Recently, there has been concerns about safety in school sports following a brawl in between SAS and ACSI following a B div rugby match between SAS and ACSI.
Personally i feel that there is no much of a problem in school sports safety and discipline as i felt that it is quite ok already, however its inevitable that there are brawls here and there.
This april, I participated in the national squash championships. The situation was tense but in the end, the opponents shook hands for one another and even did a cheer for one another. I think that these issues all boils down to the tradition of the sport, and the rivalry between the two schools.
Lets us look at the SAS and ACSI rugby brawl. Between the two schools, they have won the last 15 b division titles, this explains the great rivalry between this two schools in this sport, as they feel the pressure mounting on them to win the coveted trophy for their school. This can cause more aggressiveness and major upset when one loses the final. In the case of SAS, having lost the final, they felt frustrated and upset. This was the major reason for the brawl.
You would also have to look at the nature of the sport. For example, contact sports with great aggressiveness would result in a more likely hood of a brawl than non contact sports. For example, the incident that happened in a lot of professional football matches after the team loses a final. Non contact sports would not have so much of a fight because of the nature. For example, after china loses the Badminton Cup, they accept it graciously mainly because of their values and the nature of the sport. Badminton is least aggressive than rugby and football.
Thus, teacher-coaches are well needed to provide good values into the sports players so that they would accept their defeat graciously.
As sexuality become a srutiny in schools, what most parents said to be lacking is the information about such programmes. "Many of the 20 parents interviewed by the strait times yesterday said that they had no idea what went on during sexuality education classes in school" sadi the strait tiems. I was surprised at this statistic.
This statistics shows only two things. One, the students think it is just a trivial matter and did not inform their parents in detail.
Two, this shows the mindsets of parents. One perception is that they are not interested in whatever talk the school is going and do not care as much. Thus, they do not ask for information from their child.
Fortunately, Minister Ng Eng Hen had promised that schools will inform parents of the framework and topics covered in the sexuality talk, and also post such information on the respective websites.
However, the issue of opting out was raised by the parents. Last year, less than 1 per cent of parents said no to letting their children go for such classes. This can be caused by willingness of parents to go for such classes or the lack of information that they can actually opt out.
Personally, I feel that there is a weak link between two; parents and teachers. Based on a interview done by the strait times, experts said that these two groups are not fully equipped to pass on the right information and values to children.
I think most parents are simply embarrassed to discuss the issue with their children. What is worse is that many simply push their responsiblity, and tell their children to get their answers from their teachers instead. Thus, I think teachers need more training to overcome the awkwardness of talking sex in class.
In my opinion, parents are uncomfortable talking about sex because they were not taught by their parents not to talk about it. They also do not have a superficial meaning of sex education. They think sex is about making babies, but actually it is"an emotional, physical adn psycological thing.
Parents like mine may argue that we might be just to young to understand sex and this could pollute our minds. However, I disagreed, supporting it with the idiom that "prevention is better than cure'. Would you rather have your children to be in trouble for sex or to be awkward about telling them about it?
I end this post with a statement. Sex education is essential.
Recently, there was announcement that said that with effect from Nov 1, night-parking charges for cars at carparks in Housing Board estates will be raised from $2 to $4.
However, I do not think it is a good way to ensure enough parking spaces for season-parking ticket holders, I think that it is only a short-sighted measure.
Firstly, if a car owner wants to park his car at a car park, he would have to pay the carpark fees no matter how much the charge are, the car owner still need a parking space for his car and thus have to park his car at the car parks. Thus it wont make any difference to the availablity of car parking slots.
So what can we do instead?
1) I suggests that the seasonal parking tickets may not be oversold. Tickets should be based on the number of carpark spaces for example one carpark may have 100 parking space so the management should only sell equal or sllightly more than 100 seasonal parking tickets and overselling those tickets may end up in not enough parking spaces.
2) Those motorists who parked with seasonal parking spaces without seasonal parking tickets should be awarded with a heavier penalty and fine so that it can deter those motorists in parking from those places so that they would be more available parking space.
Just merely increasing the price will not solve the problem.
Yo guys! Today I am going to talk about Paris, the food, the places etc.
For your information, Paris is the capital and the largest city of France. It is situated on the river Seine, in northern France.
Paris? What do you associate it with when u hear of this amazing capital? Effiel Tower? You are right! Today I am going to talk about this magnificent architecture in France
Effiel Tower
This is the Eiffel tower. It is an 1889 iron lattice tower located in Paris.
