FullTimeMother

Children Learn What They Live

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:30:00 +0000

By Dorothy Law Nolte

If children live with criticism,
They learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility,
They learn to fight.
If children live with fear,
they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity,
they learn to feel sorry for themselves;

If children live with ridicule,
they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy,
they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame,
they learn to feel guilty;

If children live with encouragement
they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance,
they learn patience.
If children live with praise,
they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance,
they learn to love;

If children live with approval
the learn to like themselves
If children live with recognition,
they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing,
they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty,
they learn truthfulness;

If children live with fairness,
they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration.
they learn respect.
If children live with security,
they learn to have faith in themselves.
If children live with friendliness,
they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

Letter to Heng Swee Keat

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Sat, 28 May 2011 03:35:00 +0000

by Monica Lim on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 11:53am

Dear Mr Heng

The recent polls have triggered many dramatic changes, the biggest of which is PM’s consistent refrain for transformation.

In this spirit, I’m writing to you to ask whole-heartedly for a transformation of our education system. If not a complete transformation, at least a holistic review of some of the basic tenets by which education policies in this country are made.
As a parent with one child in secondary school and another in primary school with contrasting abilities, I have, over the years, become increasingly frustrated and disturbed by many areas of our education system which I feel are not edifying to the development of children. At the risk of sounding like one of those domineering, opinionated mothers, let me try to persuade you, from the point of view of a concerned parent, why a change is due.

Education is not a business

Many have felt that Singapore in the past few years has been run like a business and this mindset has filtered down to education. These days, teachers are ranked against each other measured by KPIs. If their students don't perform up to par, then they drop in ranking. I assume this affects their appraisal and promotion prospects. Principals are also under pressure to keep up in school rankings (and not just in academics), hence they push their teachers to achieve better results.

Here's what happens when schools are run like businesses. Teachers become workers assessed and ranked according to quantifiable output. The principal is like the CEO, answerable to a higher authority based on numbers. Students become products, they are valued only according to the quantifiable output they can contribute, everything else is peripheral or redundant. Everything is reduced to numbers.

Therein lies the problem. When you run a business, the focus has to be on results, preferably quantifiable results. Don't get me wrong, I think it's well and good to try and assess the effectiveness of a school. But instead of seeing how we can better assess the effectiveness of schools, we run the schools to make them easier to assess.

Education administrators love this because it's so neat, structured and orderly. But the problem is education is about moulding of individuals. And neither individuals nor learning is neat, structured or orderly. The process of education is not and should be like that of manufacturing, taking place in a factory.

A friend of mine who volunteered to lead a character module at her son’s school was taken aback when she was asked for KPIs. I have other friends who are teachers have expressed frustration at being assessed purely by how well their students score. If we take this route, there is no "business" value in helping a student overcome his learning disability or giving special attention to a child from a difficult family background because the outcome is not quantifiable. We're leaving it to the assumed social conscience of the teacher and the school to step forward in such instances. But realistically, ensuring ‘A’ students continue to get top grades will likely get priority because it directly impacts on the teacher's KPIs.

Obsession with results

The inevitable outcome of an education system that is run by KPIs is the obsession with results and by this, of course I mean quantifiable results. What happens then is the focus is shifted from the process of education to the end result of scoring, because that is what is measured in the end.

For example, I find that the way many subjects are taught in schools are based on the marking template, understandably because if the objective is to maximise scores, then you teach to fulfil this objective. I’m a corporate writer and one of my biggest pet peeves is the way composition writing is taught in primary schools.
Many teachers today are told to mark the language of a composition based on how many "good phrases" are used. In my son’s school, a commercial book of good phrases is part of the syllabus and the kids are told to learn these phrases, even for spelling. These phrases are often so bombastic and pretentious that nobody in real life would actually use them. Yet the students are taught them because “ticks” are given for each “good phrase” and added to their vocabulary score.

I remember during a parent-teacher conference, I raised my concerns to my son's English teacher. To my utter surprise, she agreed with me. She said that once the school started imposing the memorising of good phrases for composition, she ended up with 44 scripts of almost identical introductions (mostly about the "fiery sun in the sapphire sky"). Unfortunately, her hands were tied.

I know why this is imposed - it's to make marking simpler. This way, schools don't have to depend on the arbitrary standards of each marker and the marker just has to follow a matrix. It's certainly more orderly but don't mistake it for creativity. I don't know any other education system which designs its curriculum around the grading. Shouldn't it be the other way around?

To me, attempting to come up with a template for creativity is simply oxymoronic. Ironically, we’ve managed to suck the creativity out of creative writing.
This obsession with results extends outside of the classroom. In my daughter’s school, the performing arts groups are given funding according to how well they perform in the SYF. Likewise, bigger budgets are given to sports that bring in medals. The list goes on. What this breeds in the race for medals and results is that schools often prioritise these over values like effort, sportsmanship and character building.

Even otherwise worthwhile activities, such as CCAs and community service, have lost their noble intent somewhat, as many students now perform these duties clinically for the sake of window dressing their resume.

Valuing people based on academic results
As a direct outcome of a school system that emphasises scores above all else and uses these scores to dictate the child's educational path at a very early age, Singaporeans have become obsessed with chasing grades. While I don’t deny grades are important, for many, they have become life-centric, meaning kids spend every waking hour performing tasks that will help them better their score.

The mindless pursuit of academic achievement has become so over-arching that many parents are now sending their kids for what I call indiscriminate tuition – tuition in every single examinable subject whether or not the child actually needs it. My daughter is in an SBGE (School-Based Gifted Education) class and her classmates were either from the GEP in primary school or top scorers in the PSLE. So I was startled when she told me that most of her classmates have tuition in 3 or 4 subjects. Tuition has become a crutch - even if the kids are doing well on their own, parents fear the consequences of doing without it.

The backlash is that our children’s self-worth and perception have become intrinsically linked to their academic grades. Teachers, peers and possibly parents judge the value of students according to their academic ability. I know children whose self-esteem is low simply because they don’t do as well in school as their classmates. In the “branded” schools, it also breeds elitism because these students deem others less academically-inclined as somehow inferior. When my daughter attended her first day of school in sec 1, many of her new classmates, meeting her for the first time, didn’t ask “what’s your name?” but “what’s your t-score?”
This treatment of academic prowess as a “superior” skill can be seen throughout our system. Although we profess to embrace all talents, it’s often lip service. Prefects and student leaders are usually chosen first on their academic ability before their leadership skills. In many DSAs for sports, schools still ask for academic results before they will even entertain the child for a trial. The message we seem to be sending is: we'll look at your other talents IF you have the academic ability.

Putting standards above learning
In my son’s recent p5 mid-year exams, in one class, every single child failed the math paper. This is a common scenario among some of the popular schools. Obviously, it’s not because the students are intellectually deficient. It’s because the papers are often set at a level designed for only the top 25% of kids. In fact, one question required a method that had not yet been taught to the students. It’s a mockery of the “teach less learn more” motto – does it mean the teachers teach less but the kids somehow have to learn more on their own? No wonder tuition centres are flourishing!

