typical neighbourhood school. We take in average and below average kids. We see them change over the years, pick up bad habits and behaviour from their seniors, lose interest in studies, lose confidence in their abilities, get into trouble with the police. We also see kids who put in effort. We see them excel and produce intelligent pieces of work. We see kids who entered with below average PSLE scores but graduated with single digit L1R5 and got into top JCs. Granted, they don't make up the majority. But they exists. It's really their choice. No one can force them to study if they don't want to.
The main difference between students from "elite" schools and "neighbourhood" schools is really the school culture. In the non-neighbourhood schools, the students are proud of their school. They are proud of their uniform, no matter how ugly it may be... argh... take for example the green pinafore. =_= Even years after they graduated, they'll look back with a certain measure of pride. Well, it differs from individual to individual but at least it was that case for me. I still feel a sense of kinship when I see kids wearing the same uniform as i did so long ago. And in those schools, students have the mindset that they are near the top of the pile. No matter how much you suck in school, you'll always have that mentality that you are good. It could lead to students being over-confident or arrogant, but it sure beats having no confidence in yourself. Failure is not even considered. And because when you tell yourself you must do it, you will do it.
Our kids on the other hand, do not like the school too much. One kid was so ashamed of our uniform that he would rather wear home clothes out and change into the uniform nearer to school. Sure they love their friends. They are warm kids who like most of the teachers etc etc... but when it comes to school pride, I'm pretty sure they have little or none. They don't have much respect for authority and basically have no standards to aspire to.
Expectations for the students of "elite" schools are high. School pride and culture propels them to strive hard to meet those expectations. When there's no culture in a school to speak of, or when the culture is negative instead of positive, all we can do is to have expectations of our kids. For some of them, the very idea of other people having expectations from them is so foreign that they haven't even consider it before. And I think that this very absence of expectations is widening the gap between the students of different schools.
Argh... I just need to get it all out! Although responsibility lies with the individual, most teenagers CANNOT handle this responsibility. They THINK that they can but are influenced by the culture within the school. The school therefore plays a huge part in making or breaking these individuals. And yes, there IS a difference in "elite" and "neighbourhood" schools.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Yosh! I'm going to train up my level of fitness! or at least TRY
Am going to try and train up this holidays! Or at the very least... start training up. Next year, I'm going to try out for this course that's going to be quite strenuous. Physically as well as mentally. It's definitely not compulsory... but I see it as... well... sort of a challenge. If I can pass it, then anyone can do it! So I'm going to try for it! But as things go... we'll see how things are next year. Haha... hopefully come 2008, I'm still enthusiastic about it!
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Random stuff...
As the year approaches the end, I do fear that my secondary four students had not been sufficiently, adequately prepared for the O’Levels. There is this secret fear that I might have been the deciding factor or the weak link in the chain. That the students were actually capable, given a better teacher, one much better than myself. I’m not angling for praise or anything. I don’t really want the students to think that I’m the best teacher in the world or anything like it. In fact, I do know that I’m far from the best. What I do want is to know that I’ve done my best by them. And this fact eludes me. I honestly cannot say that I’ve done my best by them. There’ve been times when I feel like giving up on them. There’ve been times when I look at them and don’t actually believe in them. There’ve also been times when I look at them and wonder how can other people not see them as I see them, people with potential if only they would put their minds to it. So intent of squandering what potential they have, for a little fun right here and now. And at the heart of all these ponderings, I wonder if I’ll blame myself for not bothering hard enough to get them to try harder. I think I can safely say that in terms of academic teaching, I’ve not let them down. I’ve taught to the very best of my abilities. If my abilities are lacking, I can only say sorry, but better luck next time. But what I do have a problem with, is my inability to motivate them. I see them as people with potential but too short-sighted to make use of it. I see what could have been. But I’m clueless as to what I can do to make them see it as well.
Maybe the stress of the O'Levels is really getting to me. Some of them are really trying now, and that's really good. But for some others, they're still living in whatver lala land they've always been living in. =_=
Maybe the stress of the O'Levels is really getting to me. Some of them are really trying now, and that's really good. But for some others, they're still living in whatver lala land they've always been living in. =_=
Monday, October 01, 2007
The Perverse Guide to Sun Signs
Hehe... found this from J's blog. Thought it was pretty funny. And kinda true for some people I know! Hehe...
The Perverse Guide to Sun Signs
Submitted Anonymously
ARIES (Mar23-Apr22)
You have a wild imagination and often think you are being followed by the FBI or CIA. You have minor influence on your friends and people resent you for flaunting your power. You lack confidence and are a general dipshit.
TAURUS (Apr23-May22)
You are practical and persistent. You have a dogged determination and work like hell. Most people think you are stubborn and bullheaded. You're nothing but a damned communist.
