Saturday, August 4, 2007 - :

It seems like I cannot set a title for this post because the moment I press any key in the column,the English words will be changed to what looks like Tamil writings. Well, anyway in case you have been wondering about my disappearing act from this blog for so long, it is because since the last post on this blog, I could hardly find the time to post my reflections here. For a moment, my blog entries have become stagnant. Sorry about it =)

Come back to the topic, this post will include my reflections on the income gap between occupations.

The Straits Times recently published an article," S'pore's dirty secret" on July 28 2007. It explains the widening wage rates between people in high ranking professions and cleaners/labourers. There were two main reasons accounting for this phenomenon- increased competition from low-skilled foreign workers and trend of outsourcing.

Despite many claims that the income gap is largely unbridgeable, I believe that the government has implemented policies that help increase salaries of low-paid workers. Furthermore, an importannt factor of determining whether these workers will receive higher pays will be their willingness to upgrade their skills. I think that if workers strive to improve themselves by attending upgrading courses their companies offer, they increase their proficiency in their jobs, hence increasing work productivity. This way, their work and effort will be valued more by companies. When their job is valued, these workers like cleaners and labourers will enjoy higher wages. It is especially important to keep themselves up-to-date with technological improvements that would enable them to accomplish their tasks easily and in a more efficient way.Somehow when people see, for instance, cleaners using high technology to enhance work productivity, they would be impressed too. Hence, I strongly believe that workers themselves must be willing and keen to find new ways of improving as it would also act as an incentive to carry on with their jobs.

The Straits Times article also stated,"different countries look for different solutions- from a minimum wage policy and closing the door on low-skilled foreign workers to paying foreign local workers the same wage...do not neccessarily work"

To enhance the already positive and booming- economy image of Singapore, I believe it is good to improve the profile of low-wage workers by introducing more self-improvement and skills redevelopment courses. In the long run, these workers will enjoy higher productivity with newly-acquired skills and reap the benefits of a higher salary.

The future ain't what it used to be. hugged teddy at 2:51 AM

Sunday, July 1, 2007 - A poem by me :

When all you told were lies
When all you told were empty promises and twisted truths
When you made me feel more treasured than I really am
My heart crumbles away and the world shuts its lights

When your precious letter box held all her messages
When it isn’t me you are missing
When your eyes tell me stories of apologies
I refuse to listen and hid in loneliness

When you chased after my escape from reality
When you held me back as I struggled to break free
When your expression displayed tales of regret
I fought the urge to hit you

I couldn’t forgive you for your mistakes
Not of jealousy
But of sheer disappointment

Now we head on our separate lives
With renewed hope and energy
Angels are watching over us
Helping us seek the love story we yearn for

The future ain't what it used to be. hugged teddy at 7:37 AM

Sunday, June 17, 2007 - Comtemplating on: Alcohol and drink driving :

With news reports on drink driving cases, health issues and mishaps which stem out from reckless drivers in stupor states being on the rise, it seems like drink driving has emerged as the latest fad among Singaporeans these days. Have Christopher Lee's sentence to jail not served a warning to those who are on the brink of driving after downing glasses of alcohol at the bar? Drowning oneself with alcohol is one of the popular way to temporarily cast away one's career or domestic troubles. However effective it may be in letting one forget his woes and become a happy person in one night, I believe that it is also detrimental to our mind and body.

Alcohol is a kind of drug which is socially acceptable in Singapore as well as many parts of the world. Business partners consume it over tade agreements and contracts while high-end socialites mingle around with each other, chatting merrily and clink glasses of alcohol. It is also a depressant which can be addicted if consumed over long periods of time. Let us look at the consequences of consuming alcohol.

First and foremost, there are short terms health effects of drinking alcohol. Alcohol causes our brain functions to deteriorate, decreases our nervous tension and reduces self control. Hence, alcoholics may find it difficult to control their behaviours and tempers while interacting with people. In addition, alcoholics would experience slurred speech, blurred vision as well as poor muscular coordination. This is the main reason why drivers become careless under the influence of alcohol and accidents are prone to occur when they drive.

Second, if one consumes alcohol for extensive periods of time, he is likely to develop serious health effects like gastric ulcers or liver problems that would take a heavy toll on his body. For instance, liver cirrhosis, a condition which the liver cells are destroyed and replaced with fibrous tissue and causing the liver to lose its function, could arise. This could even lead to liver failure if medical help is not sought for quickly.