I’m tired of hearing the age-old excuse from schools that this will spur the children to work harder. Incidentally, this is not supported by fact. I suspect it's an urban legend spread by schools who wish to justify their "high" standards. I meet many parents and students who are more demoralised than "spurred" by their consistently bad results.

What is the point of this? The age gap between my two children is only three years and yet I can see that what my younger child has to learn at his age is markedly more difficult than what his sister had to know.

Perhaps this constant accelerating of the educational syllabus is a knee jerk reaction to the influx of brilliant foreign students, but this is no justification. We need to recognise that these kids have completely different motivations. They are here purely to study, to carve a better life for themselves, much as our students work harder when they study overseas. Do we then use these as benchmarks to whip Singaporeans into shape?

No education system is a one size fits all but we need to consider the best interest of the majority of students. If half your students fail in an exam, it doesn’t reflect badly on the student – it reflects badly on the teaching. I find that in setting the curriculum and exam papers, there seems to be some semi-sadistic streak in MOE and schools, to trip kids up and make them feel stupid. It's as if someone is saying, "Aha! I managed to set a question that no one could answer!" There will always be a small percentage of brainiacs who can ace any exam, no matter how difficult. That is not a logical benchmark by which to design curriculum or exam papers.

Plea for a more meaningful system
In the course of my work, I had the opportunity to interview the Vice Dean, Education of Duke-NUS. It was, in my mind, one of the most inspiring interviews I’d ever conducted. In his words, “We don’t just want the straight ‘A’ student. Does having one less ‘A’ make you less of a person? We know Singaporeans are already great at memorising facts – we’re looking for passion, dedication and the ability to see a problem through different angles.”
I feel we could use more of that mindset here. Singaporean educators are often proud of our high standards but let's be honest, we're good at ticking off checklists, exams and competitions. We laugh at the laissez faire American system for its laxity but in truth, they have churned out more innovators and thinkers from their messy system than we have (even after adjusting for size and population).

I will be the first to admit to occasionally suffering pangs of anxiety when my child doesn't do well in an exam because it's hard to stand firm in the onslaught of a tsunami of kiasu-ism. But at the end of the day, I try to keep reminding myself his character and happiness matter more. I want a kinder system, one that encourages my child to explore the world around him, not closes it up. One that shows him the richness of issues and topics out there, not limits him to four subjects.

I want a system where I can encourage my child to enjoy music, art, sports for their own sake, and not with the pre-requisite that he does well academically. I want him to want to help others, and not because it counts towards community service hours in his report book. I want to groom a child with integrity and respect towards others, and I hope others can appreciate him for these values.

I am doing as much as I can in these areas but I cannot fight against the education system. I'm writing this in the hope that as you now helm the Education Ministry, you can make the transformation happen.

Thank you very much for your time.

Holistic Education

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Tue, 24 May 2011 00:59:00 +0000

Many schools boast to provide holistic education. But what indeed is holistic?
Webster Learner dictionary defines "holistic"as :relating to or concerned with complete systems rather than with individual parts ".

So here we see, what do we need to create a complete system needed to provide complete education for a child.
Sadly, it is easy said than done. Many schools, parents and students are still focusing academic instead of holistic per Se. The degree of holistic environment differs from one school to another. So it is very important for our parents to do some kind compensation, if we are not careful, we are easily being swept into "rat"race, and found in the end,there will be no winners.

In our family, the holistic education consists of the following :-

1. Spiritual aspect- that address soul. To bring children to know and be known by GOD is a very important part of education. "What could one benefit, if he wins whole world but lost his own soul." Beside regular attending church and Sunday school, parents' own example and conduct has profound influence on children. I only have to confess our own inadequacy and many failure on this part. We continue to seek Divine leading and providence of rich fulfilment to our children's spiritual beings.

2. Mind- that might be mainly of academic development. The peer pressure on this aspect is tremendous, in school, children are streamed as early as P2, then P4.But we recognize that each child has different talent, but we patiently and persistently strive to bring out best of each child. Love and encouragement often works wonder.

3. Body- That is part we neglected previously when we were homeschooling. Now, our children take up swimming, soccer, chess etc. They train hard, play well, also take part in various competition. Sports teach them very different lesson, to develop perseverance, to learn to be cooperative, to nurture sportsmanship,and foster long last friendship...I cannot emphasis enough the importance of this aspect education.

One of New Year Resolutions--Not to be Tiger Mum

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 05:09:00 +0000

We have been very busy since last year, Thank God, we survived the first ever, formidable PSLE for our eldest son. He did reasonable well and now settles down happily in a boy secondary school.

New year was a blissful break for me. I determined to have much deserved rest. As usual, at each of turning of New Year, I would make a list of New Year resolutions, a habit which my parents formed into me.

Well, They are nothing special, such as, more exercise; spending more time with hubby, more kinder to my kids....I thought among them I would like to share with you one of resolutions is Not be a tiger Mum.

My kids and I had long shared one particular joke. When they were naughty, or whining for something, I would say, "Don't let naughty "their name"coming down from moon (I forgot how that was started, anyway, naughty children and monster mums are staying in the moon), otherwise, the monster mum will come down too."

For most of time, that serves as a reminder to ask them to behave, but there were times, it turned out that Monster Mum did come down, and my kids knew that was nothing enjoyable or funny.

So, when I read Amy Chua's famous article "Why Chinese parents are superior" because of "Tiger Mum". I was seeing myself in that picture which gave me a vivid chill.

So, I pounded and decided, I rather not to be a one.

Why does Amy think Chinese parents are superior than others lies on the utmost value each one holds. For her, it might be personal success; for others it might be enjoyment of life....

But I don't want to be one of Tiger Mums is because I don't want my kids to strive for whatever I want them to be and to do and neglect what God wants them to be and to do.

It doesn't matter how successful one might be. He is still in most pityful state if he doesn't know God and known by God.

I confess I had done much damage in this regards, I pray for God's forgiveness and help to be a Godly mother to my children.

This is one of my New Year resolutions.

Homeschool vs. Mainstream education

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:20:00 +0000

Some years ago, my husband and I homeschooled our first two children. As I mentioned earlier, it was a very enriching and rewarding experience. Four years ago, however, some circumstance had changed so that we could no longer homeschooling but sending them to mainstream school.

Having been often asked how my children copy in mainstream school after homeschooling, I think it might be helpful to share some of my two cents worth.

Many of my friends decide to homeschool their kids for two main reasons:

1. The child is either too advance or too slow;
2. The parents own preference, might be out of building closer bonding, or religious reasoning. etc.

Homeschooling needs parenting 120% commitment.

When I was homeschooling my two kids, at that time, we had just three out of five our children. The age difference of the first two is about two years, and my second child is an advance learner. So I was able to teach them at the same phase. Fortunately, my third child was an easy baby, he was content to play by him own while I was teaching the other two. But when number four came, things became more difficult. The fourth baby was a demanding one, by then, my third child had strong desire in learning, while my two older kids had progressed into more challenging area of curriculum. I found myself hard to copy with different level and different needs.

