Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Mighty Interesting....
Today newspaper, January 12th 2007, Pg 38
JC vice-principal called poly a 'stupid decision'.
A freind was recently posted to a junior college (JC) in the north. But she decided to withdraw as she was ineligible for her preferred subject combination and the travelling took more than two hours each day.
When my friend said she was considering going to a polytechnic instead, the vice-principal, who handled her request, made several disparaging remarks about polytechnics. He allegedly called them a 'bad choice' and a 'stupid decision', adding that 'any fool can make it in poly'. He also likened students who forgo the first three months of JC to delinquents who 'don't study, don't listen in class and skip school'. This is biased and unjustified.
I thought the stereotype of a polytechnic education being inferior to a JC one was history, a view largely confined to the older generation who favour the more conventional route to university. I certainly did not think that an educator - and a JC vice-principal at that - would still hold such views. More polys are tying up with overseas universities to offer their students degrees in various disciplines, and it is becoming apparent that a poly education is no less inferior to a JC one.
My friend was understandably unhappy and told him that she would not stay on at the college even if she were posted there after the Joint Admission Exercise. His reply was galling: "We would not accept you, either."
Is such an attitude befitting a leader in education?
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This girl is a clever one. Her letter has maximum impact, not only offending the entire polytechnic student population, but also those who missed the 1st 3 months of JC1.
Oooooh. Hmm. what shall I say? Should good O level scorers devote 2 years of their lives to schools run by these people? Yet, this unlucky guy simply happens to be more outspoken with what I think still remains a widespread sentiment here in our happy little elite-loving island. It's precisely because of people like him that I chose my own poly education, and still am loving it after 2 years, even though I complain a lot =))
In a way, he is correct. Many 'academically unmotivated' students can make it in poly and get a neat little diploma. But at the end of the day, only those who work doubly hard can even think of pulling ahead of his/her peers.
Going by the letter's details, the JC in question is probably a middle-ranked one (the student goes to poly after not qualifying for her preferred subs).. it may be not immediately accessible by MRT.. and one with an obnoxious male vice principal (duh)... hmm.
Aw c'mon.. expose that little rat... =)
jOhn thought at 11:13 AM