Lastly, alcohol could give a rise to social problems too. When alcoholics are under the influence of alcohol, they tend to violence in family matters , abusing their family members. Stealing would also be prevalent in society as these alcoholics would seeks ways to find money to buy more alcoholic drinks.

As seen from above, there are many complications resulting from consuming alcohol. To avoid these problems, education should instil mindsets in pupils from young that alcohol is damaging to health and we should abstain from it at all costs. Pupils should also be warned about drink driving which could cause others’ life as well as endanger their own. I also think that television commercials about the seriousness and fatal results of drink driving could also be enhanced by giving strict advice to young adults at seminars or assembly talks to pupils in schools. With this, I believe that the trend of consuming alcohol and drink driving could be effectively brought down to a much lower level, ensuring health and safety for everyone.

The future ain't what it used to be. hugged teddy at 11:51 PM

Saturday, June 2, 2007 - Comtemplating on: Its's the June holidays! :

Let us rejoice the arrival of our favourite time of the year- June holidays! It is a time for us to take a break from our heavy workloads at school and relax before restoring our energy for the challenges that await us next half of year 2007. For many students, this holiday also signals the time to hit on our textbooks! Perhaps it is a fine time to get started on our mountainous pile of homework and get the engine going with Project Work! (Well, I can almost hear myself groan at this point.) With so many things on hand, I believe it would be useful to draw up a revision schedule so that homework can be accomplished on time if we stick to the plan.

At some point in life, we may have wondered to ourselves whether daily homework is really necessary and whether it has benefited us in the past years. As a JC1 student myself, I believe that homework serves a purpose of ensuring that pupils are able to reflect on their own learning and are being self- evaluative about their progress in schoolwork. It also helps students to be self-reliant and independent young learners. Personally, I think that daily homework is necessary for pupils as it benefits and enriches them in various aspects.

Firstly, as homework requires concentration, it is important as it helps pupils achieve mastery of newly-acquired skills and knowledge. In my opinion, the phrase “Practice makes perfect” suggests that pupils can make use of their homework to revise on subjects like Mathematics, which requires sufficient practice in order to enhance thinking skills. By doing their homework, pupils can comprehend different topics better and simultaneously realise their weaknesses in certain areas. This allows them to be more proficient in languages and understand concepts in a different light. When pupils spend time doing assigned activities, they learn the necessary skills of independent study.

Following that, pupils learn to gauge their time management well when they do homework. For example, they keep track with assignments and are able to consolidate things taught in school. This promotes a wise and orderly use of time. By spending time to master basic learning taught before, it builds up pupils’ confidence in completely their assignments positively.

In addition, I think that homework acts as an invisible source of motivation, spurring pupils to work towards their fullest potential and challenging them to apply various concepts into several experimental applications. This actually inspires pupils to study exceptionally hard and aim for the best in themselves. Even pupils with lackadaisical attitudes toward their studies can also be given impetus to strive for excellence.

Furthermore, in my opinion, homework helps to instill self discipline in pupils. By completing their homework independently, pupils gain ideas on how to take control of many aspects of life even outside school. Therefore, homework provides a daily opportunity to help pupils succeed through their learning process.

On the other hand, research has shown that homework may too, cause stress in a person. Excessive homework can inflict pressure on pupils, which makes it difficult for them to cope with. With compulsory curriculum activities lined up for pupils in and out of school, many pupils hardly have the time to complete their homework. Homework is also believed to be intrusive on families. In many cases, both parents are in the workforce and wish to spend quality time with their offspring. Also, when examined closely, homework actually often requires the help of parents to be completed (especially for primary school pupils). Some pupils may be weaker in some subjects and thrust their homework into their parents’ arms.

Hence, proper use of homework can be of value to pupils’ academic and personal developments. They give pupils opportunities to show an interest in their school life and learning, which in turn builds up positive-thinking individuals. Indeed, a few pieces of homework a day is a small price to pay for high achievements in the long-run and life long useful skills.

To sum up, I strongly believe that the benefits of homework assignments far outweigh the negatives. Homework encourages independent in-depth study which enables pupils to think critically and creatively. As lessons in schools are merely transmittal of information, homework is essential for the pupils’ own understanding of the material covered in class.