With other circumstance concerns in mind, we decided to send them back to school.

The coping to new learning environment was not an issue for my children. In fact, both of them adapted very well. My son is thrilled by school sports, while my daughter finds the competitive learning atmosphere further motivated and strengthened her.

Concerns about BAD influence.

Honestly speaking, that was main reason when we considered homeschooling. We were worry the worldly influence would robs our children away from the love of GOD. Till today, after our children having been in school for almost four years, I do not deny there are certain BAD influences in school,but the point is, where else do not have?

The evil does not have boundary. Sadly I daresay I have seen the worse evils in church than anywhere else. So to some extends, our parents can only "protect"our kids that much. Wherever they are, we need GOD to be the Guardian, ultimately, they are the gifts from God.

Comparing Homeschooling vs Mainstream schooling.

Homeschooling provides a relax learning atmosphere, which is double edged sword. My eldest boy has tendency to do his exam SLOWLY. When he does his exams in school, he finds he has not enough time to finish paper. Many of his learning habits are not so well developed.

On the other hand, school has offered kids with many opportunities in other areas of interests like sports, community work, IT and leadership etc.

Both my children were chosen to represent school sport team, which is certain an eye opening for us. They enjoy the sport training, and interacting with team players and friends. In that sense, I would never be able to provide such an experience had we continued homeschooling.

While homeschooling, my daughter, who is very competitive in nature, always set target to compete with her older brother. That sometimes could be very unpleasant to my son. After going to school, though she proves herself to be one of best students in her level,she is mindful that there are always someone better than her. It gives us opportunity us to teach her to be grateful and gracious, and the same time, to strive for the best.

So much about PSLE

PSLE,a placement test, is a very important milestone for every student, bases on which, students are given different choices to secondary schools. No one doubt that secondary school's culture and learning environment are far more important than of primary school. Therefore, PSLE is crucial no matter homeschool or mainstream. In that area, homeschooler have disadvantage than students from mainstream. No only the methodology differs,but also the answer requirements are various.

At Secondary posting, homeschooling kids are also placed at the bottom based on lacking of CCA and other school based activities exposure.

Finally,

So in conclusion,I feel personally, if you kids are above average, he/she may be better off in mainsteam; if your kids are stuggling, then, homeschooling is better.

However, as parents, our choices or preferences concerning our children's future and development, we should not make any of these choices becoming legalistic or self glorying. Whethere or not homeschooling,keep options open, and admit our limits, most important, pray and enjoy your children. Ask divine help in every area of each child's development.

Is that only man's fault?

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Fri, 21 May 2010 01:16:00 +0000

From Gender equality the key to Big Baby problem?
By Angela Lim – May 20th, 2010
Do Singaporean males have to step up if we want more babies?

In a letter to the Straits Times forum on Thursday, women’s rights group AWARE wrote that Singapore has not seen a reversal in the decline of fertility rates because Singaporean fathers are not rising to the task of child rearing. It also believes that state support for equal parenting roles is not adequate.

New executive director of AWARE, Ms Corinna Lim, expressed that while many people think that Singaporean women have achieved greater gender equality, compared with other states like Australia and Britain where the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is now increasing, Singapore is lagging far behind.

Her views echo that of noted Swedish Professor Hans Rosling, who was recently interviewed by the same paper. In his interview, he suggested fairer employment and government policies would lead to greater gender equity, which in turn, would boost Singapore’s birth rate.

Rosling compared Singapore’s situation with that of pro-family, pro-baby Sweden, a close cousin to Singapore in terms of income and infant mortality rate. He pointed out the two countries are moving in opposite directions when it comes to fertility rates — Sweden climbing to a 16-year high of 1.94, while Singapore plummeting to a mere 1.23.

In her letter, Lim writes this is because “in the last 30 years, women have entered the workplace in droves. More girls graduate from our universities than boys. However, these changes are asymmetrical. Men have not moved into the domestic sphere at the same rate.”

She adds that this makes raising a child “less attractive” for career women if she has to “bear the bulk of the childcare burden”.

In contrast, she writes, “Her husband does not lose sleep about balancing work and family life.”

Sharing Professor Rosling’s calls for fairer work-place policies, Lim goes on to ask why the government only mandates four months’ paid maternity leave, but not a day of paternity leave. She also called for better support structures for flexi-work arrangements and family-friendly work environments.

A recent question we asked on Yahoo! Answers on “Why are Singaporeans not having enough babies?” drew over 1,000 responses.

Now’s your turn. Do you agree with Ms Lim?

Is greater gender equality the solution to Singapore’s Big Baby problem?

I don't think gender equality is the solution to Singapore's fertility issue, quite opposite, the society, and modern educated women, has gradually abandoned the role of mothering. Though it is purely personal choices to be a mother or to be a career woman, which, to great extend, are conflicting and equally demanding, the policy on gender equality certainly had done negative impacts on Singapore's TFR. It takes mothers to nurture a generation. Ladies make your own choice wisely with your heart and soul, stopping blaming other. Even if the "FULL TIME MOTHERS effort is just as tiny as a drop of water, let's strive to aim for the ocean. For our rewards are not decided by men.

"Diary of a reformed elitist " a small yet resounding voice

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Mon, 10 May 2010 01:03:00 +0000

For those who missed this article in the ST.
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Probably the best ST Forum letter I've ever read
"I never guess. It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts." - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

***

Diary of a reformed elitist

I AM as Rafflesian/Raffles Girls' School (RGS)/'elite' as they come. My father was a Raffles Institution boy; I went through Raffles Girls' Primary School (RGPS), RGS, then Raffles Junior College , then on to the National University of Singapore, boarding at Raffles Hall.

My sisters went through much the same route. My little girls are in RGPS.

I recognise the syndrome Ms Sandra Leong talks about ('Scoring high in grades but not in values', last Saturday). I live it, breathe it. Most of my friends are like me, graduates. Most of us live in landed property, condominiums or minimally, executive condos or five-room flats. None of us talks about making ends meet, or how we must turn down medical treatment for our aged parents because we cannot find the money.

But I will add to her essay: that those traits, that aura is not unique to RGS girls. It resonates within a social group, and its aspirants, the well educated or well endowed. I hang out with so many, I have stories by the barrel.

- My doctor friend, non-RGS and one would even say anti-RGS, was shocked when she found out how many As I got in my A levels, since I opted to do an arts degree. In her words, 'I thought all arts people were dumb, that is why they go to arts'. Her own family boasts only doctors and lawyers - she said they would never contemplate any other profession - and by implication, all other professions are below those two.

- A church-mate who lived in a landed property in District 10 - definitely not an RGS girl, and I venture to guess, not even a graduate - once, in all sincerity and innocence, prayed for all those who had to take public transport and live in HDB flats, for God to give them strength to bear these trials.

