Blog Prompt 4

To what extent do you agree with the issues that the student has raised here? Point out some issues of agreement and possible contention.

I agree to an extent with the issues that the student, Janelle, has raised her. She makes two main points about our current Singaporean education system- the disturbingly large role that rote memorization plays and the redundancy of moral education.

On the issue of the large amount of memorization, I find it completely senseless. Firstly, a content-based examination creates a culture of memorization. But students memorizing large amounts of specific information serves no purpose because we can always refer to the internet or other information sources.

I feel that the main reason why many students are unhappy is because the education system has not evolved to suit the needs of the 21st century. In the past, rote memorization was undoubtedly a savior to the many poorer but hard working students who wanted the quickest way to escape poverty and have a better life by getting a good education. However, this system has outlived it's purpose because Singaporean students now of days are (usually) hailing from more financially stable families, better equipped to tackle higher-order or "thinking" questions and generally exposed to a wider range of education possibilities. Thus, students definitely find "regurgitating" answers in an exam tiresome and wasteful.

Civics and moral education, in my opinion, should not even be taught in schools. It is the duty of the parents to properly educate their children on proper manners. To have a correct moral view and respect for others should have been inculcated before the child even goes to school. Although many parents are often very busy at work, I still feel that they have the obligation to raise their child correctly so that he may treat others will respect and not disdain.

Examine her tone and attitude in this letter. Do you think it’s a well-crafted letter with the appropriate tone?

I do think that she was using a very serious and formal tone in the beginning of her letter. However towards the end she lost her "neutral" tone and her letter became moved towards being more personal and emotionally fueled. Overall, the letter is very well crafted.

If you should write a letter to Minister of Education, what are some issues you would raise? Remember- your intention is to make the system better for society’s betterment via CONSTRUCTIVE ideas.

I would raise the point that we could possibly have "open-book" tests and examinations. This way, we reduce the amount of time spent cramming the texts into our brains and instead increase the time we spend honing skills such as the presentation of our work. Furthermore, this would force exams to move towards testing actual understanding of the topic and not how much we remember.

Money in Marriages: Must or Maybe?

In your opinion, is money important in a relationship? Consider the 'transactional' element observed in the relationships between the couples. Do you think there is an upward trend of relationships and marriages valuing money over other qualities? Provide examples for your responses.

In my opinion, I believe that money is indeed quite important in a relationship. True love may conquer all, but I've never seen it conquer starvation and disease.

However, I do not feel that there is an upward trend of relationships and marriages valuing money over other qualities. As countries become more and more developed, money becomes less of an issue. In the past and even now in less developed countries, poor parents would often forcibly marry their daughters to richer (or older) men in hopes that they have a better life. Now, in the more developed and "richer" countries (i.e. Singapore) bachelors and bachelorettes often already have solid financial backgrounds. As such, they are able to choose a partner based on other qualities and not out of sheer desperation. Perhaps Singapore's declining birth rate may also be partially due to this as singles are no longer rushing to get engaged and instead slowly picking and choosing their life mates.

W.A.R: Wasting All Resources

In your opinion, how has war evolved from the past to present? Please use examples to justify your opinions.

"War, war never changes."

In my humble opinion, I believe that war has never changed. Since the dawn of man, war has existed alongside famine, pestilence and death. War turns father against son, brother against brother, a friend against friend. For the want of land, resources , labor, power or even ideology countless tribes, kingdoms and empires have gone to war. Below are a small slice of the various wars that have occurred throughtout humanity's terribly short history.

The First Crusade 1096 ~ 1099

"...military expedition by Western Christianity to regain the Holy Lands taken in the Muslim conquest of the Levant, ultimately resulting in the recapture of Jerusalem."

Russio-Persian War 1722 ~ 1723

"... the Persian campaign of Peter the Great, was a war between Russia and Persia (Iran), triggered by the tsar's attempt to expand Russian influence in the Caspian and South Caucasus regions and to prevent its rival, Ottoman Turkey, from territorial gains in the region at the expense of the declining Persia."

Taiping Rebellion 1850 ~ 1864

“…was a widespread civil war in southern China, led by heterodox Christian convert Hong Xiuquan, who having received visions, maintained that he was the younger brother of Jesus Christ against the ruling Manchu-led Qing Dynasty. About 20 million people died, mainly civilians, in one of the deadliest military conflicts in history.”

The Vietnam War 1955 ~ 1975

“…The U.S. government viewed involvement in the war as a way to prevent a communist takeover of South Vietnam and part of their wider strategy of containment.”

The Gulf War 1990 ~ 1991

“…following the conquest of Kuwait, the Iraqi army was within easy striking distance of Saudi oil fields. Control of these fields, along with Kuwaiti and Iraqi reserves, would have given Hussein control over the majority of the world's oil reserves.”

Mexican Drug War 1990s ~ Now

“…The Mexican Drug War is an ongoing armed conflict taking place among rival drug cartels, who fight each other for regional control, and Mexican government forces who seek to combat drug trafficking.”

As we can clearly see, recent wars are shockingly similar to those of the past. Humankind really has a lot to learn if we are to taste true progress and compassionate for his fellow man. War still exists although governments and politicians try to cover it up with excuses as they have done for so many years. Perhaps one day, the world will know peace.

*All information has been sourced from Wikipedia.org.