I was taking my lunch at coffee-house when i hear 2 educators gossiping loudly about a news article that a Singapore student threw chair and file at Vice-Principal.
It caught my attention because it comes as a shock wake-up call for teachers, tutors, parents and follow educators to be aware of the amount of stress and strain that many of the teenager students are facing these days. In order to coach them effectively, the HARD-WAY is no more applicable. You can’t force them to study hard to get good grades, regardless of your own Key Perfomance Index (KPI). New strategies need to be in place to effectively coach them and we need to give students their due respect. The only way is to engage their INTEREST in the specific subject.
Source: http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,198822,00.html
What was the Vice-Principal thinking? She definitely wants her students to do well, but her actions seemed to be testing the nerve of the student. One thing for sure, you don’t challenge a student that way! This is considered regimental actions which usually only applies to uniform groups.
PS: Feel free to write your comments below. I would love to hear from you.
hi sean…really bad to hear that news..
because of the global warming, everybody easy to get rude and did not respect each other
i think as their teacher we are not their servant,we must teach them with rules and punishment.
similarly with indonesian education, which teach them to be dicipline and still kind.
hoping my idea give you some inspirations.
kind regards
ms.tie
(science lab)
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sean Reply:
April 22nd, 2009 at 12:35 am
Hi Ms. Tie,
Good to hear your version of thoughts from Medan, Indonesia. Certainly adds into my arsenal on how to coach students properly.
It was indeed a shock when i went online to check out the article. After thinking about it and discussing with fellow educators, i realised times have changed over the last decade or so.
The “Discipline Method” is no longer effective if used alone to coach students.
Times seems to have changed, perhaps in Singapore, people are getting more affluent and influential / resourceful. Media exposure and technological advancement have also resulted in the population to be maturing at a younger age. Students know what is Right or Wrong, but these days, they just don’t want to be forced to do things. If you do, “you might received a lawyer’s letter from their parents” – as mentioned by one of my friend.
We need to respect the students just as we seek their respect. Everything is about REASONINGS these days. if you are able to reason out with the students, you will gain their respect and the coaching process will be more enjoyable. This is what i have personally experienced and holds no research basis. Just for readers to throw some ideas and learn from each other.
PS: Perhaps, follow students reading this blogpost comment can come in to add their own views.
Cheers
Sean Chua
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[...] sean added an interesting post today on Singapore Educational News: Shock or Wake Up Call?Here’s a small readingIt caught my attention because it comes as a shock wake-up call for teachers, tutors, parents and follow educators to be aware of the amount of stress and strain that many of the teenager students are facing these days. … [...]