Are You On The Wrong Path?

An article in the Straits Times reported that more and more of our youth are taking the wrong path, in simple words, meaning they are getting from bad to worst! Agreed or not, I will leave the decision to you.

To me this is a very truth that we must accept. I had the privilege of having 25 years of teaching and able to see how our youth are turning out to be. I remember very clearly that when I first started teaching, the students, just as old as those that joins us now, 16 years old, but unfortunately that is where the similarity ends. In those days, the students were so keen to learn that some had even stayed overnight to complete their assignment or projects. Now, I see students all ready to leave even long before the lesson ends. Especially those from my present department, too many are too engrossed in playing games instead of wanting to learn. Technology was supposed to be a tool for us but I see that technology had become a “master” to many youngsters. They simply cannot pull themselves away from computer games. Very often I had to forcibly turn the switch off to stop them from continuing. So you see, many are enslaved to computer games. I had written before on the evil of computer gaming if we allowed ourselves to be too engrossed in it. I will not keep repeat on this issue if not it will only make me a “naggy” person.

Next is that students are so irresponsible. I had seem and heard with my own eyes and ears, of how when given 6 months to finish a project, they simply spent the last few days or at most the last month to start doing their project. Imagine in your working life. Your boss gives you an assignment with a 2 weeks deadline. All you do is laze around and on the last day or the last 2 days; you just dished out something and called it done. Hellooooo!!!! We are not dumb!!! Don’t try to pull a fast one on us. I even had students who showed us a fantastic project but it was actually done by someone. You cannot be bluffing all the way through in your life! You may fool other once, but you cannot fool them forever.

To my young readers, it is about time for you all to grow up. All my students are already above the age of 16. They should be able to THINK!!! Some of them are even dating and yet they acted the way that I describe above. It is very sad to see that more and more of our youngster are taking the wrong path. No don’t blame your teacher, don’t blame your parent and don’t even blame your friends. Each of us has our own mind, a mind to THINK for ourselves. Each of us has to determine what will be our future destiny through our present action and lifestyles. What ever you sowed now, you will reap the fruit of it. If you sowed in a life of lies, a life of playing computer games then be prepared for the worst that is to come SOON!!!

With this, I will and does hope that it will spur my young reader t start THINKING!!!

What Pervet Mind Is That!!!

My jaws drop when I saw the headline on Sunday NewPaper. It reads “I LOVE YOU” which was a sms to his student. The story goes that there was this teacher who had a close relationship (no intimate relation) with a student and it started when she was in Sec 1 until now she is now in Sec 3. The worst thing is that the teacher denied that he had ever hold hands with this girl but the girl says they did. I tend to believe this girl. Not only this, this teacher still got the cheek to claim that there is nothing wrong with sending this sms as he claim that it was a way to show concern for her. Showing concern with “I love you” sms? My foot!!! My goodness, what sort of pervert mind is?

And then yesterday there was another article of a teacher molesting his young student. So what is going on in the educational sector? What I am writing is just a personal view, not intended to be a broad view of what is going on in the educational. To me, during the past years when the economy was down, many people seek the refuge of the educational sector to make a living. They may claimed that they have a passion for teaching during an interview, but unfortunately I had seem many who are just waiting for an opportunity to move out once the economy does well and it seems that my perception is true as there was a report yesterday that the education sector are seeing many leaving their service to join the private world. I had seen teachers who constantly come late for classes, who can tell students that he/she is in a bad mood so don’t antagonize him/her, give all sort of excuses for not going to the classes etc. These are real life happening and not is not made up!!!

To my young readers, as you will journey to the working world soon, do spare a thought before you commit yourselves if you ever want to be a teacher. By taking teaching as a livelihood, you will actually be “killing” some of the next generation by your unthoughtful acts and your “immoral” value like the 2 teachers mention.

But there are still some who had really a passion for teaching who had joined the educational service. Just like my daughter, she is very critical of teachers and yet she can still tell me that there was certain teacher that she will remember as she finished her “O” level. So to my students, for those teachers who had touched your life or had made impact on you, do show a little appreciation to them. I can tell you that it will touch them. No need to send gifts, etc, just a simple note now and then, will encourage them as I say such passionate teachers take pleasure in seeing their students growing up to be wonderful. So with this blog, I will leave it to my students to ponder over.

