Educating Responsibly

Recently, the education news has caught my attention. After reading news about possible recession, poll results, terrorism, inflation, the dip in stock markets and the sub-prime crisis, there is a need to shift away from these recurring problems. Astrologists even predicted the trend before the year ended, so there is no cause for concern. Basically, the global economy has shifted problems from one country to another in the name of investment.

The most striking news for the month must be the one taken from Singapore. The Minister for Sate Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui Tuck Yew’s speech which is quoted here from The Straits Times.

“Speaking to reporters after a teachers' investiture at the National Institute of Education, Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui said it was important to separate the 'tone' from the 'substance' of the message.

'We can calibrate the tone, we can soften it, improve on the presentation, but there is a lot of work to be done between Secondary 4 and Secondary 5.'

'Principals need to do their job to convey this message to the students and teachers to do their part to challenge them, set high goals and to help them achieve these goals,' he said.”

Many Singaporean parents offered their view about this. On hindsight, it is important that we also realise the possible damage this speech is going to cause. Optimistically, we can let it breeze away and continue to concentrate on the issues raised in the first paragraph. Pessimistically, many educators are going to follow suit and throw negative comments on their charges.

Firstly, many people have considered the impact of bettering the remuneration package for Singapore educators. The attractive remuneration package has attracted many people to switch to their “dream” career. Realistically, many are just doing a job to get paid to live up to their standard of living. Without further doubt many ex-educators and education commentators have already noticed the short-term effect this is going to bring to education. More educators merely pass on their job to parents and experts (psychologists and psychiatrists) in the name of "the country’s future". Who genuinely did educate their charges?

Remuneration aside, Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui’s message is a clear indication of not admitting the mistake and damage already done to the already weak confidence the people have of the education system. For example, Andrew Loh is “amazed” with these words (details please read).

Let’s consider a story. A very rich lady visited an art exhibition. When she came across a painting of a poor woman in rags, she commented, “How is she able to afford to pay the painter for her portrait?”

From Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui’s perspective, he has done the “right” thing, which is to support his subordinate. From the parents’ perspective, this is unbearable. Simply, the ministry has shovelled the irresponsible comments of a school’s head mistress. It is clear that his speech has given the education service a precedent to future unruly scolding from educators.

What recourse do parents and students have from these mental stress?

Lastly, how many parents and students do actually come together to report about their educators’ "put down" education method? Pay attention to the news and you are able to locate reports which none mentioned educators’ irresponsible education in school. These could be the reasons for your child to lost interest in learning. Not because the lessons are uninteresting but the teacher has given the learners so much psychological stress that they stopped learning.

Parents would need to do their part as well. Did you inculcate the right value in your child toward school? On the first day of school, did you tell your child explicitly the objective of attending school? Was this conveyed to the educators in charge of your child as well?

At a time when everyone celebrated and congratulated an educator for his or her achievements in nurturing the young, did anyone bother to report those who did not do their job well? Although we should not downplay the efforts the good educators have put in, we should not sweep those who do not under the carpet.

We all went through the education system. We know how it is like to meet those horrible and irresponsible teachers. They do not teach and they are only concerned with boasting so that they get paid the amount they wanted.

Teaching is an assignment from God. Educators should do this job with a clear conscience. Knowledge could be gain and experience could be learnt. Please do not just pass on the problem to another to earn a living.