Dear RPK Sir,
I felt compelled to write to you about this. The same story. The same teacher. Similar 'advice' and same end product.....confusion, stifling, apoplectic and perhaps just plain fed up.
My daughter and I as usual talked in the car on the way home from school, about her day at school.
Her group, the same friends, VERY close friends, one Muslim girl, one Chinese Buddhist guy, one Indian Hindu girl, one Chinese Buddhist girl.
It was not even a month ago that I told you about all this in my article to you which you gave an apt title: The Untouchables.
Just to let you know that the same teacher who teaches the Muslims agama, walked into the class when there was another teacher in there and pulled the two Muslims out of the class in the ( in my opinion ) pretext of giving them some info.Then of course came the REAL reason why she pulled them out .... she was passing by and saw that these CLOSE friends were all sitting next to each other. So now, they can't even sit next to each other!
From left: Chinese guy, the Malay Muslim guy, then my daughter, next to her, the Muslim girl, (her best friend), then the Indian girl and on the far right the Chinese girl.
This is what the teacher - the very same teacher who teaches them agama, told these two Muslim students outside the class today: DO NOT GET TOO CLOSE TO NON-MALAYS.
What the heck is wrong with this miscreant teacher? This group has a very close bond. I would say, they could teach us all a few things about racial integration. I asked and I still do not know whether she is an Ustazah. All I know is that she teaches agama classes.
The same teacher that I wrote to you about ... in The Untouchables.
I advised my daughter and told her that the teacher was very wrong to say that and that Islam did not say that ( I hope I am right ). The two Muslim students came back and told them all and were furious with the agama teacher and asked what was wrong with her.
I believe if this indoctrination continues, these students might get confused with what Islam actually teaches.
It would be nice if the parents of these students knew about this and we shall see their reaction. But I don't think it will reach their ears and we will never know their reaction.
I really believe they do not know about this because sometimes all these students get together in a mall with a chaperone and go window shopping and see a movie.They are so close that I am always happy to hear news as to what happened and all. The sms ( text message ) each other and always keep in touch.
Believe me RPK, they are so close and I am truly proud that my daughter has a group of decent friends of all races and religion. I have always encouraged that and still continue to do so.
What the heck is wrong with boys and girls of all races and religion being such close friends? Why is this damn racist teacher trying so hard to break them up? What is her intention?
I am so tempted to see the HM about this but my daughter told me this in confidence and told me that it's a small matter although I told her this is no small matter I respect her wishes as we talk about things like this quite openly.
My daughter is afraid that her Muslim friends might get into trouble if I bring this matter up to the HM or at the next PTA/PIBG AGM. I am trying so hard to teach my daughter to mix with DECENT students, no matter what race or religion they belong to.
But that teacher is making it very difficult for me and the students. I sincerely hope that the students continue to ignore this 'teacher's tautological admonition.
Does the Government know what is going on in schools? I believe they should look into this kind of totally unacceptable, intolerable indoctrination.
This is what you call Racism at it's highest, or should I say, lowest form.
It's truly sad and very unfortunate that we have such a egotistical racists as Teachers.
anon
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Monday, June 4, 2007
Academic Freedom
Academic Freedom, the right of teachers and research workers, particularly in colleges and universities, to investigate their respective fields of knowledge and express their views without fear of restraint or dismissal from office. The right rests on the assumption that open and free inquiry within a teacher’s or researcher’s field of study is essential to the pursuit of knowledge and to the performance of his or her proper educational function.
At present this right is observed generally in countries in which education is regarded as a means not only of inculcating established views but also of enlarging the existing body of knowledge.
The concept of academic freedom implies also that tenure of office depends primarily on the competence of teachers in their fields and on their acceptance of certain standards of professional integrity rather than on extraneous considerations such as political or religious beliefs or affiliations.
- adapted-
At present this right is observed generally in countries in which education is regarded as a means not only of inculcating established views but also of enlarging the existing body of knowledge.
The concept of academic freedom implies also that tenure of office depends primarily on the competence of teachers in their fields and on their acceptance of certain standards of professional integrity rather than on extraneous considerations such as political or religious beliefs or affiliations.
- adapted-
Academic Ranking of World Universities
This article was sent to me by someone abroad, written by a now retired Malaysian Malay who obtained his graduate degree from England.
Dear Professors & Academicians and concerned parents.
I come across this article and would like to share with you all if you have not seen.
