Monday, November 23, 2009

20 minutes of mystery...

Sifting through a stockpile of old articles, I came across this piece...written somewhere around 2007.

If my memory serves me right, I wrote this short essay to help my then temporary roommate, Hafiz, overcoming his crucial LSP paper.

LSP is a compulsory English paper to pass in USM. Although I somehow managed to scrap through with an A, this paper continues to haunt scores of students who lacked basic understanding of English, mainly originating from rural areas.

This article struck a chord with me because it was written within 20 minutes or less…maybe a record time for me so far for serious composition. It was written in one go...no editing. Ideas were flowing freely during the process...as if some invisible mind was helping me through, and the finished article was in print the next hour. I still believe it was my subconscious mind that helped me write this article.

And no...I wasn't consuming any drug at the said time.

Hafiz is now a full-fledged officer in National Statistic Department.


Canning has been a hot topic among educators, parents as well as academicians throughout the time, particularly the last few weeks. This is no part due to the opinion of the reintroduction of canning on girls. This has created much controversy, with many quarters of parents rejected the move.

Canning is used as a last resort to maintain order in schools. Schools nowadays are way very different compared to 20 or 30 years ago. There are all sorts of influence on teenagers these days...including overwhelming reach of internet, trendy gadgets, and booming culture that is not originated from our country.

This prompted school authority to ban certain things that are viewed as not proper to be used in school, such as the use of handset and lab top in school compound. And parents have become savvier about school regulation...particularly affecting their children.

The millennium parents are not the same as 20 years ago, where they leave their children completely at the hand of their teachers. They have become more protective regarding their children...and this has caused much difficulty for respective teachers. Teachers are aware that they may face unknown consequences from parents should they go on with the corporal punishment, but the need to keep their students in check over their behavior.

Some things change over a period of time, but some things just remain the same. In the case of canning, it is still viewed as necessary, particularly to control the 'mischievous' students. If they commit mistakes or improper conduct and neglected the teachers first and second warning, so what should the teachers do next?

Although the same punishment on girls are highly controversial, but canning punishment on boys should remain. But the punishment should be carried out in closed doors, as public canning would leave them with negative psychological effects, and they may become rebellious too.

Canning is a last resort to correct our students, as it shows they have done something wrong and to show the seriousness of their offense to the school regulations.

Some parents may object the punishment, as they viewed it as unnecessary. And they are scared for their children safety as well. Undeniably, all parents think their children are a good person, and they"ll defend their children no matter what. This in no part due to a student being a good child at home...so how come they can break certain school regulation?

Certain pupils have these kind of dual personality...they are so quite at home but can be abrasive in schools. So teachers have to react swiftly to prevent them from disturbing other students.
The same procedure (canning) has worked for enormous people...including individual that turned out to be doctors, lawyers and other professionals nowadays.

Ask any of them, and majority will answer canning is some sort of punishment that made them into what they are today. If the same punishment worked in the past, there's no reason why we should stop the practice now. It is for the betterment of our young generation, the leaders of tomorrow.