- Another friend, also non-RGS and a non-graduate, shudders when she recounts the few months she lived in an HDB flat. And that was a five-room flat. Imagine the culture shock if she had lived in a three-room flat.
I continue to meet people who never visit hawker centres, who wonder why the poor people do not work harder to help themselves, who fret if their children do not get into the Gifted Education Programme (reserved for the top 1 per cent of nine-year-olds).
The pattern repeats itself in the next generation. When my 11-year-old had to go on a 'race' around Singapore, using only public transport, the teacher asked for a show of hands on how many had never taken public transport (bus and MRT) before. In a class of 30, five raised their hands. I think if the teacher had asked for those who had taken public transport fewer than 10 times in their young lives, the number would have more than doubled or tripled.
Many of us live in ivory towers. I know I did. I used to think Singapore was pretty much 'it' all - a fantastic meritocracy that allowed an 'HDB child' from a non-graduate family to make it. I boasted about our efficiency - 'you can emerge from your plane and be out in 10 minutes' - and so on.

It was not that I thought little of the rest of the world or other people; it was that I was so ensconced in my cocoon, I just thought little of anything outside my own zone. 'Snow? Yes, nice.' 'Starvation in Ethiopia ? Donate $50.' The wonders of the world we lived in, the sufferings and joys of those who shared this earth were just academic knowledge to me, voraciously devoured for my essays or to hold intelligent conversations at dinner parties.

Then I lived in China for seven years. I looked on in amazement as the skinny tree trunk in front of my yard blossomed and bore pomegranates when spring thawed the ground. And marvelled at the lands that spread east, west, north and south of me as we drove and drove and drove, and never ended. I became friends and fans of colleagues and other Chinese nationals, whom so many Singapore friends had warned me to be wary of.

I realised it was not the world and other people who were limited in their intellect, in their determination, in their resourcefulness; it was me and my world views which were limited. I also know full well that if I had stayed in Singapore , in my cushy job, comfortable in my Bukit Timah home, I would have remained the same - self-sufficient. I had always believed that if I put my mind to it, I could achieve anything. For example, I used to look at sick people and root: 'Fight with all your willpower, and you will recover.' And when they did not, I'd think they had failed themselves. I, like Ms Leong, believed 'mental dexterity equated strength of character and virtue'.

But those years in China taught me terrible lessons on loneliness. I learnt that money (an expatriate pay package) and brains (suitcases of books) did not make me happier than my maid who cycled home to her family every night in minus 20 deg C on icy roads to a dinner of rice and vegetables. The past few years, I have known devastating loss and grief so deep I woke up in the morning and wondered how the sun could still shine and people could go on with their lives.

And so perhaps I have learnt the humility I lacked. Humility about how small I am in the whole schema of things. About how helpless I truly stand, with my intellect in my hands, with my million-dollar roof over my head. To remember, in the darkest valleys of my journey, it was not Ayn Rand or other Booker list authors who lifted me, but the phone calls, the kindness of strangers, that made each day a little less bleak.

And perhaps finally, to really see other people, and understand - not deflect, nor reflect their anger and viewpoints, but see their shyness, pain, struggles, joys. Just because I was 'fortunate enough' to have trawled the bottom levels. And perhaps that is the antidote to the oft unwitting elitism so many of us carry with us.

Sim Soek Tien (Ms)

Respect to others and respect rules

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 00:56:00 +0000

The recent violent event happened in Schools National B Division rugby final speaks volume, alarming many educators, parents and MOE policy makers on current school sports development. While many lamented "Whatever happened to sportsmanship?" Like Leonard Lim, others, like Rhoit Brijnath thought, it would be better to teach our kids to respect others players and respect rule.

The school level competition turns out to be too much pressure to all parties involved. Perhaps, it is because there are too much glory seeking and rewarding inside school sports system that makes a way for the "old root of all evil.". Of course, winning teams do their schools proud,and to players, there are much more than bragging, the extra points in CCA and Special pass to Direct School Admission, would be enough to set parents on fire . Not surprisingly, some financially able schools hire pro coaches give their students extend training on top of their already busy curriculum schedules.

But in the end of day, how can we develop the holistic, well-rounded pupils not only in ability but also in character, if our emphasis is only on winning. students ought to learn fair play, honor, friendship as well as fighting spirit, most of all, they should learn to win or lose graciously.

Crab

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 02:30:00 +0000

I had a lunch with my son in one of Japanese restaurants. He ordered some tempura, among which were soft shell crabs.

My son ate them with some thoughts.

"You know, mum, these soft shell crabs were captured when they were molting their shells. Normal crabs after molting their hard shells will come out at moon lighted night to dry their soft shells.That is the time when a crab is most vulnerable, yet people choose to catch them ... just to eat them!"

I was speechless.

Yes, even a child feels sorry for a crab, but I wonder how many of our adults have such a feeling. We attach those who are weak, defenseless, we catch, grab more and more, never, ending, never satisfying... in the end, we may lost the code of honor to be humankind.

Expectation

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 03:05:00 +0000

Kids know a lot of more than our parents, especially in the areas they are interested in. Since our sons are getting engrossed with football. I have been learning "new" things each day.

Cristiano Ronaldo has often become an invisible visitor at our dinner table. Children talk about him, and many others countless times.

Once they were debating who is the great football player, Cristiano Ronaldo or Paul Scholes, or which is better team, Man United or Chelsea? They asked for my opinion, (I felt greatly honored)

"Aye, maybe Paul's ghost and Rev Charles Seet?"

"Mummy!" That ended my era of Total Authority.

No choice, I have to pick up Sport Session to find out who are those players and teams. Very reluctantly, watch Football channel with kids.....

After my elder son suffered second time injury when playing football in less than four months, (both fractures and the second one required an operation), I was furious and determined "Not more football till....."

As we were waiting in corridor outside doctor's office, an old man, who was also waiting, asked "Young man, what happened?"

My son replied sullenly "playing football."

"Oh, that is normal. I was National Soccer player back in 1953."

"Really," My son's eye lightened up. This old gentleman was not only a football player but also qualified Referee. But he was a lawyer by living.:=)He sent one of his book on football rule (a perfect topic for a lawyer) to my son a week later.

That rekindled my son's hope in soccer. Another expectation to live on.

Gifted or Manmade

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:17:00 +0000

Last two days, I had been sending and fetching my daughter and my neighbour's son to attend the second round of GEP( Gifted Education Program) selection exams. Her school happened to be one of exam centers. There were roughly 500 pupils attending the exam, which was a fiction of normal school attendance. But I witnessed the massive traffic jam which I have never experienced before.

The two way road outside school, a 500 meters stretch, both sides, were packed by cars belong to parents who were sending or fetching their children. At one stage, the road was total jam, unmovable. I certainly never see so many cars packed outside school in any ordinary school day, not even the first day of the school. It seemed to me these 500 pupils, if not all, mostly have at least one parent accompanying them to exam. The majority are from at least one "C" class.:) The usual five minutes drive from my home to school turned out to be one hour ordeal. The sight was not less spectacular than Emperor Exam in olden China. I could even sense the anxious and exciting mood of parents in the air.

