Under-blogging

I accompanied five of my handpicked students today to the launch of the National Interschool Blogging Competition. Amongst the talks and briefings (not to mention the nice sandwiches and samosas), my students once again bugged me to update my blog. "Miss Chew, you're under-blogging!"

Oh yes. They have learnt the fine art of coinages.

And so, here I am with eyes almost half-closed but forcing myself to fill in an entry as if the 120 scripts staring at me isn't enough to keep me awake. I'm hoping I can finish it all by Sunday at least so I can enjoy Monday to myself.

Anyway, if you have time, I'd recommend you go watch Coach Carter - if it's still showing. I caught the movie about two or three weeks back and was deeply inspired and enlightened.

For a while, I think I lost sight of what education was all about. I allowed my students to not focus on their work if they were achievers in other areas.

I was a firm believer of doing whatever your heart desires, whereever your heart lies. It is with this every same philosophy that I chose to take up Sociology, English and Philosophy back in NUS whilst the rest of my friends were busy signing up for the Econs and Stats classes cos "it's the closest you can get to Business Scool".

And when I was left without a friend during Philosophy lectures, I felt lonely only for a moment. But it was also then that I learnt to walk on my own, to be intrigued by the logic of philosophy, about finding sound and unsound arguments, about fighting for or against abortion, or dealing with social issues. It made me think critically. It made me reflective. It honed my inner voice.

And so, back to now that I am a teacher, it seems that I have taken on that role. I figured if it woked for me, it could work for anyone else. Right?

Wrong. Different charachters entail different diagnosis and treatment.

In the movie, the coach decided that education was first priority. So what if they made good or excellent baskstball players? If they were awful in their school work, they won't get to places.

And so, the show evolved to how he, despite the odds, caused almost half the team to earn scholarships and get into universities.

I sat and asked myself - what is the purpose of educating my kids? To groom them to be the person they ought to be, or to make them academically smart? I guess I have failed to realise that these kids are in school to be educated. That in the process of learning their subjects, they develop themselve individually into the persons they ought to be.

If one cannot learn how to apply time management in his school work, or learn to motivate himself, or learn discipline, or precision, how is he able to be able to go on further in life striving to be the best person he ought to be if he never did learn it in the first place in the most basic form of education? And so, I began to see the link with education and character development going hand in hand.

And so, now, when I drive my kids, and push them, it's with a different mindset, a different intention. It is with the aim to enrich the process of character development, with the hope that they see things in a different light soon.

Yes, we all know that once we leave school, we may never use that maths formula we're forced to memorise. Yes, I don't remember a thing about differentiation and integration, but I learnt perseverance. I learnt not to keep things til the last minute. I learnt that even if I have failed, I can still pass if I try hard. And these stay with me for as long as I live.

Being in school and striving to excel has drawn out of me these qualities.

That, to me, is education. And I want to pass it on to the kids I teach.

Paying tribute to Dr Wee Kim Wee

No, it is not the civil servant in me that spurs me to write this entry. It's the man himself. Truly exemplary. And all he believed in, was the simple philosophy of loving everything he came across.

I came back home early yesterday afternoon, in time to catch the last parts of the former President's funeral service. I was especially touched by his grand-daughter's eulogy. Amongst the things she spoke about, about how a wonderful grandfather he had been, a man with a sweet tooth and an equally sweet heart, I was especially touched by what she said about remembering him in our hearts.

She said, "If you wish to honour his memory in your life, then live your life to the full. Stand by your friends, cherish your family, listen to everyone with an open mind, and welcome those who cross your path with an open heart."

Surely, Dr Wee is a humble reminder to our lives, how often we have judged others by our own merits. He didn't judge. He gave everyone a chance. He stayed grounded despite being elevated. He made time for everyone and every living creature. And yet, he had time to enjoy simple pleasures too - of his favourite rum and raisin ice-cream and chocolate.

I never knew the man himself, but he always had a place in my heart. Maybe it was because he was the neighbour of my primary school classmate. I remember she would boast about how Mrs Wee would give them kueh kueh to eat, and how she would call the President then "Uncle". I was envious, and tried ways and means to find a reason to visit her, so that I could see the man himself. Of course, I never did get a chance. But I took advantage of the fact that I had a friend, who was the neighbour of the President, to boast about my "connection" with him.

So maybe, till today, I have a special place in my heart for Dr Wee, and sadly, I only got a chance to see him in person when I paid my respects to him on Tuesday. He looked serene - a picture of peace and humilty. I signed my name on the book, and wrote, "God will be with you and your family always. Will miss you."

Indeed, I will. And so will a lot of others whose lives he has touched.