The Unavoidable Prejudice (Education)

We all know we have some form of prejudice towards others, regardless whether if we are meeting them for the first time or have known them of a long time.

Sadly, prejudice exists not just amongst individual relationships, but also exists widely amongst schools.

Today, I will be referring to the secondary schools within Singapore.

The grueling PSLE (Primary School Leaving Examinations) ‘sorts’ students into a school, based on mainly their academic performance in the examinations. Therefore, most think that so-and-so from this school is brighter than so-and-so from that school. No doubt, the PSLE entry aggregate is one of the driving points for the reputation of a school, as well as other achievements such as CCA.

Almost always, those within good schools (with high PSLE aggregate scores) are assumed to be great students, all very bright and intellectual, while those within average ‘neighborhood’ schools are regarded as not-as-bright as those in good schools. So what differs a ‘good’ school, from an ‘average’ one?

Thinking about it, education-wise, not that much.

Truthfully, the ‘good’ school is regarded as a ‘good’ school because the majority of the students do well for their O’s (or A’s if it is an IP school). Therefore, with such a high percentile of exceptional achievers within the school, the school is regarded as ‘good’ for producing students with outstanding results. But it should be noted that these students are only able to enter such good schools with high scores, so it would be natural for them to score high marks. It’s a vicious cycle: If only good students can enter, then there is a high chance that good marks are produced, which leads to the school being ‘good’, thus only accepting good students, and the cycle repeats.

Whereas for other schools, people tend to look at them and say, “Oh, that school is just a school”. Again, its a vicious cycle: If students with average PSLE scores can enter, there is a lower tendency that a high percentage of the students will score exceedingly high marks for the O’s. The average mark would determine if higher or lower scorers for PSLE can enter the school, and the cycle repeats.

I don’t deny that good schools have good students, this is a fact. But for other not-so-recognized schools, does this necessarily mean that the students are bad? No, it does not.

How different is the education that the school provides? Besides a difference in difficulty of school papers, not much (the difference in teaching styles can be debated, as most schools tend to adopt styles most suited for the students within the school).
It is not right for some to assume that just because a school is not regarded as a prestigious school, it must not have good students. This is the prejudice we all have in judging others. I really hope that people will see others with a more open mind, more receptive, and understanding him/her before making overboard assumptions. The old saying goes, “Don’t judge a book by a cover.” Can I ask you, the audience, to raise your hand if you do actually practice this saying, one so commonly preached. No? No hands? Oh, there’s one at the back, but no one else?

Prejudice is unavoidable. It is natural for us to make first-hand judgements of others. We’re humans, and this is human nature. What I’m saying is not to completely avoid it, but to keep an open mind. This is the key. An OPEN mind. Don’t go overboard, don’t make ridiculous assumptions of someone you barely know. Some people tend to over think, inferring things about a person they know almost nothing about. Don’t.

As for the ‘average’ school, a school shouldn’t be seen as a ‘neighborhood school’. Are all schools not within the neighborhood that makes up Singapore?

*I don’t know how much flak I will get for this, but know that I have no intention to ruin/tarnish/affect any school’s reputation, rather, I simply hope that some would be more open-minded in seeing students from a school.*

The Competitiveness Within Society

As with the advancements in society, the pace of education must be sped up, and must keep constant pace with the progress that happens internationally. Failure to do so will result in being left behind as the society advances, thus, we are left with no choice but to keep up to ensure our survival in the world.

Keeping up. Yes. While many students I know, myself included, strive to work hard, we do so for mainly ourselves, as most of you are aware of already. In fact, there is a high chance, that you do infact strive for what you wish to achieve, if not necessarily academic-wise.

However, what has this lead to? A simple question, and a simple answer. Competitiveness – amongst each other. On an education aspect of life.

With only so many places in a college or university we aspire to go to, we are pitting ourselves against the thousands who may also share the same ambition as us. The result? Again, a very much competitive society. Where one trips, after a chorus of ‘boos’, another immediately takes his place. It is near impossible for anyone to simply stroll into a institute of choice and claim their place there without having the sufficient grades, or better, in his or her pocket.

So I would like to address this competition between students.

Competition can be presented as a healthy challenge to us. It is in short, a mental exercise. On a small scale, I’ve met with scenarios where a student strives hard for good grades – not just for himself, but to prove to others that “Yes, I am in the front now.” Of course, others would not simply sit back and let another claim first prize. They will retaliate, by working harder than before. It is seen as a form of encouragement, a form of maintaining your pride. In the long run, you will benefit, as will your rivals in the competition.