My daughter, together with other may be thousands pupils, attended two days of English, Maths and general ability test. She is one of two students who have passed the first round of exam. But in my neighbour's son's (ACSJ) class, more than half of class passed the first round.

I was naturally delighted when I first heard her passed, yet, I reminded her gifted or not is not the most important matter in one's life.

It is remarkable when one child to be labeled as "gifted". But in Singapore, that line has been blurred by many men-made efforts.

One pupil who attends numerous tuition may score higher than those who don't. But it is arguable whether he/she is gifted or men made. It seems to matter more to parents than to children nowadays.

My ex neighbour's son was selected into GEP two years ago. He is the only child at home, and I know that since five years old, he has been having tuition.

After exams, I asked my daughter how was exam? She said "Hard, but fun."

She said, "I am happy if I pass, I am still happy if I don't"

Thankfulness

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:03:00 +0000

Recently, we switched our fourth son, Stephen, from three-hour kindergarten to a full day childcare programme.He used to attend our church kindergarten in the morning. I found, since the baby was born, it difficult to keep him occupied in the afternoon, he did not take his usual nap in the afternoon and...being an active little boy who wants do a lot,while I was not all the time available, he ended up to be left alone, or into some mischiefs.

We thought about some other enrichment programmes, but with a five month old baby, I am loath to drive around, plus, my elder son will have PSLE next year, he needs a lot of help in studies.

So we chose the little village which is just around corner of our neighbourhood. The cost of school of course is very expensive, but we felt it was out of necessity. The government gives subsidy for all registered childcare program, however, the school administer told me that only working mothers entitle the full amount of S$300, while the non-working mothers only entitle half. (*working mother, by their definition, is those who work for pay more than 56 hour per month.)

As I mentioned in my early post, this is one of classic examples which some of relevant of policies need to be challenged.

the sheer definition of working mother;

the purpose of subsidy, to whom and for what;

the underline calling or factors affect mothers'choice;....

.....

Ironically, mothers work for pay surely have more disposable income to spend for this kind of high end childcare service, while others probably have no means to afford basic needs even they want to.

That reminds me of my suspended research topic. The very reason I took up this research was to help some full time mother and foster a more family friend envirnment in this land. Due to my fifth baby's birth, I have asked for one year break.

Even after one year, my baby will be only one year old, I have four other kids need me , I am wondering "should I first practice what I am preaching?"

.........
Fortunately, Stephen loves his new school, especially many activities based learning which is suitable for his personality.

I am thankful!

That is not simply number game

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 03:43:00 +0000

From The Straits Time Forum Sept 29, 2009

Integration and immigration: Copying the US won't work

BASING our integration and immigration efforts on those of the United States, as Mr K. Kesavapany suggested last Saturday ('Integrating immigrants: Learn from American experience') may not help Singapore. Our experiences are different and based on contrasting paradigms.

Improvements to the demographic profile of the US are not due to its immigration policy but the result of some two centuries of nation building by prudent leaders who enjoyed the advantages of a large country with rich natural resources and a fundamentally strong industrial base buttressed by a critical mass of home-grown citizens.

The US does not suffer from the problem of economic migrants. Also, the comparatively small number who want to make America their home must assimilate, and not the other way round.

Singapore is different. In just 10 years, the population jumped a mind-boggling 25 per cent, to four million in 2000.

Here is the nub: The Singapore Department of Statistics in 2002 showed that in 2000, 63 per cent of all ethnic Singaporean groups aged 35 to 44 years attained only secondary level education. Can these groups compete with well-educated foreign migrants for high-paying jobs created by sophisticated multinationals? Are we creating a poverty trap for low-income Singaporeans?

My understanding of Mr Ngiam Tong Dow's commentary last Thursday ('Lest we become strangers in our own land') is that he wants to remind our population planners to rethink an immigration scheme precisely because Singaporeans face unequal competition from a massive influx of economic immigrants.

In large developed countries with solid home-grown global industrial bases like the US, economic migrants are insignificant and their function is to boost the American economy.

They cannot influence America's social system radically.

Can Singapore's economic model - based on global trade and foreign multinationals - continue to retain the brightest and the best to call this country home?

With 6.5 million people, can we integrate more than three million new citizens over one or two generations successfully through an open, meritocratic system that will not fundamentally affect Singapore's social fabric?

If we fail to integrate our new citizens, the mistake will be irreversible and we will become strangers in our own land.

Paul Chan

This letter is a good one.The population is one of core issues in Singapore policy making. What worries Singapore government is that native Singaporeans are not making enough babies, the immigration policy acts like second best remedy.

However, it is not simply number game. If not mindful,the tiny country like Singapore will be soon floored by the well educated immigrants, and I don't see why is not possible, the less clever and capable native Singaporeans to serve the "foreign Bosses"

Abdication of parents

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 01:49:00 +0000

Parenting is never an easy job.

But I believe it is more difficult in our modern society. Why do I say so? There are just too many competing interests for many parents. One of biggest woe that industrialization and globalization economy has done towards families is to take the fathers away from home, further more, to take the mothers away from home.

I read with interest Ms Charlotte Mason’s “Parents and Children” one of six of her educational series, in which she searched with deep insights what are parents’ duty,

“The rule of parents cannot be deputed. The king may rule by deputy; but, here we see the exigeant nature of the parent’s function; he can have no deputy. Helpers he may have, but the moment he makes over his functions and authority to another, the rights of parenthood belong to that other, and not to him. Who does not know of the heart-burnings that arise when Anglo-Indian parents come home, to find their children’s affections given to others, their duty owing to others; and they, the parents, sources of pleasure like the godmother of the fairy tale, but having no authority over their children? And all this, nobody’s fault, for the guardians at home have done their best t keep the children loyal to the parents abroad.

Causes which lead to the abdication of parents.—Here is indicate a rock upon which the heads of families sometimes make shipwreck. They regard parental authority as inherent in them, a property which may lie dormant, but is not to be separated from the state of parenthood. They may allow their children from infancy upwards to do what is right in their own eyes; and then, Lear turns and makes his plaint to the winds, and cries-

‘sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is
To have a thankless child!’

But Lear has been all the time divesting himself of the honor and authority that belong to him, and giving his rights to his children. Here he tells us why; the biting anguish is the ‘thankless’ child. He has been laying himself out for the thanks of his children. That they should think him a fond father has been more to him than the duty he owes them; and in proportion as he omits his duty are they oblivious of theirs. Possibly the unregulated love of approbation in devoted parents has more share in the undoing of families than any other single cause.

The love of ease, the love of favour, the claims of other work, are only some of the cause lead to a result disastrous to society- the abdication of parents. When we come to consider the nature and uses of the parent’s authority, we shall see that such abdication is as immoral as it is mischievous. Mean time, it is well worth while to notice that the causes which leads parents to resign the position of domestic rulers are resolvable into one- the office is too troublesome, too laborious. The temptation which assails parents is the same which has led many a crowned head to seek ease in the cloister, even if it be the natural crown of parenthood.”

