I don’t think my blog has generated so much interest as recently. I think it has given me a better undertanding of the points of view of a group of students who I don’t really come in contact with much than most other sources of information could have. Some of the ideas raised were well thought through and argued. I think if some of the processes were applied to academic contexts, it would be excellent! All this made me recall a comment made by a prominent educator a few years ago in a high level discussion on “thinking skills” in teaching and learning and whether we are opening pandora’s box by encouraging students to think. But he was certainly wise enough to see that this was not only inevitable, it was a good thing.
But all in all, although I didn’t like comments that bordered on the personal, the comments were insightful. We all have different points of view. That is what will help us move forward. The richness of experience embodied in these points of view that inform decisions to be taken would make the decisions better ones. It would not do if we all thought the same. Not much value in that. So thanks for all the comments. Will certainly convey them at the appropriate platforms.
To make them even more meaningful, I would like to follow these up. Efforts at ‘dialogue’ had obviously not worked as well as I had hoped. So to these passionate young people who took the time and trouble to comment at length, come and clarify them. Let’s have a ‘working’ session to sort things out. Time is always the enemy, but let’s make the time if it is something meaningful.
One more thing though that I would like to comment on. I indicated in my earlier comments on one of the posts my views on student leaders. I indicated that as a young teacher, i was involved with student leadership in a top school. I loved it and together with a good friend, we worked with the student leaders to develop a school environment that would work for everyone. It was tough and conflicts were inevitable. But we worked together and I think the few years were good ones in helping to grow these student leaders into young people of passion and ideas who could translate these into workable contexts even against difficult odds at times.
One problem we had was persuading good students to be involved in this. Many were too caught up in their own quest to excel in their studies to bother about this social role in making a difference in the environment they were in. They calculated that it was better to play a role in smaller, less time consuming student activities. That is unfortunate.
So I think it is good that we all have different points of view about different things. We also have students who are prepared to play an active role in trying to make things better. I think that these students have an important role. Different groups of students have different points of views and interests. School administrators also have different perspectives. Often the two do not correspond. Both come from a different set of expectations and considerations. But that is the way any society works to try to find an ideal balance between things. So lets work to have different ideas have their fair hearing. This is what I mean when I say we need to stand by our ideas. There are channels available. People do listen.
Let us treat one another with respect. Let us learn to keep an open mind. Let us give one another the trust that we all want the best for each other. I certainly will try to.
I
But how do you expect to make things work?
That we all end up “one big happy family”?
it’s been almost one month since this shit started and the majority of fourthirteen has gotten over it. what’s the point of having a “‘working’ session to sort things out”?
No such thing as “one big happy family”. All families have issues to deal with. The only question is whether it is worth it.
And may I know why you think this is so worth dealing with?
actually i agree with mr l. But i dont think that a dialogue session about this should center on us, the fun-loving population. I think it should be an attitude everyone adopts, not a “session”.
I am undecided whether it is worth dealing with actually. There are many too other things to deal with and many people prefer to let things be. But what I am decided on is that you are worth it. That is why the invitation is an open one.
…I thank you for giving us all a chance to speak up and be the argumentative youngsters we so love to be.
You sound like the Loreal ad. “Because you are worth it”!
But if we leave things and move on, aren’t we just leaving it unsettled and burying it under a pile of other vexing things? And soon enough, it WILL resurface. Which explains why I still hang around here. I am a holding on type of person.
Clever! Forgot about the ad. Agreed. Although some people like things buried. Out of sight, out of mind.
Out of sight, out of mind indeed. But that does not change the fact that it exists, and that you’re just running away from the problem and hoping that if you keep running, it won’t catch up with you.
Some people prefer to keep on avoiding the problem, more like.
Hmm… depends on the issue I guess. Most of the time I agree with with you on this. Deal with problems before they catch up with you.
… Honestly I don’t see much point in this senseless conflict that has been blown out of proportion. What I’m seeing is Mr. L being mature and comprimising about the situation (and you don’t get that at all from teachers nowadays), but juniors being immature and petty about it.
Sorry. Just had to get it off my chest.
Anyway, jiayou Mr. L and management. Seniors are behind you (:
This is not to say that I’m entirely supportive of school management (I mean, come on, it’s almost impossible not to have issues with a select few) but I just think that sometimes even though we may have our own opinions, there’s still no need to pursue an argument until we get the answers/changes we want. You know you’re not going to get anything done if you just debate about this on Mr. L’s blog. Honestly, like what J and S have said, talk to Mr. L if you guys really really want to see a change in management. If not, then just dao la.
And besides, Mr. L seems quite isolated on his side so there has to be more people to show their support right(: I really have a lot of respect for him. Juniors you should treasure teachers like Mr. L, you really can’t find another teacher of such patience and understanding in alma mater.
