A Letter in Defence of "Softies"
Dear Minsta Tharman,
I am totally flabbergasted by your highly explosive rant against
all school-going kids in Singapore. In one fell swoop, all kids
have been labelled as weak-assed, soft and high in the wimp
category. May I ask whether you can provide some statistics to
illuminate humble serfs like myself just which kids, under which
types of households and income levels are susceptible to this
charge of wussines. From my highly "in the woods", short-sighted
and non strategic experience working ages ago as a temp relief
teaching staff in your dynamic ministry, I had the rare opportunity
to come across a lot of kids who defy your grandiose proclamation.
If you allow me, let me elaborate:
I once had a student, 14 years old, in the Normal Tech stream, who
came into class everyday looking highly dis-spirited, lacking in
motivation and sleepy most of the time. He would be the ideal
chracterization of weak, skinny, pale and totally not involved in
any CCA. Being a dewy-eyed newbie in the education system, I of
course took my moral high ground position and railed and ranted
against the student. In my grilling session, I learnt as a teacher:
he worked every night as a cleaner in Wisma Atria from 12 to 2 am.
Was it to buy the latest Nokia handphone? I can hear the cynics in
the background chirping. The answer is no. He stays with his
grandmother, mother is gone, father is in DRC and two younger
siblings needing some things like basic necessities in the
house.
Next case, another student, 15 years old, different class and in
Normal Acad. He has a huge talent for soccer. He is always held up
high in class as the Man. But strangely, he is not in the school
soccer team, instead he puts in his extra hours as a librarian. The
school soccer coach is yanking his hair out. As a dewy-eyed newbie
in the education system, I am of course charged with the ideals of
pursuing dreams and letting your talent develop to the fullest
potential. Again I learnt as a teacher: he comes from a family of
7, he is the eldest, staying in a two-room flat. His parents are
menial workers. And they do not know how to read the letters/bills
that they receive. They do not how to fill in tax forms. He has to
concentrate on the softie option of studying to learn all
these.
Enuff said. I am not throwing these little spanners to elicit some
form of pity of sympathy for the downtrodden in Singapore society.
They do not need that. They are Big enuff to know what is known as
the reality of living. At the same time, neither do they deserve
labelling from the Head Honcho about weak kids. and to pre-empt the
charge that I am raising such incidents which are a minority, allow
me juz to say that certain types of kids with certain problems are
minorities in some schools but majorities in others; depends on
where you stand. Therefore, my challenge, tell me who exactly are
you referring to Minsta? Which schools and whose kids are you
talking about? My hint to you, both kids from these schools which
are now known in common lingo as "neighbourhood schools".
Yours Dearly
Lau Ah Pek
18.05.04
voiddeck.org