Great Singapore Sales

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:29:00 +0000

Sales are ON! The ads fly around. But people DO love Free stuff!

We went to IKEA this morning for FREE preview sales breakfast, this is part of privilege of being Friend of IKEA. However, we did not get breakfast, not because we were n late, there were simply too many people (Just like us)!

The IKEA store was stormed by people. A very lively sight in the midst of recession. Many people did push the trolley full of stuff. Good for IKEA.

That reminds me an economic truth "There is no free lunch under the sun."

Cheers, happy shopping

Pride

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 02:57:00 +0000

(adapted from sermon by Charles Spurgeon)

(This sermon was taken from The New Park Street Pulpit and was preached on Sunday evening, July 15, 1877)

Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility ( Proverb 18:12)

What is Pride ?

Pride is a groundless thing. It stands on the sand. Worse than that, it puts its foot on the billows which yield beneath its tread. Worse still, it stands on bubbles, which soon must burst beneath its feet. Of all things pride has the worst foothold. It has no solid rock on earth whereon to place itself. We have reasons for almost everything, but we have no reason for pride.

Pride is a thing that should be unnatural to us, for we have nothing to be proud of. What is there in man of which he should glory? Our very creation is enough to humble us. What are we but creatures of today? Our frailty should be sufficient to lay us low, for we should be gone tomorrow. Our ignorance should tend to keep pride from our lips. What are we, but like the wild donkey’s colt which knows nothing? And our sins ought effectually to stop our mouths and lay us in the dust. Of all things in the world, pride toward God is that which has the very least excuse. It has neither stick nor stone whereon to build. Yet like the spider, it carries its own web in its bowels and can, of itself, spin that wherewith to catch its prey. It seems to stand upon itself for it has nothing beside whereon it can rest.

Pride is a brainless thing. It brings no profit with it. There is no wisdom in self-exaltation. Other vices have some excuse, for men seem to gain by them. Avarice, pleasure, lust, have some plea, but the man who is proud sells his soul cheaply. He opens wide the floodgates of his heart to let men see how deep is the flood within his soul. Then suddenly it flows out and all it gone—and all is nothing for one puff of empty wind, one word of sweet applause. The soul is gone and not a drop is left. In almost every other sin, we gather up the ashes when the fire is gone but here, what is left? The covetous man has his shining gold, but what has the proud man? He has less than he would have had without his pride and is no gainer whatever. Oh! Man, if you were as mighty as Gabriel and had all his holiness, still you should be an arrant fool to be proud, for pride would sink you from your angel station to the rank of devils, and bring you from the place where Lucifer, son of the morning, once dwelt, to take up your abode with hideous fiends in perdition.

Pride exalts its head and seeks to honor itself, but it is of all things most despised. It sought to plan crowns upon its brow, and so it has done. But its head was hot, and it put an ice crown there, and it melted all away. Poor pride has decked itself out finely sometimes. It has put on its most gaudy apparel and said to others, “How brilliant I appear!” But, ah! pride, like a harlequin, dressed in your bright colours, you are all the more fool for that. You are but a gazing stock for fools less foolish than yourself. You have no crown as you think you have, nothing solid and real, all is empty and vain. If you, O man, desire shame, be proud.

Pride is the maddest thing that can exist. It feeds upon its own vitals. It will take away its own life, that with its blood it may make a purple for its shoulders. It saps and undermines its own house that it may build its pinnacles a little higher, and then the whole structure tumbles down. Nothing proves men so mad as pride. For this they have given up rest, ease, and repose to find rank and power among men. For this they have dared to risk their hope of salvation—to leave the gentle yoke of Jesus, and go toiling wearily along the way of life—into the more of fell despair. Oh! Man, hate pride, flee from it, abhor it, let it not dwell with you. If you want to have a madman in your heart, embrace pride, for you shall never find one madder than he.

Pride is a protean thing. It changes it shape. It is all form in the world. You may find it in any fashion you may choose. You may see it in the beggar’s rags as well as in the rich man’s garment. It dwells with the rich and with the poor. The man without a shoe to his foot may be as proud as if he were riding in a chariot. Pride can be found in every rank of society—among all classes of men. Sometimes it is an Arminian and talks about the power of creature. Then it turns Calvinist and boasts of its fancied security—forgetful of the Maker who alone can keep our faith alive. Pride can profess any form of religion. It may be a Quaker and wear no collar to its coat. It may be a Churchman and worship God in splendid cathedrals. It may be a Dissenter and go to the common meeting house. It is one of the most Catholic things in the world. It attends all kinds of chapels and churches. Go where you will, you will see pride. It comes up with us to the house of God. It goes with us to our houses. It is found on the mart and the exchange, in the streets and everywhere.

Pride has ten thousand shapes. It is not always that stiff and starched gentleman that you picture. It is a vile, creeping, insinuating thing that will twist itself like a serpent into our heart. It will talk humility, and prate about being dust and ashes. I have known men talk about their corruption most marvelously, pretending to be all humility, while at the same time they were the proudest wretches that could be found this side the gulf of separation. Oh, my friends, you cannot tell how many shapes pride will assume. Look sharp about you and your will be deceived by it, and when you think you are entertaining angels, you will find you have been receiving devils unawares.

The seat of pride is the heart. The true throne of pride everywhere is the heart of man. If we desire by God’s grace to put down pride, the only way is to begin with the heart. We should not proceed to arrange our dress by adopting some special costume, or to quality our language by using an outlandish tongue. But let us seek of God that He would purify our hearts from pride, and then assuredly if pride is purged from the heart, our life also shall be humble. Make the tree good, and then the fruits shall be good. Make the fountain pure, the stream shall be sweet. Oh! That God might grant us all, by His grace, that our hearts my be kept with diligence, so that pride may never enter there lest we be haughty in our hearts and find that afterwards comes wrath.

The consequence of pride is destruction, a fact which we can prove by hundreds of instances in Scriptures and in history. We men have become proud, destruction has come upon them. Perhaps the most magnificent which has ever yet been built was the city of Babylonian, in which there walks one who, lifting up his mortal head on high as if he were more than mortal men, exclaims, “See ye this great Babylon that I have built?” Oh, pride marks the mighty builder of Babylon creeping on the earth. Like oxen he is devouring grass. His nails have grown like birds’ claws, his hair like eagles’ feathers, and his heart has gone from him. Pride did all that, that it might be fulfilled which God has written, “Before destruction the heart of men is haughty.”

Pride is most likely to meet with destruction because it is too tall to walk upright. It is most likely to tumble down, because it is always looking upward in its ambition, and never looks to its feet. There only needs to be a pitfall in the way, or even a stone, and down it goes. It is sure to tumble because it is never contented with being where it is. It is always seeking to be climbing, and boys that will climb must expect to fall. Pride is foolhardy, and will venture upon scaling any rock. Pride, when most successful, stands in slippery place. Who would choose to dwell on a pinnacle of the temple? That is where pride has built its house, and verily it seems but natural that pride should down if pride will up.

