Education 02 (Sep 09 - Jul 10)

[millionairemind]

Not sure if I buy the argument..

Nov 22, 2009
English to teach Chinese
Education Minister's message to teachers: It is effective for kids from English-speaking homes
By Goh Chin Lian

USING English to teach Chinese has proven to be effective for children from predominantly English-speaking homes.

So, teachers should not be hung up on whether it is taboo to use a mix of English and Chinese for these children, Education Minister Ng Eng Hen said on Saturday.

He also revealed that a task force is due to make proposals soon on how this group of children can be taught the language.

'We think we've to make certain significant changes,' he told reporters after a conference on dyslexia, adding that parents would be given ample notice of the changes.

As for worries that Chinese standards would slip, Dr Ng pointed out that the education system allows children who are able to pursue the language at a higher level to do so.

'It's not that you have one method that you can teach the whole population,' he said, suggesting different strokes for different folks.

[sidney]

I visited science center today for the bodyworld. Apparently my circle if friends have no interest except me. So i ended up going alone. After discount from passion card, I paid 17bucks. In the end it had been the best education " fees" ever paid

I realised this 17 bucks have been my best investment to date. Solitary viewing allows our mind on full concentration to think and reflect. During the 2 hours spent in the
gallery, I think out loud on..

Wonders of life, human development from an egg n sperm. I also felt disturbed witnessing unborned babies in test tubes. Some look like cloudy patch of solution in <4wks old. At the point the size is merely 5 cents coin in diameter. Then as the babies are more developed, hair, limbs and facial expressions are clearer. And I felt more disturbed.

I walk through the adult stage, viewing specimens of heart, brain, sexual organs.. Etc. Witness brain hormogage, heart attack specimens, obesity.. it draws upon me I must take of myself. I am also disguest by blacken lungs from smoking.

The exhibits also shown modern medical capabities. I've seen screws aiding Bone recovery from falls. Among the Show case, which are memoriable to me is an old man hunching on walking sticks and cross section of limbs showing osterarthsis..

It dawn upon me i'm also vulnerable while I'm at my physical peak. My heels started aging from services injuries during ns. I'm Aldo unable to shake off small tummy. If you are at the exhibition, when you've seen the cross sections of an obese man, you would have gain motivation to go for weight loss.

I recommend minimum of 2.5hr to fully appreciate the gallery. Ocotopus, giant squid, horse and rein deers are there too.. Ever seen complicated network of blood vessles? I think after seeing the galley, one would have gone from amazement, to fear, pity for the babies to having enomous respect for fellow human beings.

[la papillion]

Hmm, you make me want to visit it too

[kennynah]

'It's not that you have one method that you can teach the whole population,' he said, suggesting different strokes for different folks.

i like this approach and recognize the challenges faced by schools when it chooses this method of education... applause

[winston]

If a worry about a lack of education comes up, talk it down.

Acknowledge that some of the greatest contributing geniuses in your technology age did not have college degrees... They were self-taught.

They had an idea and they gathered to them people who could contribute to that.

--- Abraham

Excerpted from the workshop in Asheville, NC on Sunday, May 1st, 2005 #267

Source: abraham-hicks.com

[Musicwhiz]

I am English-speaking, but luckily I found Mandarin somewhat interesting and fascinating, otherwise I would end up failing every exam too.

But I can connect to some of my school-mates back then who found it exceedingly tedious and onerous; and even reading time translated to "torture time".

[winston]

I Single-Handedly Crushed the Dreams of the Next Generation By Jeff Clark

Last Wednesday was "Career Day" at the local high school. I was invited to speak, just as I have for the past six years, on the opportunities in the world of finance.

The room was filled with starry-eyed students – their heads swimming with dreams of million-dollar opportunities working for Goldman Sachs, trading crude oil futures, or taking over Ken Lewis' spot heading up Bank of America.

It took me less than 30 seconds to crush those dreams.

