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http://forums.asiaone.com/showthread.php?t=63679#1
Sec 4 Student angry that her national education teacher was a "foreign talent"
Dear All,
I come from a neighbourhood secondary school and
currently in Sec 4 this year. In the midst of preparing for our O'Level
examinations, the only period we get to relax a bit is the Values Education (VE)
period where form teachers use the time to talk about non-academic issues such
as traffic safety, cyberwellness etc. You get the hang of it.
This year,
a FT (foreign talent or foreign teacher, in this case), joined our class as the
co-form teacher. She took over the VE lessons since my other form teacher is
already teaching the class for an academic subject. I never really had any
issues with having FTs as teachers, since I understand that there is a demand
for more teachers but not many Singaporeans are not taking on the job. As long
as they teach the things we need to know and help me finish my education, I am
fine.
But no, with her taking over our VE lessons, I loathed FTs more.
During Racial Harmony Day or Total Defence Day, there will be slides to go
through. It is simply ironic when a teacher herself do not know about what she
is even teaching. She does not know anything about Singapore's history, and even
asked us where is the World War II memorial and what happened during the
war.
Who are you to teach me when you don't even know what you are
teaching and as students, we as students are probably in a better place to teach
YOU about Singapore's history?
Just a few days ago, she was supposed to
go through a NE package as part of the National Day celebrations in our school
where they spread propaganda about loving your country and what not, and when we
as students started playing the older NDP songs aftter criticising this year's
NDP song which she describes as "catchy", she asked "Who are they? Which year
was this?".
When we replied "Stefanie Sun, 2003", she commented, "That's
so long ago!"
I now even wonder if she can sing the National Anthem by
heart or know the NDP classics like "Home" which ignites the patriotic heart of
every Singaporean without fail.
I now find Singapore, no longer my home.
I feel so disgusted by my own country, for having to fall to such a state. I
feel so sad for my forefathers, because the country they have so painstakingly
carved out with their bare hands have now landed into the hands of foreign
invaders.
These are the little things that make me hate FTs and the
government policies, even at a mere age of 16. Fyi, many students know Social
Studies is propaganda by the PAP. We are not all that blind to that.
Dear
Ministers, sir, it is easy for you to declare a future population of 6.9 million
and expect the friction between foreigners and Singaporeans to slowly decrease
over the years after the FTs have "integrated into our society". But no, it
won't go down, but it will go up. Who are these people to call themselves a
Singaporean when they don't even know the suffering of our forefathers to make
this country happen? Who are these people to call themselves a Singaporean when
they don't even know the song, Home?
It's not about "intergrating into
our society" through some meaningless wayang activity of letting FTs try our
local food or hold a carnival at a void deck. It's about the years of roots that
they can never understand, or at least for now, they don't bother to. I don't
think I want to send my future children to a school filled with foreign teachers
who don't know the roots of Singapore. How are you going to make every single FT
who so easily get their PR status feel proud of Singapore and can rattle on
about everything uniquely Singaporean when some are resisting it while the
quieter ones simply don't care?
I fully understand the need of FTs, but
letting them flood in and expecting Singaporeans to bear the brunt of the
problem is NOT a solution to the low birth rate.
I really fear a day when
so many young Singaporeans migrate overseas till the extent that FTs are the
majority and Singaporea are a minority, especially with the new population
policy of 6.9 million. While the recent elections has really broaden my mind and
slapped me awake with regards to the local political scene, I cannot do much on
my part but study hard and prove the government wrong with regards to "Singapore
lacks talent". No, Singapore has plenty of talent, just that they don't meet
your criteria of "talent" or that they aren't as good as your foreign scholars.
Don't assume that students are just a bunch of harmless kids who knows nothing.
We know everything and we have seen and experienced the impact of the influx of
FTs ourselves too.
And don't expect our vote when we are old enough to
vote.
Because this is not the Singapore I used to know and this is not
the Singapore I want to live in.