Did You Leave A Lasting Legacy?

Leaving a lasting legacy! Probably many of my students may not know what it means. In simple words, it means that if you had breath your last breadth, what would people says of you. After you had died, will many people say that you are such a wonderful person and they will always remember you?

Only last week, there was a report of a young doctor, I think only 37, and had died in his sleep for no apparent reason. A few days later, there were reports of how caring he was towards his patient. He even went to the extend of visiting a patient’s wife when she was unable to go to the clinic.

And to my young reader, what about you? Can your classmates say that you had been such a helpful person, that your lifestyle had affected them, and you had left a lasting impact on them? Not to judge, but unfortunately, I can rarely see many that had made an impact on their classmates. Even as I write this blog, I know of a class that is just waiting for everything to be over. Why? They were greatly disappointed with each other! If you belong to this class, then maybe, it is time for you to do something before these few weeks is over, so that others will says that you had left a lasting legacy which they will always remember. No I am not trying to advocate putting on a show, but as I had shared in my earlier blog, with a small act of kindness, a little appreciation, a short email of thanks, can do wonder. Though it may not change another person life, but at least, such action, will definitely make them remember that someone had shown a little kindness to them.

So to all my young reader. You may think that it is too young to talk about such things. No, no, no. He was just 37 and was fit as a bull, and yet his life just goes off like that. As for me, I had always wanted my students to remember me that I had done something that touches their life. I had tried my best to influence my students to a better lifestyle, and if only my students can provide me with some comments, then I will never know, if I had achieved what I wanted as a teacher. To all my young readers, especially my students, sometime it is very lonely as a teacher. We do not know what is going on in the mind of the students. Had we made an impact in their lives? Had we “mould” them to be a better person? Had we caused them to change for a better? I do hope to hear from my students, especially those who are leaving soon. So with these thought, I would like to end my blog for today and it is time for you, my young reader, to start thinking about what you had done to at least make people remember you, should you breath your last breadth.

Release A Little Love, Release A Little Forgiveness...

As I read the previous blog (written by one of my students as I had given them the password so that they could write whatever they want when they feel frustrated etc), it gives me a strong feeling that he or she must have felt a strong sense of injustice done on the exam marks given. I could also feel the strong feeling of anger in this person.

I understand how you feel and let me assure you that whatever marks I give; it is given in all fairness, though unfortunately I cannot says that for the other teachers. Don’t be mistaken, I don’t condemned any of my colleagues; they may have a reason or so why this person deserve better marks than the other. I will leave it to them to justify it.

This is not the issue that I want to comment on in this blog. But rather, I would like whoever that student is and also to my daughters who also reads my blog, learn to release forgiveness and do not hold on to any grudges. If we allow our anger, our unhappiness, our dissatisfaction etc to be buried in our heart, it can only destroy our own life and makes life very unpleasant for ourselves. It is time to let go, let go of all our past hurt, let go of all our past unhappiness, let go of all out past hatred, let go of all our past grudges, etc then can we moved on in life feeling much better. By releasing forgiveness and releasing love, it will make the world a better place to live and make you life much more pleasant. Remember I wrote a week ago that I will write a note to all my colleagues on the Good Neighbour Day? I did not give them a small gift though I would like to, but I wrote a simple and short note individually to all my colleague, except my head, don’t want to give them an impression that I am trying to “curry favour” them. Let me tell you, some of them had made me unhappy, either knowingly or unknowingly, some had unintentionally irritated me etc, but I didn’t take to heart and to everyone, I gave the card. Not every showed their appreciation, it is OK, but some did and was thankful for the short note and one of them even says, it was a very nice gesture and was touched by it. So to all my young readers and even to my daughters, release a little love and release a little forgiveness, it will do wonders!!!