The problem is this – competition on a large scale. Whenever the stakes are high, all of us put in our utmost effort to claim the ‘first’ title or somewhere not far behind. There are negative effects. Students overwork themselves. They stretch the limit of themselves – and then stretch it even further. Competition, yes, can be a healthy thing, another factor, but it can also be just as unhealthy. Again, I reiterate a point that ‘there are only so many places to be offered, and so many having same aspirations (to enter the same institute/course).’

This competition is unavoidable. Our education system is based on meritocracy, the ability of one to demonstrate what and how much he or she is capable of.

So what I suggest to you naysayers, is that instead of complaining and mulling over this unavoidable phase of life, spend your time in a better fashion, and not just whining about how stiff our education system is.

And my point to others, if you are one of those who love pressurizing others, ease up on the pressure will you? I think we all understand what’s at stake here, and I’m sure we can work towards our goals.

Accepting the eBook

The introduction of the eBook a few years back brought out many remarks about it, most of it packed with skepticism from everyday readers on the success as well as reliability of it. The conventional method of delivering stories, articles, or any other printed medium still remains more popular in the form of paper books, and with the eBook, many felt that it did not feel ‘right’ to how authors deliver their stories, one point, that is flawed in many ways and will be addressed.

Book lovers, myself included, enjoy to sit down comfortably with a book in hand, and delve into what the pages have to offer for us – trapped within the pages of a book as easily as how fish breathe in water.

The use of technology is playing a larger role in our current lives, and this role will continue expanding, revising the norm of our lifestyles. The world is moving on, we must follow, or remain left behind in our shells, ignorant of the changing world around is. When paper was invented, did people continue carving on stone, or lugging around tree bark with small simple messages inscribed on it? No, they made the switch to using paper, for paper brought multiple advantages to the system of calligraphy. Similarly, we cannot simply ignore the eBook.

Technological advances lead to the changes in the way the world works now. For example, the introduction of the email system was great, but traditional mailing and posting is still being used. But, it is becoming very apparent that email use has started dominating our current method of ‘mailing’. How often is it do you see a person mailing pictures to his friend, instead where he can simply attach it to his email and send it, with a great deal less hassle?

The truth is, we tell ourselves this, no, I refuse to accept it, a book is always better than an eBook.

Have we really asked ourselves why, or involved logic, the faculty of reason that sits in our mind which we employ daily to solve even the simplest problems? Ask yourself this, then approach the eBook again (hopefully with a different perspective of it)

An eBook can be read on almost any electronic device. Whether it be a laptop, a smartphone, or a specialized eBook reader, we still can read it. I shall bring in one of Apple’s newer products, the iPad. The iPad, a slate like device that is much like a computer, with millions of functions, one of them being an eBook reader.

Not only does the iPad allow you to read books, it also allows for features such as Movie playback, and you can store your entire song collection in one thin device. The simplicity of this, as well as the convenience of it, convinced many that the iPad was the solution.

I could write a whole article on the iPad, the benefits it carries, the con’s that it has, but I digress. However, just to name a few examples, a backlit screen is always nice to read instead of struggling with reading in the dark.

And while the device, or medium from which the reader reads from may be different, the content remains the same.

I’m not disagreeing with the use of books, nor am I taking a beat at them. I’m am trying to let those who are against eBooks accept them into a part of their lives and not just shun it away with a closed mind.

Ending on that note, I would like to also wish everyone a Happy New Year!

The First Post

Yes, it is a big deal.

Usually the first post sets the ‘all’ of the user’s entire site. It gives the readers the first impression, it shows the writing style, and it usually gives a feel of how one sees the world and reacts to it.

 

A brief introduction of who I am:

I enjoy writing, of all forms.

I love to read.

I am keen on photography, and I have just started out just under a year ago.

I have taught myself simple graphical work, and I work mostly within Photoshop.

I try not to make this a ‘self indulging site for personal needs’, but rather an alternate (or shared) perspective of happenings.

 

As for this blog.

I will attempt to continue for as long as I can, hopefully in such a way that can allow me to enjoy sharing my thoughts with the world. Unlike previous ‘blogs’ or ‘sites’ that I have tried out, I do intend to continue this for as long as I can, instead of this site being left tucked away at some corner of the web, untouched, and completely useless to anyone, myself included.