[ I hope you have enjoyed this entry with my insights on homework. May you complete our June holiday homework with an open mind (don’t grumble!) and remember to spend some time with your loved ones (friends AND family) to catch up on things you have missed! Happy holidays everyone! ]

The future ain't what it used to be. hugged teddy at 11:03 PM

Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - GP holiday assignment 1- Freedom of expression or social responsibility? :

Question: Singer believes that freedom of expression is essential to any democracy and therefore should not be limited. On the other hand, Szilagyi believes that more focus should be placed on social responsibility. In the context of Singapore’s multi-racial society, where there is cultural ad religious pluralism, which author’s view do you think should be adopted?

Upon reflecting on the articles written by Singer and Szilagyi, I have reached a realisation that many demonstrations, protests and riots occurring in this world stems out from religious differences which result in differing views and opinion on issues, straining relationships and deepening rifts between countries. They refuse to give way, insensitive to other religious beliefs and give no hesitation in criticising others’ sacred beliefs. For 17 years I have lived in democratic Singapore, cases of racial discrimination and condemnation of religious figures are few to count. I believe that in Singapore’s multi- racial society, where there is cultural and religious pluralism, more focus should be placed on social responsibility (Szilagzi’s view) rather than freedom of expression.

To begin with, let me emphasize that by stating my stand here does not mean I feel that freedom of expression should be disregarded. Freedom of expression refers to the right to express personal opinions freely. It is important to an extent that it allows sharing of different views from people of various racial groups, hence exposing us to diverse opinions. The government can also judge from these views whether a certain policy receives favourable response and from there, the government can make amendments to existing policies to suit the welfare of its citizens.

However, freedom of expression can lead to harmful consequences too. As seen in the previous years, several bloggers have been arrested for posting racist remarks on the web. It reflects on us how irresponsible these people are in posting such hurtful and insensitive comments about other religions without considerations of the possible consequences they may face. Hence, I strongly believe that the key to a democratic society is to practise social responsibility.

So the next question one may ponder upon is, how do we practise social responsibility and in what way should the government promote this value among Singaporeans? Well, practising it is actually quite simple. In my opinion, we can do our part by simply ensuring that we do not express negative remarks about racial beliefs or criticize any religious figures. For example, Jesus Christ, Buddha, monks, etcetera. Singaporeans must be sensitive to racial issues and avoid finger pointing and recriminations in the aftermath of racial disputes. Second, in a nation with racial diversity, Singaporeans should learn to tolerate different cultures so that there would be racial harmony. Interacting with our neighbours of various religions help in social bonding, hence citizens would learn to appreciate diverse values and foster stronger ties with people of different races.

I think that to place more focus on social responsibility, the government must take on an active role in promoting this value among Singaporeans. First, I believe that the government should monitor the media’s progress in ‘leading an informed, high quality discussion, with due respect for minority rights’ as mentioned in the article. The media should be careful in carrying out discussions by not depicting biasedness, revealing racist cartoons and jokes. In addition, the government could hold dialogue sessions to further emphasize the role of citizens in practising social responsibility. I feel strongly that it is especially important for the younger generations of today to actively participate in these events because this value should be instilled in them from young so that they can lead Singapore well in future.

To end off, I believe that should freedom of expression be limited and social responsibility be widely promoted, Singapore would be a democratic country with a diverse racial pool of citizens living harmoniously together as a nation.

The future ain't what it used to be. hugged teddy at 1:40 AM

Thursday, May 24, 2007 - Contemplating on: should girls and boys receive their education separately? :

(As i have been nominated by my class to go for the 2nd round of gp blogging competition, well,here goes..)

Despite the increasing number of students opting for co-ed schools in Singapore, there was previously a heated debate on whether girls and boys should receive their education separately. I believe this has put much confusion among parents and even aroused major discussions on careful planning that must be taken into consideration by them. Is there really a difference in sending children to a single-sex school and a co-education one? I have different views on this topic.


I disagree to a large extent that boys and girls should be educated separately because it is an undeniable fact that boys and girls studying in single sex school has a major impact on society in terms of gender discrimination and education. Research shows that in a co-ed school, students tend to get along better with their peers and they also gain greater understanding of their classmates of the opposite sex. Studying in an environment with mixed genders gives us additional opportunities to make more friends, especially with people who are of a different gender from us. Not forgetting the fact that it allows easier communication between girls and boys, we would learn important lessons of building good, lasting relationships with one another.