Finally to that student who felt very unjust over the marks given, there isn’t much that can be done but to accept it and to move on. Though you may be sad that the grade you got may not pave the way for you to Poly or further study, but it is not the end of the world!!! In every circumstance there is always a solution, fear not!

MY REFLECTION!!

WARNING!!! Before you read,


I want to make this clear that I AM NOT writing this to pin point who's ever fault. Don't be over sensitive after reading it.
This have been kept in my heart for a very long time, so it's time that I would like to share it out with you guys.


I get inspired by the skills, knowledge and values that I've learn.
3 more weeks to go before leaving this school. And this is also the first batch of graduating ICT students. Being a student,


I really hope readers (including teachers) reflect on what you have done for these years?

Example; What have you done for the class ?
What experiences/knowledge have you gain ?
What kind of friend you are?
Are you a good/responsible lecturer?
Do you really appreciate what others have done for you ?
etc


First story :

I was so shock to hear someone telling me when he/she is doing group project, one of their team member did nothing much
while the rest was so hardworking, rushing for their project. In the final semester, when they compared results between
each other, that person who did nothing much on the project gotten an A while the one who did most of the work gotten a B!
WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!!?? Well, not only that person, some classmates have the same thing happened too!



CAN U TELL ME YYYY? YY is it so unfair??

YES u can said i damn bo liao write all this rubblish in ur blog u are wrong man !! actually watever u ******** do will affect we student in our future
for example our result etc i really hope u all will reflect on each and every point u do and treat every1 equally.

to be continued... (By one of the student and not Mr Chu)

Accept People As They Are!!!

As I read the tag in the blog, it brings me no cheer. In actual fact, it saddens me to see how a class can be so split. Before I continue, I would like to state strongly that I am not writing to rebuke whoever tags, as I had said in my earlier blog, I welcome tagging that is true and sincere. If you are not happy with any issue, then feel to write what is in your mind, no need to worry if Mr Chu is offended. As you expressed your feeling, it is a means of realizing your frustration, your sadness etc which can actually be good for you instead of keeping everything inside you and one day it may “explode” and is being release through other forms such as mental breakdown, self destruction etc

Coming back to what I observed through the tagging, it causes me to wonder why is that person feeling so strongly about the class? In this world, nothing is fair, nothing is perfect!!! Why is it that some have tons of money without working, and there are many who struggle through life just to have 3 meals? Why is it that others have so many branded things and yet, some can’t even afford a cheap and simple shoe to protect their feet? Why is it that others can a room to themselves, with all the luxuries and yet some have to live with 5 or 6 people in a room? Too many whys!!! So to me tagger, I am trying to tell you that not everyone will behave as you would like to. I would like to see many changes in my student’s life, but does it comes to reality yet? No! I still see so many not changing to what I would like, so how? I just have to accept it. THIS IS REAL LIFE!!! I can’t expect to see them changing to what I want and demand it.

So to my tagger, cheap sake is always there, we just need to accept this and cannot expect them to change. It is OK to contribute a little if it will help in makings things better, which I am glad you are doing. Let me tell my reader a secret. We do not normally pay the school fees for a student, no matter what happen. But I had a student, a young married girl, and she was about to give birth in Apr this year. As she was in financial difficulties, I made an effort to assist her to apply for some financial scheme from the school. Thankfully she got the $600 which was supposed to pay for her $146 school fees. That is not the end of the story. Unfortunately as she needs the money for her newborn baby, she used the money to buy milk powder, diapers etc and there was no money left for her school fees. Now she cannot pay her school fee and she cannot apply for another financial aids. She came to see me asking for help. I willingly loan her $150 to pay for the school fees as I saw that she is really interested to continue her studies. It took her more that 6 months before she repaid me the money. And I am thankful that my little help had motivated her to continue studying and she will be graduating in 6 months time.

So, to my tagger, what you had sowed (your willingness to pay for the BBQ etc) will not be in vain! One day, it will reap some goodness that you had not expected. To all my young readers, learn to accept the different people around you. There will always be some that irritates you, some that will cause your temper to blow, and some that will tear you down. It is OK!!! God had never promise us a life of roses but he promises us that he will see us through in this life. So to my young reader, accept what others are and you will be much much happier!!!