I hope those in the position, please look at it urgently.
Malaysian universities out of international radar
4th year omitted in WR 3,000 Premier Universities ranking
Lim Kit Siang
Malaysian universities are still in the international backwaters with the country fighting a losing battle to enhance international competitiveness in the quest for academic excellence and university quality.
For the fourth year in succession, Malaysian universities have been omitted in the January 2007 Webometrics Ranking (WR) of 3,000 Premier Universities, based on their commitment to Web publication and to the Open Access initiatives.
The National University of Singapore tops the Asian universities in the WR, ranked No. 139 internationally, with the Nanyang Technological University ranked No. 18 among the top Asian universities.
Chulalongkorn University of Thailand has again confirmed that it is recognised internationally as in various recent world universities rankings as of superior quality to all the 17 Malaysian universities.
The top 25 Asian universities in the latest WR are:
Top Asian Universities Asia Rank University World Rank
1. National University Singapore 139
2. National Taiwan University 150
3. Keio University 152
4. University of Tokyo 157
5. Beijing University 190
6. Chinese University of Hong Kong 216
7. University of Hong Kong 218
8. Kyoto University 239
9. National Chiao Tung University 300
10. Tsinghua University China 336
11. Seoul National University 337
12. University of Tsukuba 338
13. HK Univ of Sc & Technology 362
14. Korea Adv. Inst of Sc & Tech 365
15. Nagoya University 367
16. Tokyo Institute of Technology 368
17. Tohoku University 376
18. Nanyang Techl Univ Spore 450
19. National Cheng Kung University 468
20. City University of Hong Kong 470
21. Chulalongkorn University 505
22. Hong Kong Polytechnic Univ 511
23. National Sun Yat Sen Univ 513
24. United Nations University 522
25. Zhejiang University 529
The country distribution of the top 500 WR Premier Universities are:Rank Country Top 500
1. USA 211
2. Germany 51
3. UK 40
4. Canada 27
5. Spain 20
6. Australia 18
7. Italy 13
8. Sweden 10
9. Netherlands 9
10. Switzerland 7
10. France 7
10. Japan 7
10. Finland 7
14. Austria 6
15. Denmark 5
15. Brazil 5
15. Belgium 5
18. Norway 4
18. Czech Rep 4
18. Israel 4
18. Ireland 4
18. Hong Kong 4
18. Portugal 4
24. Taiwan 3
24. New Zealand 3
26. China 2
26. Singapore 2
26. South Korea 2
26. Mexico 2
26. Greece 2
26. Hungary 2
26. Turkey 2
33. Estonia 1
33. Argentina 1
33. South Africa 1
33. Serbia 1
33. Iceland 1
33. Chile 1 33. Russia 1
33. Slovenia 1
Unless there is urgent universities reform, Malaysian universities face the great risk of disappearing from the international radar of quality universities altogether. Malaysian universities were completely left out in the new Newsweek Top 100 Global Universities ranking announced in August last year , stuck in the world's lowly academic divisions – three years after the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's call for world-class universities and "towering Malaysians".
For four successive years, none of the 17 Malaysian public universities made it into the Shanghai Jian Tong University's 500 Top Universities Rankings.
As for the Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) World University Ranking of 200 Best Universities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and University of Malaya (UM) are struggling to keep inside the list, as their present rankings of
No. 185 for UKM and No. 192 for UM are most precarious and perilous.
Did the unusual Friday Cabinet meeting yesterday discuss the latest proof of the failure of the Abdullah administration in the battle to enhance Malaysia's international competitiveness to produce quality human resources by raising the global standing of the quality of Malaysian universities, and what should be done to address the failures of the universities in the past three years – or it merely provided further evidence of a "half-past six" Cabinet totally unaware of the conspicuous absence of Malaysian universities in the latest Webometrics Ranking of 3,000 Universities?
Dear Professors & Academicians and concerned parents.
I come across this article and would like to share with you all if you have not seen.
I hope those in the position, please look at it urgently.
Malaysian universities out of international radar
4th year omitted in WR 3,000 Premier Universities ranking
Lim Kit Siang
Malaysian universities are still in the international backwaters with the country fighting a losing battle to enhance international competitiveness in the quest for academic excellence and university quality.
For the fourth year in succession, Malaysian universities have been omitted in the January 2007 Webometrics Ranking (WR) of 3,000 Premier Universities, based on their commitment to Web publication and to the Open Access initiatives.