GEMINI (May23-Jun22)
You are a quick and intelligent thinker. People like you because you are bisexual. You are inclined to expect too much for too little. This means you are a cheap bastard. Geminis are notorious for thriving on incest.
CANCER (Jun23-Jul22)
You are sympathetic and understanding to other people's problems, which makes you a sucker. You are always putting things off. That is why you will always be on welfare and won't be worth a shit. Everyone in prison is a Cancer.
LEO (Jul23-Aug22)
You consider yourself a born leader. Others think you are an idiot. Most Leos are bullies. You are vain and cannot tolerate criticism. Your arrogance is disgusting. Leo people are thieving motherf*ers and enjoy masturbation more than sex.
VIRGO (Aug23-Sep22)
You are the logical type and hate disorder. Your shit-picking attitude is sickening to your family, friends and co-workers. You are cold and unemotional and ofter fall asleep while f*ing. Virgos make good bus drivers and pimps.
LIBRA (Sep23-Oct22)
You are the artistic type and have a difficult time dealing with reality. If you are male, you are probably queer. Chances for employment and monetary gain are nil. Most Libra women are whores. All Libras die of Venereal Diseases.
SCORPIO (Oct22-Nov22)
You are the worst of the lot. You are shrewd in business and cannot be trusted. You shall achieve the pinnacle of success because of your total lack of ethics. You are the perfect son-of-a-bitch. Most Scorpios are murdered.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov23-Dec22)
You are optimistic and enthusiastic. You have a reckless tendency to rely on your luck since you have no talent. The majority of Sagittarians are drunks. You are a worthless piece of shit.
CAPRICORN (Dec23-Jan22)
You are conservative and afraid of taking risks. You are basically chickenshit. There has never been a Capricorn of any importance. You should kill yourself.
AQUARIUS (Jan 23-Feb22)
You have an intuitive mind and are inclined to be progressive. You lie a great deal. You make the same mistakes repeatedly because you are stupid. Everyone thinks you are a f*king asshole.
PISCES (Feb23-Mar22)
You are a pioneer type and think most people are dickheads. You are quick to reprimand, impatient and full of advice. You do nothing but piss off everyone you come in contact with. You are a prick.
The Perverse Guide to Sun Signs
Submitted Anonymously
ARIES (Mar23-Apr22)
You have a wild imagination and often think you are being followed by the FBI or CIA. You have minor influence on your friends and people resent you for flaunting your power. You lack confidence and are a general dipshit.
TAURUS (Apr23-May22)
You are practical and persistent. You have a dogged determination and work like hell. Most people think you are stubborn and bullheaded. You're nothing but a damned communist.
GEMINI (May23-Jun22)
You are a quick and intelligent thinker. People like you because you are bisexual. You are inclined to expect too much for too little. This means you are a cheap bastard. Geminis are notorious for thriving on incest.
CANCER (Jun23-Jul22)
You are sympathetic and understanding to other people's problems, which makes you a sucker. You are always putting things off. That is why you will always be on welfare and won't be worth a shit. Everyone in prison is a Cancer.
LEO (Jul23-Aug22)
You consider yourself a born leader. Others think you are an idiot. Most Leos are bullies. You are vain and cannot tolerate criticism. Your arrogance is disgusting. Leo people are thieving motherf*ers and enjoy masturbation more than sex.
VIRGO (Aug23-Sep22)
You are the logical type and hate disorder. Your shit-picking attitude is sickening to your family, friends and co-workers. You are cold and unemotional and ofter fall asleep while f*ing. Virgos make good bus drivers and pimps.
LIBRA (Sep23-Oct22)
You are the artistic type and have a difficult time dealing with reality. If you are male, you are probably queer. Chances for employment and monetary gain are nil. Most Libra women are whores. All Libras die of Venereal Diseases.
SCORPIO (Oct22-Nov22)
You are the worst of the lot. You are shrewd in business and cannot be trusted. You shall achieve the pinnacle of success because of your total lack of ethics. You are the perfect son-of-a-bitch. Most Scorpios are murdered.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov23-Dec22)
You are optimistic and enthusiastic. You have a reckless tendency to rely on your luck since you have no talent. The majority of Sagittarians are drunks. You are a worthless piece of shit.
CAPRICORN (Dec23-Jan22)
You are conservative and afraid of taking risks. You are basically chickenshit. There has never been a Capricorn of any importance. You should kill yourself.
AQUARIUS (Jan 23-Feb22)
You have an intuitive mind and are inclined to be progressive. You lie a great deal. You make the same mistakes repeatedly because you are stupid. Everyone thinks you are a f*king asshole.
PISCES (Feb23-Mar22)
You are a pioneer type and think most people are dickheads. You are quick to reprimand, impatient and full of advice. You do nothing but piss off everyone you come in contact with. You are a prick.
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