Will Your Name Appears In The Newpaper For The Wrong Reason?

I am a little troubled over these few days by a few incidents. Let me relate the first incident. There was this group of boys, always out to create trouble for the others. One of them was one that I helped financially. A few months ago, he approached me with a police report of how he was conned by someone and now the telco is chasing him for payment. Will not divulge too much of that case. Anyway, it goes that he approached quite a few teacher for help but none willing to, not that the teacher were hard hearted but rather they were a little suspicious of him as they do not know him well. I knew this guy and I can tell you that he is not a goody goody type but rather as I say, he is a trouble maker. Anyway, I made him promise me 2 thing if I were to offer him the financial help, one, he is to stop making trouble for the others and the other; he must persevere till he finish the course. Looks like he will fulfill the 2nd condition, but for the 1st condition, he ”threw it out of the window” as the Chinese saying goes. He makes himself to be such a nuisance that I blew my top yesterday and raised my voice at him, until my colleague who was around was shocked to see me so angry.

To my young reader, this is one lesson that you must learn. Always be grateful for help that was rendered to you when you are in need of it. No, I am not asking that this guy must thank me like I am I had done a great thing. But rather, at least remember that I had once helped him and will try to refrain from turning round and creating trouble for me. As human being, we ought to have a sense of humane spirit, at least be thankful that people had helped you and not showing ingratitude. It saddens me to see how this group of guys is behaving, I am so afraid that one day I will see them in the newspaper for the wrong reason! I am thankful that for my last 24 years of teaching, I had not read of any of my students who were featured in any newspaper for some crimes that they did, but rather I had met a few who are so successful that they are boss of their own company. ICT is my second dept in my teaching life and I hope to see some success coming out of the students graduating soon.

And now for the second incident, it happened this morning. I was having a chat with one of the boy and I can conclude that he is doing something illegal (sorry will not mentioned what it is). He keep telling me of the “good” money that he can make form doing what he was doing. I keep emphasizing to him that you do not need a lot of money to live a decent life. He keep emphazing that he will never be caught for what he did, but I think otherwise, as it is a matter of time before he will be caught and it is gonna be a sad day for me. He may look like a tough and rough guy, but I could sense that there are still some good in him and hopefully if you are reading this blog, it will prompt you to stop doing that which is wrong!

With this, I will end my blogging and hopefully all my young reader will take note of what I wrote today and doing something about their life!!!

Appreciate Your "Neighbour"

Next week is Good Neighbour Day. I was hearing a speaker sharing o how we ought to show more appreciation to our neighbours and it strike me that this is something that EVERYONE, I mean EVERYONE CAN DO!!! Our fellow colleagues, your classmates etc are all your neighbour.

After hearing hi, I decided to collect a set of post card that I will drop into every of my colleague’s table next week, with a short note of appreciation. Now what about my young reader? Do send a note to your classmate, no that they have done something for you, but at least they are your “neigbour”

In life, we must never try to equate things with tangible. Too often, we always thank or appreciate a person only when the or she had done something for us. This is not how life is supposed to be. Every human being need to be loved but also need to love. In simple words, every human being always like to be appreciated for, but we also must learn to show appreciation to others. No, I am not asking for credits, but how many of you as students, ever went up to a teacher to tell him or her that you are thankful for their effort in teaching you. Hellooooooo! Many of you think that teaching is so easy, just step into a class and bla, bla , bla…. Hey, it is not that easy, you know. We need not just the knowledge of that subject, but how to deliver it so that the student can learn, we also need to be able to pace the lesson so that even the slow learner will be able to pick up some skills. Not only in term of technical knowledge, but also in social skills. How do you handle students who just walk in like no body business? How do you tell a student off with long hair and yet making sure that he will turned up for school the next day? So many hows!!!! So if you can drop them a note or an email to says that you appreciate all their effort. You don’t need a teachers’ day to do it. Dropping an email does not cost you even a single cents, but I will have great impact to them. If you want some of those cards to write personalize note, you can get from me any time!