Anonymous Student
Ang
Mo Kio Secondary School
Sec 4 Student angry that her national education teacher was a "foreign talent"
Dear All,
I come from a neighbourhood secondary school and
currently in Sec 4 this year. In the midst of preparing for our O'Level
examinations, the only period we get to relax a bit is the Values Education (VE)
period where form teachers use the time to talk about non-academic issues such
as traffic safety, cyberwellness etc. You get the hang of it.
This year,
a FT (foreign talent or foreign teacher, in this case), joined our class as the
co-form teacher. She took over the VE lessons since my other form teacher is
already teaching the class for an academic subject. I never really had any
issues with having FTs as teachers, since I understand that there is a demand
for more teachers but not many Singaporeans are not taking on the job. As long
as they teach the things we need to know and help me finish my education, I am
fine.
But no, with her taking over our VE lessons, I loathed FTs more.
During Racial Harmony Day or Total Defence Day, there will be slides to go
through. It is simply ironic when a teacher herself do not know about what she
is even teaching. She does not know anything about Singapore's history, and even
asked us where is the World War II memorial and what happened during the
war.
Who are you to teach me when you don't even know what you are
teaching and as students, we as students are probably in a better place to teach
YOU about Singapore's history?
Just a few days ago, she was supposed to
go through a NE package as part of the National Day celebrations in our school
where they spread propaganda about loving your country and what not, and when we
as students started playing the older NDP songs aftter criticising this year's
NDP song which she describes as "catchy", she asked "Who are they? Which year
was this?".
When we replied "Stefanie Sun, 2003", she commented, "That's
so long ago!"
I now even wonder if she can sing the National Anthem by
heart or know the NDP classics like "Home" which ignites the patriotic heart of
every Singaporean without fail.
I now find Singapore, no longer my home.
I feel so disgusted by my own country, for having to fall to such a state. I
feel so sad for my forefathers, because the country they have so painstakingly
carved out with their bare hands have now landed into the hands of foreign
invaders.
These are the little things that make me hate FTs and the
government policies, even at a mere age of 16. Fyi, many students know Social
Studies is propaganda by the PAP. We are not all that blind to that.
Dear
Ministers, sir, it is easy for you to declare a future population of 6.9 million
and expect the friction between foreigners and Singaporeans to slowly decrease
over the years after the FTs have "integrated into our society". But no, it
won't go down, but it will go up. Who are these people to call themselves a
Singaporean when they don't even know the suffering of our forefathers to make
this country happen? Who are these people to call themselves a Singaporean when
they don't even know the song, Home?
It's not about "intergrating into
our society" through some meaningless wayang activity of letting FTs try our
local food or hold a carnival at a void deck. It's about the years of roots that
they can never understand, or at least for now, they don't bother to. I don't
think I want to send my future children to a school filled with foreign teachers
who don't know the roots of Singapore. How are you going to make every single FT
who so easily get their PR status feel proud of Singapore and can rattle on
about everything uniquely Singaporean when some are resisting it while the
quieter ones simply don't care?
I fully understand the need of FTs, but
letting them flood in and expecting Singaporeans to bear the brunt of the
problem is NOT a solution to the low birth rate.
I really fear a day when
so many young Singaporeans migrate overseas till the extent that FTs are the
majority and Singaporea are a minority, especially with the new population
policy of 6.9 million. While the recent elections has really broaden my mind and
slapped me awake with regards to the local political scene, I cannot do much on
my part but study hard and prove the government wrong with regards to "Singapore
lacks talent". No, Singapore has plenty of talent, just that they don't meet
your criteria of "talent" or that they aren't as good as your foreign scholars.
Don't assume that students are just a bunch of harmless kids who knows nothing.
We know everything and we have seen and experienced the impact of the influx of
FTs ourselves too.
And don't expect our vote when we are old enough to
vote.
Because this is not the Singapore I used to know and this is not
the Singapore I want to live in.
Anonymous Student
Ang
Mo Kio Secondary School