The National University of Singapore tops the Asian universities in the WR, ranked No. 139 internationally, with the Nanyang Technological University ranked No. 18 among the top Asian universities.
Chulalongkorn University of Thailand has again confirmed that it is recognised internationally as in various recent world universities rankings as of superior quality to all the 17 Malaysian universities.
The top 25 Asian universities in the latest WR are:
Top Asian Universities Asia Rank University World Rank
1. National University Singapore 139
2. National Taiwan University 150
3. Keio University 152
4. University of Tokyo 157
5. Beijing University 190
6. Chinese University of Hong Kong 216
7. University of Hong Kong 218
8. Kyoto University 239
9. National Chiao Tung University 300
10. Tsinghua University China 336
11. Seoul National University 337
12. University of Tsukuba 338
13. HK Univ of Sc & Technology 362
14. Korea Adv. Inst of Sc & Tech 365
15. Nagoya University 367
16. Tokyo Institute of Technology 368
17. Tohoku University 376
18. Nanyang Techl Univ Spore 450
19. National Cheng Kung University 468
20. City University of Hong Kong 470
21. Chulalongkorn University 505
22. Hong Kong Polytechnic Univ 511
23. National Sun Yat Sen Univ 513
24. United Nations University 522
25. Zhejiang University 529
The country distribution of the top 500 WR Premier Universities are:Rank Country Top 500
1. USA 211
2. Germany 51
3. UK 40
4. Canada 27
5. Spain 20
6. Australia 18
7. Italy 13
8. Sweden 10
9. Netherlands 9
10. Switzerland 7
10. France 7
10. Japan 7
10. Finland 7
14. Austria 6
15. Denmark 5
15. Brazil 5
15. Belgium 5
18. Norway 4
18. Czech Rep 4
18. Israel 4
18. Ireland 4
18. Hong Kong 4
18. Portugal 4
24. Taiwan 3
24. New Zealand 3
26. China 2
26. Singapore 2
26. South Korea 2
26. Mexico 2
26. Greece 2
26. Hungary 2
26. Turkey 2
33. Estonia 1
33. Argentina 1
33. South Africa 1
33. Serbia 1
33. Iceland 1
33. Chile 1 33. Russia 1
33. Slovenia 1
Unless there is urgent universities reform, Malaysian universities face the great risk of disappearing from the international radar of quality universities altogether. Malaysian universities were completely left out in the new Newsweek Top 100 Global Universities ranking announced in August last year , stuck in the world's lowly academic divisions – three years after the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's call for world-class universities and "towering Malaysians".
For four successive years, none of the 17 Malaysian public universities made it into the Shanghai Jian Tong University's 500 Top Universities Rankings.
As for the Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) World University Ranking of 200 Best Universities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and University of Malaya (UM) are struggling to keep inside the list, as their present rankings of
No. 185 for UKM and No. 192 for UM are most precarious and perilous.
Did the unusual Friday Cabinet meeting yesterday discuss the latest proof of the failure of the Abdullah administration in the battle to enhance Malaysia's international competitiveness to produce quality human resources by raising the global standing of the quality of Malaysian universities, and what should be done to address the failures of the universities in the past three years – or it merely provided further evidence of a "half-past six" Cabinet totally unaware of the conspicuous absence of Malaysian universities in the latest Webometrics Ranking of 3,000 Universities?
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Food For Thought
DEFINITIONS OF THE WORD "RELIGION" (NONE ARE TOTALLY SATISFYING)
Problems with definitions:
The English word "religion" is derived from the Middle English "religioun" which came from the Old French "religion." It may have been originally derived from the Latin word "religo" which means "good faith," "ritual," and other similar meanings. Or it may have come from the Latin "religãre" which means "to tie fast.
"Defining the word "religion" is fraught with difficulty. All of the definitions that we have encountered contain at least one deficiency.
Some exclude beliefs and practices that many people passionately defend as religious. For example, their definition might include belief in a God or Goddess or combination of Gods and Goddesses who are responsible for the creation of the universe and for its continuing operation. This excludes such non-theistic religions as Buddhism and many forms of religious Satanism which have no such belief.
Some definitions equate "religion" with "Christianity," and thus define two out of every three humans in the world as non-religious.Some definitions are so broadly written that they include beliefs and areas of study that most people do not regard as religious. For example, David Edward's definition would seem to include cosmology and ecology within his definition of religion -- fields of investigation that most people regard to be a scientific studies and non-religious in nature.
