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February 12, 2003
Erm...
Is it just me? Or is it a general consensus that if we have report on such an issue, then it shows how fucked up Singapore's education system is?
Then I heave a sigh of relief for where I am, and for the people I've been educated with all my life. And for some parts, for some of the educators who had been with me when I'm in the midst of a crapshit system. And no, I did not come from one of your swanky, snobby little "designer-elitist" schools in Singapore (:p), but the people in my classes were more often than not able to throw in a semblance of intellectual group participation. And as much as I bemoan being in Melbourne, being able to attend classes with people who actually know sooo much more about what we are studying (most of the times more than the tutors themselves) and who are not afraid to voice their opinions and bring it to the next level of a heated argument, it's actually one of the saving graces of my sanity in the past few years. I have professors and lecturers who allow me to plop down into their office chairs and hold long discussions with them, or chat mindless conversations about my fears and paranoia ("I can't get through this semester/subject/year because I have too much to read and I don't want to stop reading and start writing!", "I can't write a paper on this! It will taint my entire belief system!","I need an extension for this because I went crazy last week!"). Educators who actually treat me as an intellectual equal. I'm glad to have found myself in a system where I could actually function and not worry THAT much that I will screw up because. Just because.
So I shan't bemoan Melbourne, or my uni that much. Even when it was not my first choice, leaving the country had been and is still the better choice. :)
-acrimonious look-
p/s: actually I'm sounding so optimistic about life, despite having four papers to write in the next month, because I just did fantastic readings on Aceh, Tibet and the West Papua and I think it might have something to do with the fact that I'm going to the art gallery with Emi and Mike this evening. :)
Posted by lainey at February 12, 2003 08:24 AM
Comments
Sounds like the standard marketing campaign to me? Why praise something that ought to be the norm in a seminar style lesson. All because the writer is not from SMU does not automatically imply she is impartial.or simply paid. Cynical probably but then since Straits Times starting emulating the idealised writing of supermarket tabloids. Advertising articles shouldn't be too surprising. What sarcasm ? :P
Posted by: Irish at February 12, 2003 11:11 PM