Whats makes this tower amazing?
The tower stands 324 m (1,063 ft) tall, about the same height as an 81-storey building. It was the tallest man-made structure in the world from its completion until the Chrysler Building in New York City was built in 1930.
The tower has three levels for visitors. Tickets can be purchased to ascend by stairs or lift to the first and second levels. The walk to the first level is over 300 steps, as is the walk from the first to the second level. The third and highest level is accessible only by lift. Both the first and second levels feature restaurants.
Read More......
Hi people! Today I am going to give you a little sneak preview about what I am going to blog in Term 3.
I have found interest in the current affairs that is happening all over the world and have decided to put this into my blog. Throughout the term, i would be posting up article links and sharing my views on them, using different POVs and suggesting how the thing could be improved.
Stay up for more posts coming along!
During the June Holidays, I volunteered to be involved in ACID camp.
You may ask, what is ACID?
ACID is actually an acronym for A Camp for Intellectually Disabled, it aims to provide a camp as a gathering for all the intellectually disabled people all around singapore to come together and have fun together.
During the ACID camp, I was actually very excited
Its the last week of the holidays and it means:
ITS TIME TO WORK AGAIN!
Yes, the holidays are coming, it means we have to get up from our "hibernation" and get working. That means this blog is going to spring to life again!
In this term, I decided to continue in my quest for the theme: national indentities, venturing out to other countries besides singapore, which is the one i did for term 1.
This term, I would also post my personal feelings about the incidents I have gone through in my school days.
So look out for my rejuvenated blog!
1. Point of view
Henry M Bechtold was in Vietnam in 1967 - 68 and again in 1969. He goes back often because his soul lives in Vietnam and he goes back to visit it from time to time.
He was sitting in my hotel room in Saigon just before Christmas 2009 and was trying to write a poem about the girls who work in the park and how badly men treat them. He was angry but unable to write anything that did not sound trite or weak. He looked at the TV and the news was on. He did not know what the news reader was saying but in the background was a photo of a small boy with a helmet and an automatic rifle. This poem flowed out. The words just came to him and he typed as fast as I could to get it all down.
Taken from: http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/2010warpoetry.html#Children_
Children in the Darkness
There are children in the darkness
Who have not seen the light
There are children in the darkness
Who someone will teach to fight
Chalk and blackboards will not be
To this door there is no key
From this life they can not flee
And these children are not free
Could we simply light a candle
Could we give them half a chance
Could we teach them how to read
Could we teach them how to dance
Or will a war consume them
Their body and their soul
Will their life and blood be poured
Down some endless thirsty hole
Back into the darkness
From which there is no flight
Back into the darkness
Into which there shines no light
Henry M Bechtold
In this blog post I would be covering about the various sports significane in Singapore and the areas of improvement that Singapore can work on to become a better sporting nation.
Table tennis!
Courtesy of Onoc
Yea, thats one of the most significant sport in Singapore right isn't it? Let me analyse why is it so significant to Singapore's sporting market.
This sport has achieved tremendous results especially in recent years. It marked an increase in the popularity of the sport in 2008, when the table tennis team, had won the silver medal for Singapore, only the second time in 42 years. It was a historic moment for the Singaporean, and therefore the increase of popularity. I remember when I was a sec 1 but classmates had really loved to play this sport and we always enjoyed the game during recess.
However, recently, there was a significant markdown in the popularity of the sports? The evidence? Hwa Chong Table Tennis Tables. As one of the most popular and tremendous sports athlete of Singapore, Li Jia Wei , world number 6 has stepped down from the team, the team lost its X factor. Believe me? Just ask a friend whether they know Li Jia Wei was in the table tennis team which won the silver medal. Following that, ask them who is Feng Tian Wei. This is not known to despise the athlete but just to show an example about how a trademark athlete of the sport in the country could actually affect the popularity and future of the sports.
Squash
Well, this is the sport I am playing. Some of you might not heard of this sports before, thus explaining the popularity of the sport in Singapore.
However, you might be surprised that actually squash had been one of Singapore's favourite sport in the 1970s and the 1980s. In that regime, we actually had a world ranked player which linger around in the top 30? That is Zainal Abidin, which happens to be my coach too. You can ask your father or your mother who is Zainal, I can tell you that 70 percent of your parents would know who they are.
Surprising isn't it?