Some define "religion" in terms of "the sacred" and/or "the spiritual," and thus require the creation of two more definitions.Sometimes, definitions of "religion" contain more than one deficiency.
A very broad definition of religion: "Religion is any specific system of belief about deity, often involving rituals, a code of ethics, a philosophy of life, and a worldview."
(A worldview is a set of basic, foundational beliefs concerning deity, humanity and the rest of the universe.)
Thus we would consider Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Native American Spirituality, and Neopaganism to be religions.This is interesting. We also include Agnosticism, Atheism, Humanism, Ethical Culture etc. as religions, because they also contain a "belief about deity" -- their belief is that they do not know whether a deity exists, or they have no knowledge of God, or they sincerely believe that God does not exist.
"Religious tolerance is not religious indifference. It consists of valuing the right of another person to hold beliefs that you know absolutely to be wrong."
"Religious tolerance means to refrain from discriminating against others who follow a different religious path. Tolerance is more difficult to maintain when you know that your religion is right and their religion is wrong.
"To many religious conservatives, a religiously tolerant person must accept the concept of pluralism -- that all religions are equally true. Most find this totally objectionable.
To most religious moderates, religious liberals and secularists, a religiously tolerant person simply allows others to pursue their own religious beliefs and practices freely, without discrimination or oppression. This includes the freedom to change one's own religion, to assemble with other believers, and to proselytize others. Most find this a badly needed addition to culture.
We use the second definition on this web site. Unfortunately, this means that some religious conservatives will find this section difficult to understand. Our site receives many angry Emails for this reason.We are tolerant of people's theological beliefs. We advocate that others be tolerant as well.
We are critical of actions which harm people. We advocate that others be similarly critical.
Unfortunately, the concept "actions which harm people" is not well defined. It leads to a question whether it is acceptable, and even preferable, to harm a few individuals in order to avoid a larger harm to the society as a whole.
Religious tolerance does not require you to accept other religions as true.
Religious tolerance does not mean that you cannot compare one religion with another, or compare religion with a secular belief system, or analyze the scientific claims of a religion.
Religious tolerance does not necessarily mean religious indifference.
We feel that the world would be a much better place in which to live if everyone were religiously tolerant. Civil unrest, mass murder, and genocide would be greatly reduced. However, tolerance is only the first step towards actively enjoying the diversity that other faith groups contribute to a society. Unfortunately, it is a step that many people have yet to take.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/rel_defn.htm
Problems with definitions:
The English word "religion" is derived from the Middle English "religioun" which came from the Old French "religion." It may have been originally derived from the Latin word "religo" which means "good faith," "ritual," and other similar meanings. Or it may have come from the Latin "religãre" which means "to tie fast.
"Defining the word "religion" is fraught with difficulty. All of the definitions that we have encountered contain at least one deficiency.
Some exclude beliefs and practices that many people passionately defend as religious. For example, their definition might include belief in a God or Goddess or combination of Gods and Goddesses who are responsible for the creation of the universe and for its continuing operation. This excludes such non-theistic religions as Buddhism and many forms of religious Satanism which have no such belief.
Some definitions equate "religion" with "Christianity," and thus define two out of every three humans in the world as non-religious.Some definitions are so broadly written that they include beliefs and areas of study that most people do not regard as religious. For example, David Edward's definition would seem to include cosmology and ecology within his definition of religion -- fields of investigation that most people regard to be a scientific studies and non-religious in nature.
Some define "religion" in terms of "the sacred" and/or "the spiritual," and thus require the creation of two more definitions.Sometimes, definitions of "religion" contain more than one deficiency.
A very broad definition of religion: "Religion is any specific system of belief about deity, often involving rituals, a code of ethics, a philosophy of life, and a worldview."
(A worldview is a set of basic, foundational beliefs concerning deity, humanity and the rest of the universe.)
Thus we would consider Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Native American Spirituality, and Neopaganism to be religions.This is interesting. We also include Agnosticism, Atheism, Humanism, Ethical Culture etc. as religions, because they also contain a "belief about deity" -- their belief is that they do not know whether a deity exists, or they have no knowledge of God, or they sincerely believe that God does not exist.
"Religious tolerance is not religious indifference. It consists of valuing the right of another person to hold beliefs that you know absolutely to be wrong."
