You ask me why I smile
I say it's because of you
Honesty is my style
Yet you don't believe it's true
If you could see what I see in you
Then you will know what I say is true
'Cause if you see what I see in you
Then surely you will be smiling too
(Dedicated to my special ones)
- Caleb Ho @ 8 May 2008
Originally posted on June 15, 2008 at 05:40 AM on What the Blog? (Friendster Blogs)
Saturday 28 June 2008
Born Into This World
I left the school hall tonight feeling absolutely disgusted and above all, sad and disappointed. No, nothing terrible happened to me... rather, it happened to my students and their friends.
What began as a moment of anticipation at the end of the Talent Competition turned into a moment of tears as the results were announced. My students' group, which performed a fascinating traditional Korean dance infused with modern ballet, had not won any of the 3 prizes on offer. Now, I am not claiming that they were the best performers on the night as I felt the 3rd and 1st prizes were awarded to deserving winners. It was rather the 2nd place winners which shocked me and nearly everyone in the hall. Even if my students' group was not among the best 3 that night, they were certainly better than the 2nd place winners. In fact, there were a few other groups who were certainly better.
While I would like to believe that the judging was fair, the result certainly raises a few questions. It would not be wrong to assume that someone was biased in their judging or had some sort of personal interest in the winners. If neither is the case, then they must be blind!
As a teacher, I am obliged to encourage my students to try their best in all they do. I am also obliged to tell them that as long as they work hard and make honest decisions, their efforts will be rewarded. How then can I continue to tell them so when in reality, what often happens is exactly the opposite?
We are born into a world where the simple laws of hard work and success exist but where injustice often prevails. This was the world I saw that night as I walked out of the hall... unable to offer any form of consolation or comfort to my students. They put their heart into their performance and this world chose to reward them with tears of disappointment and pain.
Can we blame them for not wanting to try?
Originally posted on June 14, 2008 at 01:37 PM on What the Blog? (Friendster Blogs)
What began as a moment of anticipation at the end of the Talent Competition turned into a moment of tears as the results were announced. My students' group, which performed a fascinating traditional Korean dance infused with modern ballet, had not won any of the 3 prizes on offer. Now, I am not claiming that they were the best performers on the night as I felt the 3rd and 1st prizes were awarded to deserving winners. It was rather the 2nd place winners which shocked me and nearly everyone in the hall. Even if my students' group was not among the best 3 that night, they were certainly better than the 2nd place winners. In fact, there were a few other groups who were certainly better.
While I would like to believe that the judging was fair, the result certainly raises a few questions. It would not be wrong to assume that someone was biased in their judging or had some sort of personal interest in the winners. If neither is the case, then they must be blind!
As a teacher, I am obliged to encourage my students to try their best in all they do. I am also obliged to tell them that as long as they work hard and make honest decisions, their efforts will be rewarded. How then can I continue to tell them so when in reality, what often happens is exactly the opposite?
We are born into a world where the simple laws of hard work and success exist but where injustice often prevails. This was the world I saw that night as I walked out of the hall... unable to offer any form of consolation or comfort to my students. They put their heart into their performance and this world chose to reward them with tears of disappointment and pain.
Can we blame them for not wanting to try?
Originally posted on June 14, 2008 at 01:37 PM on What the Blog? (Friendster Blogs)
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