For some reason the line “different people with different interests” line, however normal, just clicked. Oo Weird I know, it sounds cool, but I know that’s not the point.
It’s just a thought. But it would be cool if we walked around school feeling more culture and belonging instead of wading through hot, humid air and cursing homework and tests. Like when you listen to music, you feel different. You go out with friends, you feel different. You go overseas, you feel different. NtotheY feels like hot, humid air and cursing homework and tests… nothing at all. Or maybe that’s the culture. Certainly describes the uniform well Oo
But yeah why are we having this senseless argument? If it’s about making ny better, shouldn’t students affect change? The food on first floor was incredibly weird, but they asked for one term, so of course they wouldn’t reply to pss cos they asked for one term from us, right? )
So how do student’s affect change? Can only think about turning to the Council. What the management can do would be to lessen the workload and up the power of the Council… wouldn’t it? I have no idea. What’s the good of them having their amazing camps if they aren’t given the power to exercise their responsibility by proposing with less constraints.
I dunno. This is just a perspective from someone who doesn’t know Councilling and was just fed up by nitpickin remarks. I believe the LA teachers said something about how nitpicking misses the bigger picture in an issue. This is an issue… so I guess the application sticks.
And then… how can student-Council communication increase. Dialogue sessions are wack. And yet we probably need one. A different one, that’s for sure.
Thank you CFC.
More abuse hurled at me? What a tedious responsibility being Iridescence!
Immature and petty? Please justify. At least when I hurl abuse, I justify. I would beg of you to do that same. Name calling is hardly an activity of the dignified.
Conflict? I’d call it an exchange of views. A debate. But not conflict. At least not in the way you mean it.
Senior van- Did you finish reading all that my friends and I have said? Did you not see the people who “were on MR L’s side”? I wasn’t against Mr L, neither was I slandering/hurling abuse at him.
Alright, I admit, in the beginning I DID have a grudge against him, but that was later changed into respect for him, because I saw that he respected us as thinking individuals and even gave us chances to speak. He listened to us. It would be most uncivilized to hold a grudge against him.
So what am I doing what I’m doing for? I’m not doing it to get the changes I want. I’m pursuing it because I wish to understand why. I’m doing it because I see them doing something that I don’t think is morally right, and I want to find out why or what right do they have to do it.
It’s not a senseless argument. And I’m not biting onto Mr L’s leg and refusing to let go like a mad dog. And I believe Mr L understands that. And it is people like you, van, that have me repeating what I believe in, clearing my name- over and over again. You people never read/understand.
It all springs from a lack of understanding, doesn’t it? You don’t understand me, and you hurl abuse at me. Problematic students like me have problems with alot of things because we don’t understand them either. We base our arguments on our own beliefs and assumptions. And that is why a debate is necessary- to exchange and understand other’s ideas.
Don’t you understand? This isn’t a case of how unhappy we are with the management anymore. It’s an issue of understanding, of morality, of acceptance.
Debates never actually get anything done. (Except maybe get you a J.G. trophy.) I just thought you should know that. Let’s say- Justified conflict is wrong. And even if we spend decades debating about it, there will be no clear answer. In your terms, “we will not get anywhere ie.it is pointless.” But to me, it makes all the difference that we hear about what others think and why. We cannot live life wrapped up in our own cocoon.
So in the end, I’m posting here not because I want to fight for my class anymore. It’s a personal search for answers. Only by understanding others can I see what others are like. You can’t expect everybody to think about you.
I have much respect for Mr L too. The man deserves it. He’s a caring, listening teacher. I give it to him. (Did I ever deny it?) Yes, I can’t find another teacher who would patiently sit through 70++ comments on his blog. And I cherish that. That is why I’m taking the chance to learn. That’s why I still visit this blog.
I don’t need to see a change. I just want to understand. I want to say my bit. There aren’t clear rights or wrongs for some things. It is just how things are done. I don’t expect anything to change. I just want them to listen. I want them to see that what they do- isn’t always accepted with open arms, and we aren’t robots who will obey any command passed.
Haven’t I said that at least 5 times?
There’s another dialogue coming up. And I have a hunch it is our doing. This time, they are holding our monitresses hostage and forcing us to speak. What is the point? We don’t speak because we know it will bounce. We will complain, and they will defend. Maybe the council listens and understands. And through many many many rounds of proposals and forms and whatnot, it still bounces.
Bouncebouncebouncebouncebounce. Basketball game.
Don’t you get it? You say it, it will bounce. That is why I rather spend my time typing here rather than speaking up during dialogue. The people here, Mr L, my supporters, my abusers, neutral people- listen. What I say weighs something here. In black and white. What I’ve just said above would probably be wasted during dialogue. Or dire consequences will follow. I’m not a chicken. I just know it won’t be of any use. Why waste my breath?
And for the last time, I am not nitpicking on Mr L, nor am I venting my frustrations about the school management on him.