hey everybody, how about making one BIG petition to the MIW?

last SG · 2006-07-21T20:39:09+00:00

hmmm ... interestign show of solidarity...

pikamaster SG

hey ppl,

I hv been in this forum for quite a long time already, and I see that many of us have good opinions to share, the only problem being that they are a little scattered and messy. What I wish to propose is that we post up our major suggestions here in this thread, and then a few of us consolidate this into one massive online petition, and post the url - via ST Forum, TNP Speakup, TODAY VOICES or email-to-FBU - to the govt and/or to the public. Then we can see how much support we will get i.e. how many signatures. That will be far more effective, I think, then to continue ranting on here.

Cheers,
the pikamaster (who is trying to maintain his political optimism)

P.S.: btw, for all JC/Poly/ITEC students, how many of you are interested in forming an informal organization - online at least - to promote student unity among all our 3 educational streams? I'm thinking of sth like an online community for all students...

Ito_^ SG

wait some friendly ppl will coming knocking on yr door soon Laughing

dragg SG

*on the way there*

Gwangetto SG

people of 3 streams to come together? JC/Poly/ITE??? Laughing

those 3 groups of people have different mentalities altogether. not trying to be elitist but it's a fact.

moreover, u can't get enuff of supporters here . this is a wrong place to be in for real-time petitions.

pikamaster SG

Lol... I'm not owrking for a rebellion or even a protest; a humble petition is making use of our feedback system already provided by the govt.

the (amused) pikamaster

pikamaster SG

Gwang,

1) where are you from? (JC/Poly/ITEC)?

2) I am not asking for a merger of streams. Different mentalities are a result of different environment. ANd I seriously think, all students have different mentalities; the different blocs aren't exactly homogeneous within.

I think the problem is not so much mentalities; the problem is the attitudes they have toward each other. These attitudes are of course not arising from their own fault; rather, it is our entire socio-educational system which has produced it. These are misconceptions (e.g. that HC students come to school in red-carpeted limos) that have arisen from historical isolation.

But - contrary to what you may think - I trust there is a desire for the students of different streams to integrate with each other. interestingly, this was oen of the suggestions put up at a recent feedback/ policy-proposing session involving students from all three streams. And the team of students proposing social integration (not academic, because obviously MOE won't bend to that) were made up of students from all three streams. In addition, at the Q&A session with the Minister, integration between students of different streams was one of the runnign themes through the individual questions. The audience, of course, consisted of students from all three streams.

Yahh, so be a little more optimistic man.

the pikamaster

pikamaster SG

Lol Very Happy no other response? Confused Sad

dragg SG

sorry, on armchair critics in this forum.

Embarassed

pikamaster SG

*sigh* is there nobody with any initiative?

pikamaster SG

oh well...

lotus999 SG

pikamaster,

i don't want to be a wet blanket but i believe it is a waste of time giving feedback to the govt who thinks that it knows best.

Sagara SG

student unity among the 3 streams ?

But who would bother ?

LazerLordz SG

Haven't you noticed the "divide and rule" mentality that the MOE has adopted over the years?

Realising that it might be detrimental to the economic competitiveness due to sidelining each stream,it now tries to build "unity" in a managed fashion.

Of course, having a really groundswell effect of unity from all segments of the student population is a prelude to greater civil society. Thing is, we are progressive and intellectual people trying to get those who are breathing rareified oxygen to slowly learn what real civil participation is.

Wink

pikamaster SG

haha Very Happy it's not juz for the govt... it's to show all the cynical westerners that Singaproeans are not unweaned cowards as well... to put it in perspective. And anw, I think that there will be enough public support such that the govt will not turn down the petition too easily. But we do need to take the initiative...

the (hopeful) pikamaster

pikamaster SG

I think quite alot will, if you ask them carefully enough...

the Bear SG

even if you do, i don’t think they give a rat’s ass

pikamaster SG

Laser,

I may be a student, but I'm not blind. And I'm not being a govt/MOE stooge, in case you are wondering. It is true MOE agrees to such an idea, but it seems that currently the Minister is interested in more decentralization, and this is where such an initiative can come in; talk about decentralization to the students. Wink

Correct, we are progressive and intellectual, that is why I'm not organizaing a demagogic rebellion (which would DEFINITELY get the ISD knocking on my door). But we do need to reach out to the student population, and more than that build some form of minimal but genuine cohesion. Hmmm... I think I'll move this sub-discussion to another thread... since the petition idea seems to be dying after all...

the pikamaster

LazerLordz SG

I'm afraid you misinterpreted my post.

I'm more concerned on how the MOE has divided up the streams for years.For reasons and opinions of my own, I feel there is a political slant to this concept of streaming.

Whether it is intended or unintended, I'm not too sure.

Genuine cohesion is definitely welcome, we are after all, 4 Million in numbers. Outranked by many cities, let alone countries.

pikamaster SG

Oh sry Sad . I didn't get any political slant from my convo /w the Minister, but I see what you are getting at. Tharman himself was rather regretful that such a situation existed - he (I can't say for TCH and predecessors, except maybe for Goh Keng Swee) is genuine to the idea of dividing students according to abilities in certain fields. He exprressed his desire to move toward a "talent-based" streaming system rather than a "subject-based" streaming system i.e. more course differentiation. ANd he indeed will welcome genuine cohesion among the students, as long as it's not too politically-biased from of cohesion.

Is this an adequate response?

the pikamaster

pikamaster SG

"they" meaning?