Let me explain this sports popularity. During the era, there were many squash courts, and squash rackets and equipment were everywhere, and this cause the popularity as many people were willing to try the sport. Compared to now, they are only 36 squash courts in Singapore. Squash equipment are also hard to find nowadays. During then, there were a lot of professional squash players who are world ranked. However, this days, many of the players only pick up the sports as a CCA in secondnary school because of lack of courts and thus leading to the decline in this sports.
I would continuing about sports in Singapore in my next post and summarizing all the events and posts in Term 1' 2010. Read More......
This is a follow-up to Resorts World Sentosa ( Part 1 )
As I have said, there are many attractions in Resorts World Singapore, and I would countinue in my introduction to this attraction so you would have a better insight what RWS have to offer when the park is entirely open.
Marine Life Park
Courtesy of Resorts World Sentosa
This resembles something you would see in the Sentosa Underwater World, but this would be a far better experience that you once used to get in Sentosa. Why?
You could actually "swim" in the world of the ocean and get to interact with various types of marine animals, varying from dolphins to snorkel and other fascinating marine creatures! Set to be the largest oceanarium in the world, the Marine Life Park is where families come for a whale of a time. It is a great time for the whole family to bond together and wadle into a pool to learn about the coral reefs. They is really a "sea" of knowledge at the Marine Life Park!
Maritime Xperiential Musuem
(No picture as it is unavailable, would put up once there is an update of picture.)
So what is Xperiential Musuem? Maritime Musuem?
Doesn't Maritime Museum sounds new to you? Yes, it is a new initiative in Singapore!
This Museum would tell you the tale of the great sea-fathers, the legends of the sea, and how the sea developed and the lines change after years. It would be done in a interactive way, to maintain your interest and is guaranteed to make sure you have a very fun and fulfilling educational trip. So what is the structure?
The museum's centerpiece is a huge 360-degree multimedia theatre, where visitors "board" an Arabia-bound sailing ship docked near Singapore 1,100 years ago. Laden with cargo, the ship runs into a storm. Lights and effects would accompany in your time in the "ship" to make sure you would have the best of visual effects and give you an everlasting effect. Great for upper primary students to lower secondary students, a very educational trip.
Well, here is the attractions you have at RWS. Amazing isn't it? Read More......For the part about Interpersonal, I decided to interview one of my friends from Woodlands Secondary School, Venessa. This is the transcript of the interview.
Me: How do you understand prejudice as?
Venessa: A wrong perception about some people.
Me: Any examples you can think of?
Venessa: wrong perception that people who don’t speak are emotional and anti-social?
Me: How do you see prejudice as? Good or Bad? Why?
Venessa: Prejudice is certainly not good as it accuses people of doing things they did not do.
Me: How do you see prejudice as? Good or Bad? Why?
Venessa: Prejudice is certainly not good as it accuses people of doing things they did not do.
Me: How do you understand discrimination?
Venessa: A action that is unfair to others due to some wrong prejudice.
Me: How is it different?
Venessa: discrimination is the actions , while prejudice is the thoughts.
Me: From the example above, can you relate it how the prejudice that people who dont speak are anti-social leads to discrimination?
Venessa: As we think that they are anti-social, we started to distance away from them and thus they become lonely.
Thanks
Who do you want to be friends with in the novel? Why?
I would want to be friends with Boo Radley in the novel. I felt that he was significantly one of the mockingbirds in the novel, and I have extreme sympathy for him.
Being accused of a crime long ago, he refused to meet the society because of the prejudice that he had been given by the society. Maycomb started to make fun of him and thinks that he is a monster or a creature. Jem and Scout once even believed that Boo Radley was actually a monster that eats animals raw and stained with blood!
This is not certainly a way to treat Boo Radley. Indeed, he has not interacted with the society, he was unable to do so. However, he tried to help the people that are in need. For example, during the fire, Boo Radley was the one who put the blanket around Scout to avoid her being cold. More significantly, he was the one who saved Jem and Scout by defending off Bob Ewell off them and even killed him.
Boo Radley was certainly a mockingbird, innocent but accused of things that he did not done, and the prejudice by the Maycomb Society. By making friends with him, he can realise that not everyone thinks him that way, and I certainly thinks that he is a nice guy to be with, someone who would protect you without condition at all costs.
Read More......
Multiple Intelligences
Here is my learning profile:
Let me give you some updates on RWS ( Resorts World Sentosa ).
