Graded Assignment 2 (Education): Here's $500 to study hard and play hard - Is it feasible?

This is another article which holds some rather revolutionary ideas - by offering money to students as a form of motivation. Here is the link:

http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/printfriendly/0,4139,123979,00.html

*Start Reflection*

This article offers a new idea of offering money to students as a form of motivation and financial support for those students who cannot pursue their dreams just because of financial difficulties. By offering scholarships to support students who have potential, are willing to work hard but are held back because of financial difficulties, this prevents the students' potentials from being buried under family problems and financial difficulties.

This concept is actually meritocracy, where the good gets advantages and subsidies because they perform well in a certain area. This concept is adopted heavily in Singapore, whether is a promotion by your boss or a pay rise because of good performance, or the scholarships given to the top of the batch. We can see clearly the adoption of good ideas and being rewarded fairly for good performance. In this case, the rewards given to players with potential and yet is held back by financial difficulties is a reflection of the adaption of meritocracy.

However, this concept may not work in the way that there will always be people who will think of ways to abuse the idea, and meritocracy is not perfect in spotting the elite. While limiting the scholarships to only the poor, the system will still have problems in spotting elites based on only one person's perspective, which is not enough to grade a person's overall performance and ability. There will be people trying to exploit the advantages of such a system and the true purpose of the scholarship, which is to subsidise the poor students so that they can pursue their dreams, is obscured by the monetary gain of the system. No matter how perfect the scheme seems, there will always be people who would trick you just to get the money. With only one point of view to judge the performance of many people, there will be people who will try to be from poor family conditions to earn that extra five hundred dollars as their pocket money. With many people eyeing for that amount of money, who can tell who is facing a crisis, and who is actually lying?

However, I can appreciate the fact that the teacher is just trying his best to support the students who are suffering from disadvantages. I believe that the intention of helping the students is good and should be further developed, but I cannot help but notice that this system does have quite a number of problems. I probably cannot appreciate the intention to help the poor students as I am not a teacher myself, but I know that the teacher is just trying to help.

Taking the point of view of a student, I must say that I cannot fully empathise with the poor conditions of the students who truly need help as I come from a supportive family, but I must say that I can see some flaws in the idea. All in all, the idea is good but the plan needs refining.

(496 words)

*end reflection*

Graded article 1 (Societal): Who will be S'pore's Leonardo Da Lin Chee?

While browsing through the net today, I came across an article which seems remotely interesting, but holds quite a lot of sense to me. Here is the link:

http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/columnists/story/0,4136,112781,00.html

*Reflection starts*

I agree with the author's opinion that we should be more open-minded and come to accept whatwhat we excel in, rather than frantically trying to fabricate what the other countries excel in.

While the author just suggests at the opportunity for Singapore to turn our advertisments into something worthy and appreciate what we do, the author is actually trying to open the audience's minds to new art forms and allow them to accept these new ideas. The author is trying to shift the reader's mindsets on art from traditional paintings to new ideas like advertistments. And I do agree that the times have changed; we should come to appreciate what comes to us as new art, AND that we should have our appreciation of art.

Why are we trying so hard to establish ourselves to be masters of painting and sculpting like other countries, when we do have our advertisments to be proud of?

Why do we shut our minds on art to be of traditional protraits, when in this age, we have access to new technology, and new art like advertisments?

In my opinion, the art scene in Singapore is slowly changing. Like the author said, Singaporean mindset on the opinion of art has shifted from the traditional paintings like 'paintings of rambutan and songs of the Singapore River' Right now, while we are a country with almost no history or culture, it is time to appreciate what we normally do, to appreciate what we consider as beautiful...

Painting and sculping came from technology. Can't new technology like advertisments develop into art?

While I now appreciate new art forms like advertisments, we should not forget old art works like famous sculptures. Old paintings still protray the old heritage that our ancestors once appreciated, and thus should still be retained and preserved as a different art form. I mean, different art pieces and pieces from different eras have their own story to tell, and their own purpose for existence. They are beautiful in different ways.

Now, I am taking on the perspective of one of the proposition for this idea. However, my viewpoint is limited as I cannot appreciate why the opposition will not accept advertisments as a new art form. While I do appreciate the idea, I think that by accepting advertisments to be art, we are moving towards an age where anything can be art, as beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. However, this will bring about the problem that there will be no defining features of art, and art may gradually lose its originality and definition. This idea can only work if we impose a defining line between art and everything else.

After reading this article, I feel that I am rather ignorant of the art scene in Singapore. While I do appreciate new art forms for their unique beauty, there is still much I have to think about and know, for me to truly put myself in other's shoes. (495 words)

*end reflection*

That's it for now. I will be sure to post in the near future... once I manage to acquire time.

Hi!

Hi guys! As all of you know, I am Wee Ping and this is my blog for the English Current Affairs portfolio. From time to time, I shall be posting new commentaries and articles that I have come across, and also give my 2 cents worth on these articles. Stay here and relax, and please do give comments about my take on the articles. Finally (and most importantly), do enjoy your stay here! See ya!