Reading report from The Straits Time March 23, 2009 “Grad expectations not so great now”, I recall some conversation with some final year students last semester. I wish this article will give them some insight in time like this.

你怎样看自己？

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 10:42:00 +0000

How You View Yourself

View more presentations from ruohoo1997.

Parents nightmare- 12 year old boy becomes father

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 01:29:00 +0000

Yesterday, I read report from The Straits Time that a 12 year old British boy has become a father with his 13 year old girlfriend. I must say that is a parents' nightmare.

The evil is really working hard to grip young people. I feel sorry for this pair young couple, for they may not even fully comprehend what parenting means to them. I feel ever more sorry for their parents, will they regret? heartfelt pain?

Singapore media also reported there is an increasing of sex activities among teenagers, the number of teenager pregnancy has increased 45% from 2007. Some of these young kids involve sex activities simple because of peer pressure "everyone else is doing it" or proving love "If not he may dump me"

It is really a perilous time! "Flee youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." I am fearful for for my children. I pray that God will help me to watch over them, to deliver them from evil, to guide them in the way of righteous.

To our children

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 03:00:00 +0000

Paul in 2Timothy wrote to Timothy, his spirit son, "I thank God...for thee....Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands, For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Tim 1:3-7)

God has presented a perfect way for us, parents, to deal with our children. Often time, I found myself overwhelming by the loaded tasks related to children rearing, I lost my patience, I demanded too much, nagging and shouting... But God shows us in above passage how we should motivate our children into HIS good works.

Not by nagging, threatening, stirring up fear or guilt, but by loving, reminding the God's gift in each and every child He has given to us and confirming them by putting our hands in them.

That is both a human oriented and task oriented approach.

Paul first gave thank for his spiritual son. How often do we give thanks for our children? and told them so? It is not enough to show our thankfulness to our children, more importantly, to God and let our this thankfulness known to our children. Even when there were time of difficulty, our thanks giving will lift us up from self-centerness, self-pitiness. When we fix our eyes on God, we may see beyond the temporary situation but God's eternal plan.

Paul then recognised that every spiritual gift is given by God. Every one has the gift of God, talents of all kinds. It is however parents' duty to confirm and give encouragement. We, parents, are to stir up the gift of God in our children. In order to do so, we have to attentive observe and patiently nurture a child's own path of development, not to be pushy, not to be neglect to every development of our children.

Finally, we have God's promise that God has given us the spirit of a sound mind, of love, and power. The sound mind is for us to exercise self control; the love is for us to extend to others with tender communication and patience; the power is for us to prevail in those difficult time.

Truly, our children are the gifts from God, and HE does care each and every one of them. "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord,...who has saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace.". Even though we are not perfect, God has his own purpose and grace to assist us in this holy calling of being a parent.

May God help us!

Wife Work ---Full Time Mother re-thinking

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:01:00 +0000

It has been a long time not to update this blog. Yes, many things happened, especially, I discovered the unexpected expecting of our fifth baby two months ago, followed by almost two months "morning sickness", now I finally get back to "Normality".

Have to admit that life is full of unexpectedness, "HE(God) hath made every thing beautiful in his time, also he hast set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end." (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

I was a bit upset when the news of this new baby came, cos I thought we had finished our family and I can do something else, maybe, "greater or better". But,man proposes, but God disposes. Now I surrender myself unto the hand of my creator, HIS plan is far above mine and HIS will is always best.

Just last week, I attended a focus group discussion initiated by National Family Council (NFC). It is encouraging to know that our government has the political will and means to support families in Singapore, especially in current economic downture. One of highlighted areas for NFC to work on is to uphold family values. The attendants made many insightful suggestions on how NFC and other government agency can promote such values even to our children.

Family, as the basic societal unit, has under attacked by many liberal ideologies. Some have challenged the traditional functions of family and its value system ; some have suggested alternative lifestyle. Sociologists, I am afraid to say, had played an important part in justifying some of those claims. It will not an easy battle.

Women' role has changed dramatically in recent years. The author of "Wifework" made the following observation:

"A generation ago, the man was going out to work, for pay, and the wife was staying at home for free. In those days, nobody, not even sociologists, had a problem with that. It may have been a drastic division of labour, but it was also a coherent and rational one, with boundaries high enough to trip over. Equally importantly, both parties to the agreement gave it their full consent- often, admittedly, because there are no alternatives....But it had at least the virtue of balance, of stability.
Like all enduring family systems, the homemaker Mum- breadwinner Dad model was built on a foundation of intense mutual dependency.

By the mid-twentieth century, having a full-time wife at home- someone who would in a sense live life for the two of them- made it possible for a may to be 'married' to his job. And only a man who was 'married' to his job could afford to have a full-time wife at home.

At one level, acquiring a wife was for a man a form of conspicuous consumption, a marker of his elevated economic status. As recently as forty years ago, the 'no wife of mine is going to go out to work' mentality reigned supreme in our cultural consciousness, if not precisely in our economic reality. A wife who worked for pay may have been an economic asset. But far more importantly, she was a social and psychological liability- a direct hit not on a husband's status in the community but on his very identity as a man."

Wow, this was also an unexpectedness for me, as I mentioned early, at the beginning of starting this blog, my intention was to encourage "Full Time mothers with knowledge and understanding". Now I must admit my lacking of sociological understanding of "Full Time Mothers" as result of many societal changes in our contemporary world.

Yet, I hold the belief that God's word will not change. "...young women to love their husband, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home...."(Titus 2:5). I wish, if possible from sociological point of view, to explore Full Time Mothers' advantage and benefits to their family as well as to society. God's willing!

Righteousness Exalts a Nation

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 09:28:00 +0000

In just a few days time, Singapore is going to celebrate her 43 birthday. Our church calls for prayer for our nation. Once more we are reminded "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people (Proverbs 14:34)

Looking back long road of human history, we see heroes after heroes, kingdoms after kingdoms, from Babylonia to Media and Persian Empire; from Greek to Roman Empire, till very recent the British Empire. There was saying "The sun never set down at British Empire" because of its vast colonized nations around world. But today the global leadership has shifted hands away from the British to American and EU. How long will America keep its leadership position? the recent sub- prime credit crunch already left us much doubts to it.

What we see is that no matter how stronger they were, all the kingdoms had risen and fallen, there is not a single kingdom has last. Why?

Daniel 4:25 gives us a clue "The most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and give it to whomsoever he will"

What causes the kingdom to fall? Sin

We see it clearly in the city of Sodom and Gomorrah, "because their sin is very grievous"(Genesis 18:20) and "Abraham got up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the Lord, and he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, beheld, and lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace." Some people guess that Sodom and Gomorrah lie in the bottom of Dead Sea.

Another example was the city of Nineveh. Jonah was sent to proclaim God's judgement, at that time, all the people from old to young were repented, the Lord did not destroy the city, not some 100 years later, the people of Nineveh returned to their sinful ways, and this time, there was no way to return.