Secondly, when pupils engage in group projects and discussions, they grasp a hold of the opposite gender's views and opinions of various aspects of life. For instance, the girls would comprehend the boys' mentality and behavior towards many issues.

Furthermore, I think that co-ed schools also inspire more motivation and support in students when it comes to examinations. Some boys may outdo the girls, triggering those who are lagging behind to think that they are losing out to their peers. Due to competitive reasons, having pupils of mixed genders in schools is a positive form of encouragement, spurring and striving the pupils on to perform better than the rest of their schoolmates. From these, we can observe that there are more positive outcomes of studying in a co-ed school than a single-sex one.

However, we cannot simply neglect the advantages that single-sex schools may bring to pupils. Supporters point to studies showing that in single-sex schools, girls are moe assertive in class without boys and they generally respond better to more collaborative teaching methods. The aim to remove boys from classes definitely boosted the confidence of girls but it did little to improve academic performance. This also causes lesser interaction and interests between pupils. Nevertheless, without boys in class, shy girls tend to speak up more often than before because of their introverted feelings towards the male species.

In addition, there are stereotypes that need to be debunked. Different people have their own perceptions. Several, especially parental beliefs, may feel that girls are smarter than boys, since most girls are quiet and intelligent whereas boys are usually known for their loudness and aggressive character. This is an example of gender discrimination. Many think that students should learn in a different atmosphere which includes boys in the class. On the contrary, this is rather competitive as it is one of the main factors that often help to determine final grades. Some girls may not perform well in athletes sports unlike most boys, but they surpass boys in languages and home economics. Single-sex schools provide more same-gender student role models, offer enhanced leadership opportunities and have fewer social distractions such as pupils engaging in boy-girl relationships. Therefore, I think that being educated separately can cultivate the students' interests as well as further strengthening their potentials.

Overall, I believe that there are more pros than cons in educating pupils together in terms of growth development, psychological and social aspects. Although educating pupils separately would strain working relationships among them, positive outcomes of receiving education separately still exist. Nonetheless, the government must take this matter into serious consideration as it may still affect the society negatively. Parents must also try to cast away fears of their children being exposed to pupils of different genders and assist them in making a wise decision as to which school to choose from by taking into account the needs and abilities of their children to mingle with people.

The future ain't what it used to be. hugged teddy at 5:40 AM

Saturday, May 19, 2007 - Contemplating on: Elitism and its insights :

Elites are commonly referred to as individuals from glorious backgrounds who most probably attend prestigious schools and excel remarkably well in academic studies.

I feel that what make elites different from the norm is their abilities to perform tasks more intelligently and their impeccable way they carry themselves. However, they do share similarities like the rest of us from humbler backgrounds, it is a pity we tend to overlook these resemblances to grumble how much we envy them and wish that somehow our identities could be switched.

Black eyes, however flash with envy of green everywhere I turn.

Some of us feel that elitism has negative influences on fellow peers and society. Personally, I feel that no doubt a number of elites do belittle schoolmates who do not perform as splendidly as themselves in studies. They define success as being able to secure a position in a highly recognised school or university. Some of us conveniently label them as muggers who study like bookworms for the entire day. Others argue by saying that elites score well in tests even if they do not bury their heads in volumes of books and piles of notes like the rest of us do.

Well, I admit I do agree to the latter sometimes.

Nevertheless, elites face their own struggles too.

First, some elites I know of do not wish to be looked upon as geniuses or superior to their friends from neighbourhood schools as it may create a rift in the relationship. It would cause communication problems and awkward situations may arise if one considers himself as inferior and sees his friend from a top school as smarter and brainier than him.

Second, elites face stress in their own school too. They often feel pressurised to push themselves hard so as not to fall behind the rest of their elite schoolmates. Everyone thinks that everyone else in an elite. So they constantly seek ways and means to enter the ranks of an elite too.

Also, elites encounter circumstances when they are expected to meet people’s high expectations of them. For instance, during inter-school competitions, audiences would whisper among themselves and comment straightaway that the elite schools would definitely win hands down. If they lose, people would see them in a different light and this would cause the students to feel that they have contradicted the glorious, victorious image of their school.

In a nutshell, I feel that we should not view elites as a different species from ourselves. Instead of feeling jealous, why not learn from elites? It would foster better communication and friendship between elites and non-elites so that in future, the gap would slowly disappear.

The future ain't what it used to be. hugged teddy at 12:48 AM