Don't we love our 3 guests? :)

After 2 weeks of deadlines nightmare in NIE, I finally have a breather to post some reflections.

Many in class were outraged, appalled, shocked etc. by the response of our 3 guests in microteaching yesterday. I must admit I wasn't very surprised with their reaction, in fact, I must say I congratulate them on their sheer confidence in expressing their opinions to a bunch of people who were a good 10 years older than them. Think about it. The government has been encouraging critical and creative thinkers since 1997. This is the product you can expect of such an education, thinking students who are opinionated, who do not fear to voice their views. Their opinions are not entirely baseless nor misinformed, clearly, they display good competence in geographical knowledge and also in certain aspects of pedagogy and philosophy (Bloom's Taxonomy anyone?). Before we draw out our swords and the guns and crucify them for their sheer audacity, we ought to recognize that there is certainly a democratization of the classroom these days – students' opinions matter, especially since they are much better informed and educated these days, with the advent of the internet and all.

I recall my days in JC, when many of my classmates were similar to the boys, if not 'worse'. They were frank, they were honest, they were often blunt in their opinions and criticisms. But they meant NO HARM. It was the CULTURE that was bred in the class, one which they were accustomed to, one where they have learnt much from. Our tutors (my tutors in JC were British expats) encouraged each of us to voice our opinions, and there was the understanding that everyone of us deserve to have a voice, and in airing our views, we learn most as we engage in critical debate and thought. It was a classroom environment that was vibrant, energetic and always engaging. Talk about student centred learning.. we learnt most in the countless debates on current affairs we had in geography class. Our teacher was really a facilitator, and he allowed each of us to develop our own independent thought and stance. Come to think of it, he had a pretty cushy job, coming into school after 8am, leaving by 12..

The point I want to make is that in the Asian society we live in, we need to be aware of the increasing 'westernization' of the classroom (to use hackneyed terms we are used to in our Chinese essay writing in secondary school..). Singapore is at its roots pretty Confucian in nature, where teachers are (were) figures of authority who were viewed with absolute respect, and those with authority were revered and almost religiously worshipped. Yet as the society developed, we cry out for more independence, to be freed from nanny-style governance and teaching, to be allowed space to express, to criticize, to be independent in our opinions. And the result? You get more and more students who dare to challenge the authority of the teacher, where hierarchies are blurred, where every individual counts - young, old, Chinese, Malay, ACS, Jurong West whatever. In that light, we ought to applaud the 3 guests we had yesterday. They dared to challenge, they dared to think, they dared to differ. They were not entirely obnoxious - this may very well be the classroom culture they were brought up in, this may very well be what they have been encouraged to do amongst peers in school, and they may very well be desiring to help create a better future in schools by offering their honest opinions to us future teachers. I'm glad to read in Alvin's blog that he wasn't offended, but rather he was happy. Its hard to swallow honest criticism, but it wasn’t meant in any negative sense. The boy simply shared his pragmatic concerns from his contextual point of view.

I must admit that at first, I felt a knee-jerk reaction to be defensive of Leah and Alvin, and I felt some of the boys' critiques were not exactly valid. I felt indignant and annoyed at their audacity. But that passed off pretty quickly, as I tried to put myself in their shoes. Dr Chang was right.. they might want to show off. Who wouldn't, when they have a bit of brains, and this was their little chance to impress. And he did substantiate his points. In addition, the environment was a little hostile from their perspective. Here I am, an invited guest, and I was told to give my honest opinion. But why are all these big sisters and brothers gunning me down for an honest opinion I want to make? Why are they drowning me out when I have something to say, that I have not finished saying? Do they honestly want constructive critique from me, or are they just happy to be defensive?

2 lessons learnt I guess. One, its human nature to react against criticism, but its true maturity if we can look beyond hurt egos and see things from the other's perspective – is it a justified criticism? Is there anything I can take note of? Second, education isn't just about intellectual growth. Clearly, these boys needs education on values, on respect, on EQ, on pride. They've done well in thinking for themselves, in developing an opinion of their own. They'd do better if they can now learn lessons on how to think for others, on service to others rather than trying to impress.

To develop critical thinkers who are at the same time non-proud and non-selfcentred. Whose role is that?

Us. Uh uh. We are not just Geography teachers. We are educators, facilitators, mentors. Let's just make sure we have 1) the content to be able to confidently engage with these students, and 2) ALSO, the maturity too to help mould these students into well-balanced adults with the right values.