So sin is the reproach to the people, but righteousness exalts a nation.

During the ruling of Queen Victoria, the England had reached its peak of economic, cultural, and political development, which had brought the British Empire the most glorious time.

Queen Victoria was a godly woman. It was no doubt that the moral strength was the foundation of the rising of the British Empire.

What about Singapore? what had Singapore transformed from a little fishing village to a metropolitan and a hub of world economic and financial center?

It was moral strength under the government of MM Lee Kuan Yew that was elevated on righteousness. In the early days of Singapore, the Lee Kuan Yew government stressed on moral development, on educational system, free corruption and drug, and harsh punishment to crimes etc.

We thank God that because of righteousness, Singapore is what Singapore today.

However, we should not be complacent, uphold moral standard is the key for our nation's development, sustaining and survival. We pray that our government will be always mindful "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is the reproach unto people."

The most wanted "C"

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 09:03:00 +0000

Singaporeans have been pursuing "C"s for decades. Certificates, Career, Cash, Car, Condominium and Country Club....Not until recently, the most wanted "C", as far as for the government concerns, is "Children". Ironically, as much wanted as it might be, few Singaporeans share the same conviction with the government. children are simply not at the top "to do" list for many Singaporean.

Recently, MM Lee suggested whether the Sweden family policy should be implemented here. Today published an article by a mother of two, Ms Chrispina Robert, who is rather skeptical of effectiveness of such policy in Singapore, she argued that the culture perspective for perfection and social structure here make the child/or family pro policy rather ineffective. It would take at least 30 years of cultural rebuilding for family environment flourishing.

She shared that as a mother of two young children, it was impossible for her to serve two masters, she ended up to quit. While fathers' life is not least easier, the perpetual high demands and globalized intensive competition drive them working harder and harder, leaving less and less time and energy for home, it is just not healthy for family life.

I share her conviction on being a Full Time mother, but, I dare say that it is not that difficult to have more children than what she thinks.

To have children or not, is truly matter of choice and faith. If you have a will, there will be a way.

I know many couples who have more than four children and above living on one income. Their family life is certainly not extravagant but comfortable. Their children are capable to do many domestic chores, most important, they learn that to be happy and content with little they have and choose to forge the lasting relationship which money cannot buy.

Children are too investment, not only material, but spiritual.

One reaps what he sows. The collective cultural changes need inspired and determined individuals, persons like you and me. For the children's sake, Full Time Mothers say "We can."

Breakfast with ladies

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:00:00 +0000

Finally, we have to say goodbye to our home of eight years Horizon Tower.

Last week, we moved to our new house, oh, how tired I was.

My old neighbor Jenny called me one morning "come, I have asked Amy along, let go for a nice breakfast."

"I can't, I have so much to do."

"That is why you need a break."
...

I agreed, partly because I was too tired to do any more, partly because I had not seen her for some time.

So, three of us went ahead to American Club for some "fabulous" breakfast, and some ladies "gossip". We found a quiet corner to sit down.

"You are lucky to find replacement unit so fast." Jenny said to me.

"You know, the other day I went to UE square, not even 1800sqf, asking for 2.5million."

"crazy, crazy."

"You know, Orchard Scotes 6 millions, 99 years some more."

"Why should I pay so much for 99 years?!" Amy said indignantly.

"But we have to look for place to stay waaa."

"Wait la, the price is coming down."

"It is unbelievable that last year's price could be so high. Now, at least 30% lower."

"The worse is not over."

"Have you tried YongAnn Park?"
...

"What about you? Amy?" I asked.

"I brought Panda Vally 2006. worse case, we move there la."

"2006 price was still low."

"Ya la, I paid 1.1million."

"a bargain!"

"But, Horizon Tower is a pity. so painful to see such a building will be teared down."
.....

"Stock market is so scary, Ah ya, we really don't know what to do."

"Interest rate is just 1.6%, leaving money in bank is useless too."

"all the prices go up, oil, food, and..."

"Ah ya, don't talk so much about troubles, let us eat."

"Let's eat!"

Put your priority right!

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 06:56:00 +0000

Our life is busy;
The mother's life is busier;
The mother with young children is even busier;
And, the mother with young children and aspiration, will be even much busier.

Well, I am not apologetically regarding myself as the last category, so I am entitled to be very busy indeed!.

Lately, my attention was very much attracted by Chinese events, the Olympic torch, and the Sichuan earthquake. I joined several forums in Chinese websites, offered my words of comforts and encouragements. I found myself busying on computer ever more.

One day, as I wrote to one of web friends to give her my advice:

"Web is not real world, one can find some useful information or even encouragement and aspiration, but it should never become the central of your life...."

I was awaken by my own word!

Put your priority right, especially when you have a busy schedule:

For me, my days should have-

Time with God
Time with my husband
Time with my children
Time to exercise, outdoor, to enjoy fresh air and nature
Time to read, and mediate;
Time to talk to my friends, neighbour and strangers
Time to on Internet....

You see, if we do not set our priority right, our life will be mixed up.

This is reminder for me, hope that so does to you!

Why SIA is the best airline in the world?

noreply@blogger.com (Little Robin Hood) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:28:00 +0000

Few has questioned the Best Airline in the world is Singapore Airline, but ever fewer know why. I had met with my friend Vincent, who told me a story that made me understand one of reasons behind.

Vincent is the cabin supervisor. On one of flights from Singapore to London last year, shortly after taking off, they discovered the flight entertaining system was down. Despite of one and hours effort, the on flight machinist was unable to repair it, thus suggested to stop over at India. That would mean the delay of flight and potentially the airline would have paid millions of compensation to passengers on board.

Vincent came up with a "crazy" idea. He made an announcement as following:

"We have a surprise news for you, a good and bad one. The bad news is our Krisworld system is dead. We know you are very disappointed. But the good news is that, we are going to have "Poetry Competition",

You can pour out how unhappy and disappointed you are, but must in poetic form. The winners will be awarded surprised prizes, which are worthy of your effects."

Such ingenious idea is probably the first time in airline history, and the first "Poetry Competition" in the air.

The passengers were too overwhelmed by this idea to be unhappy, as they soon emerged themselves into "creative complaining".

The stewardesses were busy among the seats, handing over the paper and pens and, soon collecting the poems.

The cabin crew instantly became "judges of competition," Needless to say, not by their ability to appreciate poetry, but the creativeness.

The finals emerged finally whose poems were read aloud and were received many rounds of applause. The winners were rewarded by the first class wine, duty free goods and souvenirs. My friend had to "risk" his boundary of duty to allow these "prizes", but comparing otherwise thousands, if not millions, compensation, and delaying of flight, that was much saving for SIA. Most important, the passengers were surprisingly pleased.

A number of them wrote to newspaper and media to describe this flight as "one of best flight" they ever had.

My friend was awarded the "Best creative flight supervisor" in the year.

A difficulty was turned around to be an enjoyable journey, all because of Human Capital of SIA.

If you are thinking of buying SIA shares, I would suggest you to hurry u[.