I set my alarm clock for this morning at the usual time but I couldn’t wake up to it. Too bad I have missed the National Day skits that the Sec 3s have put up this morning. My students were telling me yesterday that their skits were supposedly wonderful! Ha!

mrbrownshow has a truly sweet and wonderful song for National Day on the other hand. It is miles ahead of this year’s NDP song - Shine for Singapore. Go listen to his “love song for Singapore” at mrbrownshow now.

I can’t afford a holiday
Everything has gone up but my pay
Can’t go out with all my friends
Can’t afford the latest fashion pants

You promised me paradise
Overflowing with abundant rice
I used to go for lunch buffets
Now my breakfast’s half a yeow char kuey

You took so much from me
Got no cash to go high-tea

But I’m still in love with you
But I’m still in love with you
And when I grow old, and don’t do what I’m told
I will still be in love with you

P.S. Sec 4 Art students should check the forum for an important announcement about Prelims coursework submission.

P.P.S. Sec 3 Art students can check the forum for their painting assignments.

P.P.P.S Due to this BBC report, I anticipate the cost of watermelons to shoot up shortly. I love watermelons!

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I laughed out when I read this article on BBC News about how a student got marks for his English GCSE Exam for writing a two word expletive. In UK, the public schools are mostly taking the GCSE Examination which is revised O-Level examination. The GCSE has lately come under many vocal criticisms for making the examination too easy, and this latest bugaboo is yet another mark against the exam.

The pupil apparently has been marked 2 marks out of 27 marks (7%) just for writing a 2 word expletive in his answer. If the pupil has taken the pain to add an exclamation mark, it would have merited another mark! Hence what is the lesson for all of us here? Remember to PUNCTUATE your sentences!!!

It is interesting to note that BBC now allows expletives to be printed on their website as well. Alas, I cannot risk having expletives on my blog so I recommend those who are curious to read the original news report.

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This is the article on the front page of Straits Times Home Section for May 26, 2008. We are at the start of our school holiday!

Although it might look downright scary and excessive, but I am very sure what you see here is pretty much typical for most schools in Singapore, especially if those schools have been doing well academically. The very few schools that don’t do holiday classes have developed other strategies to make up for all these “lost” time. As you can tell, the pressure here is so great that even schools can’t afford to lose out.

But more importantly, there is a point I will like to make to those sharp-eyed readers out there, especially if they are my art students. Or perhaps you are contemplating to take Art as a subject next year? (Then you can view my updated and infamous “Art is Hard” video during the subject presentation.)

If there is a reason why I make you do so much work…

If there is a reason why you complain it is so hard to get A1 for Art…

If there is a reason why I give you so high marks for assessment and then MODERATE it down again…

If there is a reason why those past art students were so excited when they came back to our small, dirty and messy artroom…

If there is reason why I don’t push you even harder…

Oh, for those who still don’t get it… here is the answer…

(more…)

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At the bus-stop outside my house.

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My sincerest congratulation to all of you. You have all done well. Well one or two of you could have gotten better, but overall the results are already noteworthy.

To reminisce back then:

• We met as strangers. You standing there outside the staffroom. And I was totally new to the school.
• Your first assignment - selfportrait. I reassured all of you that it is okay. Okay I tried.
• You straggled into class. I tried to interest you in artworks by dead white males.
• Your first ever painting. Some were terrific. Some of you are still trying to hide them till today.
• Drawing and Painting Test. Horrors of horrors.
• 2nd self-portrait. I was truly amazed by your progress. Finally the light at the end of the tunnel?
• Higher Art mad scramble. Getting those reports printed was the greatest PITA.
• Coursework craziness. Some were doing great, others need to be prodded. Near the end, it was frayed nerves, irritable voices, crumbled un-ironed uniforms, sleepy bloodshot eyes and black moods. It was unforgettable, but not necessary all memorable.
• Final drawing and painting. Saw some. Advised some. Where were the rest?

It is finally all done now. I truly hoped you have achieved all that you set yourself to get. But I firmly believe the reason behind why we need to set goals for ourselves is not for the purpose of self admonishment when we failed to reach them, or just to remind ourselves what we are trying to achieve, but more fundamentally to live out our affirmation that there are things that we truly value and those that we would want to give our best to without reservation time and time again. And it is not the marks, but the motivation behind those numbers.

I have enjoyed teaching this group of students tremendously. As with all great experiences, they have their share of joy as well as pain. I see all the problems and difficulties as part of the learning process for myself and for the students. And we should all continue to learn.

All the best for your future.

Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment, full effort is full victory.
- Mahatma Gandhi

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