On a particular day, this four-year-old child was particularly uncooperative and refused to join in with the rest of the class to learn a new lesson. She even unfairly told the teacher that "my mum paid you to teach me new things but you are not doing your job!"
Being a very experienced teacher, this classmate of mine has dealt with her in a very professional manner. She told the girl that she had done her job. She was teaching but she would only teach those who were willing to learn. She would not be able to teach those who were not willing to learn. In order to continue the lesson with the rest of the class, she told the girl to do her own activities in a nearby table and also told her that she could tell her mum to write a letter to her, stating clearly that with effective from the next day onwards, the girl needed not come to the centre anymore for lesson. The girl was dumstruck and kept quiet.
I was shocked. I thought my experience with a fourteen-year-old teenage girl a few years ago was already bad. The teenager was my tutee and one day, for whatever reason that I had already forgotten, she made it clear to me, "I paid your salary. Without me, you would lose your job. So you listen to me!" I was shocked then, because she told me she was a devoted Christian and would never miss any weekly service, rain or shine. So, I would never understand how a four-year-old child could even grasp the concept of money, I was still muddleheaded when I was four years ago. Indeed children today are much smarter then those in the past.
But it's disappointing and scary to know that they are smart in the wrong way. Some children today are smart and think that they know everything and disrespect their teachers and other figures of authority. What is worse is money is placed above all else. A child might think that people who had their meals in a high-class restaurant are better than those who have to eat at open-air food centres. A child may also not care about the environment, and care more about whether money can be made than environment degradation and loss of biodiversity.
As academic education progresses, character development has declined. We need to start teaching our kids other important aspects of life.
Appreciation and Respect for All Kinds of People and Professions
No man is an island. Even if you are very capable, you depend on the efforts of others to succeed. Let them live for a month without a maid.
Appreciation and Respect for Environment
Ask your child to hold their breath for as long as possible. Ask them how they feel. If they feel suffocated, ask them this: what do you think you will feel if no trees are left in this world and oxygen level getting lower and lower?
Reiterate Religious Lessons
This point is for religious families. For example, for Christians, do note that there is a difference between going to church and learning the bible and actually applying them in real life. If they are the same, then I wouldn't be unfairly pointed at by my Christian student. Parents, I think you can help a lot in this. Teach them the lessons from the bible. For other religious, I believe you have your scripture. Have regular conversations with your child about lessons to be learnt from the scriptures.
The key is to nurture them to have a big heart. Think Dalai Lama. Think Mahatma Ghandi.
(If you are using a mobile phone, please switch to web version view instead of mobile version view to see the opt-in box to subscribe to my updates which will deliver to your mailbox straight. Download my book too from Amazon to read how I lived through my mother's iron hand. Or please provide me with your name and email address in the opt-in box at the side or bottom of this page to read the first chapter for free.)
No comments :
Post a Comment