"Every year, I'm asked about how best to prepare for a career in finance," I started my speech. "And for the past six years, I've suggested taking courses in statistics, human psychology, behavioral finance, and demographics.

Today, however, I'm going to give you the same advice I've given my children, the same advice I've given my friends, the same advice for which people pay me thousands of dollars every year..."

I paused just long enough to notice the students were on the edge of their seats. The faculty, standing in the back of the room, stopped whispering to each other. The parents stopped texting on their Blackberries and sipping their lattes, anticipating the wisdom I was about to provide.

"If you want to be successful in life," I said, "learn to grow a frickin tomato."

I then explained to my audience how the government is devaluing the dollar, how the politicians are catering to the lowest common denominator of the population, how the "let's get everything I can for myself right now" society is leading to the destruction of this once-great country, and how if you want to take care of yourself and your family in the future... you need to learn to grow a tomato.

"Take care of yourself," I said...

Take responsibility for the welfare of your family and of your close friends. Don't count on the government. The Constitution of the United States of America does not guarantee health care. It doesn't guarantee home ownership. And it doesn't guarantee cash for clunkers.

You are not entitled to a prosperous life. You are not guaranteed to live better than your parents. In fact, yours is the first generation ever in the history of this great republic that will not do so. You are, however, entitled to opportunity. But that opportunity diminishes when the government takes from the hardest working and most industrious citizens and gives to the folks who sleep in until 10:00 in the morning.

Your road to riches in life isn't going to be traveling to Wall Street and constructing some new way to raise money for an unprofitable business. It isn't going to be creating a new type of adjustable-rate mortgage. And it isn't going to be negotiating stock option pricing for you and your cronies.

The path to riches for the next generation is going to be providing for your family. Forget about building a better mousetrap. The mice are more prosperous now than ever.

Instead, grow a better tomato. Take responsibility for yourself and your family. Take a step backward to ensure your kids can take two steps forward.

The high school students erupted in applause. I received the only standing ovation of the day.

My hope, and what I will be praying for when I say grace at the family dinner this Thanksgiving, is that the rest of our country realizes what a small group of 17-year-old students understood.

Nothing is free. There is a cost for every benefit the government provides. The future of our great country lies in the ability of the population to understand that wealth doesn't come from borrowing money to buy a big-screen TV. Instead, it comes from the industrious and hardworking citizens who strive to grow a better tomato.

The youth of our country understand this concept. I only hope our elected officials do, too.

http://www.growthstockwire.com/archive/ ... nov_24.asp

[kennynah]

it will soon sink into their heads that if they do not increase their pace in technological advances in all fields, they will dwindle into history books as once a great nation... the fall of america.... if they actually come to their senses in time, they could save their economy...otherwise, i await the emergence of another super power maybe within my lifetime...

[millionairemind]

I was at my brother's house and saw a piece of news in the WanBao.

One teacher used the word "disappointed" with her good student when the student did not do well in the exams. The student told the parents and the parents demanded a "public apology" from the teacher in front of the class to the student cos' she has hurt the "self-esteem" of the kid.

The teacher quit her job and from the news, it appears that she is a good teacher.

What is wrong with our education system that our teachers cannot even use the word "disappointed"??? Are our kids egos so bloody fragile?? Y are they so bloody useless???

In our times, the teacher will throw our books out the window if we did not do well in the test, ask you to hold a piece of chalk between your lips if you talk too much in class and you get caned if you stepped out of line. Draconian perhaps, but it toughens the kids.,

Sorry for the tirade.. but having read all the news of teenagers committing suicide like nobody's business the past week led me to believe (perhaps erroneously) that our young Singaporeans are basically a useless bunch of softies who have fragile egos and will kill themselves at the first sign of trouble.

[LenaHuat]

Poor parenting is a major fault here.
I wouldn't want to be teacher too. So many parents here have inflated egos. They put on blinders as far as their children and their own brains are concerned. They see the world revolve around them