Pretty pleased

Rather happy with the work my sec 4s did in their class presentations so far. Some of their presentations clearly exceeded my expectations. Very creative work and in depth analysis of the Principles of Governance and also some of the policies. Although I had to correct some misperceptions, it is still allright because they are only teenagers and yet they are discoursing on some issues that I would expect uni students to do. It goes to show that if one pushes them a little bit and give them room to explore, they can come up with pretty amazing things. I did not give them any specific guidelines or specific websites but I keep telling them I want to see creativity and imagination in their presentations and they did not disappoint me. I am pretty pleased with them. Video presentations, skits, poems, songs...they all take effort to do and I am very impressed. While some resort to powerpoint slides but they did in depth analysis of policies and their shortfalls. How could I not be proud of them? Moments like this gives me a warm feeling, I forget the ugly parts and I love teaching.

here is a poem 2 boys from 4A wrote. I am very proud of them. The poem is cynical (normal for the teenagers today) but cute. Enjoy. Please do not copy the poem. Ask permission if you wish to use the poem.

Education
by Edison Neo and Goh Zhong Da (AHS 4A 2007)

The long education
Of this great nation
Takes us to graduation
With a sea of competition.
Mental abrasion
End up in asylum

The weight of the pressure
Goes beyond nature
Homework from my teacher
Scolding and a lecture
Get a degree and become a doctor
Is it so easy? Are you so sure?

Tertiary, divided into three
JC, Poly, ITE
Different levels of study
Immediately judged by society
The curse of this country
Built through hardship
By our dear PM Lee

Then comes Tharman
Changed the system
Upside down our surriculum
Affecting the whole generation
But we could be wrong
Anyway it is education