So start dropping a note to your classmate, at least thanking them for being your classmates if you have not much to say!!

Don't Be A Hero!!!

Students are not what they look like. Yesterday one of our students was caught due to some disciplinary issue. This student had been showing a strong character when previously when caught. But somehow yesterday this student broke down when question by the disciplinary master. Too often I had seen this in my students. Too many of them always try to show themselves as “heroes” or as one that cannot be broken. Let me tell you, I had seen this too often and when they are really being caught and question, they WILL TURNED WHITE WITH FEAR!!!.

I remember reading the paper a week or two ago. There was this young boy, only 10 years old and had a gang working under him. This boy brought along his gang and whacked up another boy of 14 years old, who was bigger size than him. Sound as though this 10 years old boy is a “hero”, right? Do you know what happen next? When the 14 years old boy reported the case to the police and the police went looking for this 10yaer old boy and finally apprehended him, guess what was the following report? It reported that this boy was CRYING FOR HIS MOTHER while in the police station!!! So you see, to all my young readers, you may think that you act tough in front of your classmates, or act as though you don’t bother when question by your teacher. Let me tell you this, when you are caught alone, then you will turn white with fear, trembling there.

I still remember clearly in my previous department, when a group of boys were caught fighting and the CID came over to interview this group of boys. The boys were told to line up outside the room while waiting to be called in individually, I could see that ALL OF THEM, were trembling with fear, their faces turned white, while waiting for their turned to be called in. This is an actual incident that I had seen with my own eyes.

So don’t try to be a “hero” in front of your classmates. It is always better to be yourselves, than trying to be somebody and end up circumstances where you cannot get out of it.

I wrote this blog so that my students will learn to be true to themselves and that they will not try to be “hero” and act nonchalantly when advice by their teacher to change in their character.

Let Us Stop And Relect!

Wow, never expect my last blog to generate such intense response from one of my student. No, please do not be mistaken that I am singling out that particular student, but it was meant to be a general observation from me. I am here not to condemn any student but to “stir” my student from their slackening in their studies which unfortunately seem to be the case at this present situation.

This particular student and another student were online with me on msn yesterday and their frustration and unhappiness was evident from the tone of their speech. Hey, don’t take me wrong, I, in actual, appreciate their true expression of their feelings. I really would like to hear from students how they feel about their stay in ITE and what their concern were. If I could, I will try to change whatever system that is in place, though often my hands are tied. But I will see what can be done.

One of the issues was that some students do not deserve their GPA score and I fully agreed. In actual fact, I had been trying to push one of the students who showed great potential for an award but unfortunately, I was very disappointed with the attitude of this student. So I do agree that not all who are top scorer deserve that grade.

Coming back to my students’ frustration. I sincerely believe that you would be able to learn some skills no matter how boring a lesson is. I still remember when some of them that first joined us, how they were so keen to strip the computer and reassemble them to working condition, even the girls were doing it!!! So, as I says, you will be able to learn if you want to.

On the issue of friendship and cohesiveness of a class, this is probably something that I wished will happen and continue even after their studies in ITE, though unfortunately, it does not seem so. It is really sad to see that students were so keen to have the course ended and going their own separate way. In life, no man is an island, no matter how strong you are. You will always need friends to be around you as you will face circumstances where you will need some advice or just a listening ear.

My elder daughter had chosen to major in social work, a decision that she decide herself and I am very glad of. This is a path where she can be a blessing to those underprivileged or who are in need of help, either emotionally or whatever.

My youngest daughter, had always says she wants to be teacher, not through my influence but on her own decision. This is another path that I am please with, and because as a teacher, you can be an influence to the next generation before they, as she wrote in my tag, “degrade”.

So you see, my young reader, every human being cannot live a life of their own. We need friends to “influence” us, to give us a shoulder to cry on, and in turn, we need to be a source of encouragement or a “guiding” path to those who went astray.

Today, I had wrote some deep feelings in this blog, as I feel that all of us, really need time to reflect on how are we to move on with our lives from now onwards.