To All MALAYSIAN TEACHERS and PARENTS
Congratulations for you continuing hard work in igniting the learning revolution in your country. You are the unsung heroes of the literacy movement and always a beacon to each child you come into contact with, nurturing them with hope and love.
A REPUBLIC OF VIRTUE
Dr Azly Rahman
You work under the most demanding and difficult circumstances especially in this age of chaos and confusion. Having been an educator for the last twenty years I salute you … there is nothing more noble than planting the seeds of hope and the yearning for knowledge in each of the curious young mind.
Each parent is a partner in this noble act of raising a child at a time when there is “no longer a village to raise one”.
FOR STUDENTS WHO TOOK THE STATE’S HIGH STAKES EXAM (The LEGENDARY KILLER SPM) , congratulations for your hard work as well and may you learn more than just the art and science of taking exams. If you have gotten all As, well and good keep getting quality ones and MASTER the English language against the wishes of your politicians. Have English will travel … and will rap and rhyme and hip hop …
For those who did not get all A’s do not despair; the education system may have failed you and not meet the needs of your special talents, brilliance, creativity in ways that you have hoped for … (you must also take the blame … ) find yourself, create yourself, take the road not taken .. some a re good exam takers, some are exam haters … life is about making mistakes and not merely dancing in squares in pigeon holes to someone’s else’s beat.
Thomas Alva Edison had to make a thousand mistakes just to light a bulb, Albert Einstein was a “C” student, Bill Gates and Mark Zukerberg left school early, your favourite rock guitarist was laughed at by your teachers back in the day for spending time memorizing those notes, chords, pentatonic scales, .. and some of your mom and dad did not even go to the university but raised you well by making sure that you are on the right track …
BE COOL but be proud too that you are a nerd reading books. Read tons of books, have conversations that make sense, respect your peers, respect those who are there to make your passage to success easier … above all … love life, learning, and lead others by fist nurturing the leader in you … you’re good, we’re good, it is a good life …
CONGRATULATIONS again, TEACHERS, PARENTS, STUDENTS … In each one of you a revolutioner and if you do not find a revolution, it will find you … and the goal of being educated is to become a peace-loving hippie and not a war-mongering yuppie ..
IF YOU CAN READ THIS .. thank yourself, your parents, and a teacher! Go celebrate now … for whatever grade you got ….
OUR USUAL REMINDER, FOLKS:
While the opinion in the article is mine,
the comments are yours;
present them rationally, clearly, and ethically.
AND – YOU DESERVE A GOVERNMENT THAT IS CORRUPT-FREE!
DR AZLY RAHMAN, who was born in Singapore and grew up in Johor Baru, holds a Columbia University (New York) doctorate in International Education Development and Master’s degrees in the fields of Education, International Affairs, Peace Studies and Communication. He has taught more than 40 courses in six different departments and has written more than 300 analyses on Malaysia. His teaching experience spans Malaysia and the United States, over a wide range of subjects from elementary to graduate education. He currently resides in the United States.
https://www.facebook.com/#!/azly.rahman
http://azlyrahman-illuminations.blogspot.com/