This is one of the long-term projects that Singapore had been working on. Despite several disruptions due to the economy crisis and lack of time in 2009, the Casino of the RWS made it in time for Lunar New Year 2010 , 16 February 2010 , 12:18pm to have a soft opening.
Artist Impression of RWS
Courtesy of oxygen.com.my
So what is Resorts World Sentosa? Better known as the IR, it is located in Sentosa, an island outside of mainland Singapore. The IR is a Casino-based resort in Singapore, and also have numerous attractions and entertainments for the tourist.
Universal Studios Singapore®
Universal Studios Singapore is a movie jungle that boosts famous movies like Madacasgar , Jurassic Park , Shrek etc. You would get to "enter" the story and be part of the movie! The attraction also boosts rides and shows at every section. A very colourful, interesting and interactive park.
..... To be updated. Read More......
Today, I would give you a slightly more virtually appealing topic, about landmarks in Singapore.
So what exactly are landmarks? According to wikipedia landmark includes anything that is easily recognizable, such as a monument, building, or other structure and have unqiue physical structure.
So what are landmarks in Singapore? Esplanade? Changi Airport Control Tower? The newly build IR? The Singapore Flyer? The Merlion at Singapore River? I believe there is still a long list going on and on and on about Singapore's landmark, but being as a local writing this point, we are unsure of what tourists really associate Singapore with?
I am not very sure about it though. However, being a local blogger, I wish to share with people internationally (hopefully) about the landmarks of Singapore and thus, have some knowledge about Singapore.
I would be describing the landmarks of Singapore below:
Esplanade!
Here is the esplanade! Doesn't it look like a durian? Indeed so, it was nicknamed the durian by men in the streets. What is it so significant about a durian you may ask? Durian was one of the most loved fruits in Singapore, especially among the older generation, although the newer generation don't really accept it as much as the adults. Well, the king of the fruits is loved by countries in the tropics.
Because of its unque structure, heavy rain might damage the structure as the structure does not serve to shield out the rain, thus , the cons proved to be the regular reconstruction.
It is meant to be arts centre for Singapore, especially when the goverment feels the urge to teach the younger generations to appreciate the arts. A never-ending list of artiste have performed in the esplanade, thus, it proved to be one of the landmarks that is worth noticing in Singapore.
IR
Courtesy of engkiat.wordpress
This is the IR, also known as the Intergrated Resort.
I have a feeling that the landmark of the IR, a simple tower supported by three "pillars" would be a significant landmark of Singapore as this simple yet artistic design could give a very lasting impact on the tourist. I am not really going to the details of the IR, as it have not be "officially open" yet, so thus, I may update the details of this IR at a later time.
This is meant to be a casino which is able to attract tourists from around the world, directly competing with our neighbouring country Malaysia.
To end off my post , I would like to embed videos that gives you a tour of Singapore through video.
Courtesy of ropumpkin on Youtube
p.s. I would be updating this post on more Singapore landmarks. Read More......
Singapore. What do you relate to as being Singaporeans?
I believe what flows to our mind is Kiasu. So what exactly is Kiasu?
Kiasu is a word originated from the Hokkien Language and it means to be afraid to lose in English. So what exactly does it mean by Kiasu-ism. When you see parents sending their children for tuition over the weekends, when you see parents sending their children for courses here and there, when you see parents doing everything for their children just for them to concentrate on their studies, that is kiasu-ism.
But is kiasu-ism really part of being Singaporean. In my opinion, not. Kiasu-ism is caused when parents are overly worried for their child and their future, but whose parents do not care for their child. It is all about letting the child go. Thus, I dont think Kiasu is Singaporean.
So exactly what is Singaporean? For me, that is racial harmony between the country. When you see neighbours talking together harmaniously, when you see uncles playing chess at the void deck, when you see Chinese celebrating Deepavali,
you know you are in Singapore.
In my next post, I would be talking about the significant landamarks and tourism in Singapore.
Allow me to greet you with my very first post on my new blog. =)
Why the title subjectivelysingaporean you may ask?
Basically this blog is all about national identities, and I would take you to a virtual tour of the whole world giving you insight on what their countries, what is uniquely their country. Subjectively Sinporean because I want something that would give you a sense of indentity to being a Singaporean, letting you appreciate our nation, making you think that you are uniquely Singapore.
Be on a lookout as I give u insights of countries around the world!