"Religious tolerance means to refrain from discriminating against others who follow a different religious path. Tolerance is more difficult to maintain when you know that your religion is right and their religion is wrong.
"To many religious conservatives, a religiously tolerant person must accept the concept of pluralism -- that all religions are equally true. Most find this totally objectionable.
To most religious moderates, religious liberals and secularists, a religiously tolerant person simply allows others to pursue their own religious beliefs and practices freely, without discrimination or oppression. This includes the freedom to change one's own religion, to assemble with other believers, and to proselytize others. Most find this a badly needed addition to culture.
We use the second definition on this web site. Unfortunately, this means that some religious conservatives will find this section difficult to understand. Our site receives many angry Emails for this reason.We are tolerant of people's theological beliefs. We advocate that others be tolerant as well.
We are critical of actions which harm people. We advocate that others be similarly critical.
Unfortunately, the concept "actions which harm people" is not well defined. It leads to a question whether it is acceptable, and even preferable, to harm a few individuals in order to avoid a larger harm to the society as a whole.
Religious tolerance does not require you to accept other religions as true.
Religious tolerance does not mean that you cannot compare one religion with another, or compare religion with a secular belief system, or analyze the scientific claims of a religion.
Religious tolerance does not necessarily mean religious indifference.
We feel that the world would be a much better place in which to live if everyone were religiously tolerant. Civil unrest, mass murder, and genocide would be greatly reduced. However, tolerance is only the first step towards actively enjoying the diversity that other faith groups contribute to a society. Unfortunately, it is a step that many people have yet to take.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/rel_defn.htm
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
... and you think you are proficient in ENGLISH!
The European Commission has just announced an agreement whereby English will be the official language of the European Union rather than German, which was the other possibility.
As part of the negotiations, the British Government conceded that English spelling had some room for improvement and has accepted a 5-year phase-in plan that would become known as "Euro-English".
In the first year, "s" will replace the soft "c". Sertainly, this will make the sivil servants jump with joy.
The hard "c" will be dropped in favour of "k".
This should klear up konfusion, and keyboards kan have one less letter. There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year when the troublesome "ph" will be replaced with "f".
This will make words like fotograf 20% shorter.
In the 3rd year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where more komplikated changes are possible.
Governments will enkourage the removal of double letters which have always ben a deterent to akurate speling.
Also, al wil agre that the horibl mes of the silent "e" in the languag is disgrasful and it should go away.
By the 4th yer peopl wil be reseptiv to steps such as replasing "th" with "z" and "w" with "v".
During ze fifz yer, ze unesesary "o" kan be dropd from vords kontaining "ou" and after ziz fifz yer, ve vil hav a reil sensibl riten styl.
Zer vil be no mor trubl or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi tu understand ech oza.
Ze drem of a united urop vil finali kum tru.
Und efter ze fifz yer, ve vil al be speking German like zey vunted in ze forst plas. If zis mad you smil, pleas pas on to oza pepl.
As part of the negotiations, the British Government conceded that English spelling had some room for improvement and has accepted a 5-year phase-in plan that would become known as "Euro-English".
In the first year, "s" will replace the soft "c". Sertainly, this will make the sivil servants jump with joy.
The hard "c" will be dropped in favour of "k".
This should klear up konfusion, and keyboards kan have one less letter. There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year when the troublesome "ph" will be replaced with "f".
This will make words like fotograf 20% shorter.
In the 3rd year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where more komplikated changes are possible.
Governments will enkourage the removal of double letters which have always ben a deterent to akurate speling.
Also, al wil agre that the horibl mes of the silent "e" in the languag is disgrasful and it should go away.
By the 4th yer peopl wil be reseptiv to steps such as replasing "th" with "z" and "w" with "v".
During ze fifz yer, ze unesesary "o" kan be dropd from vords kontaining "ou" and after ziz fifz yer, ve vil hav a reil sensibl riten styl.
Zer vil be no mor trubl or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi tu understand ech oza.
Ze drem of a united urop vil finali kum tru.
Und efter ze fifz yer, ve vil al be speking German like zey vunted in ze forst plas. If zis mad you smil, pleas pas on to oza pepl.
Emily Dickinson
I KNOW some lonely houses off the road
A robber ’d like the look of,—
Wooden barred,
And windows hanging low,
Inviting to
A portico,
Where two could creep:
One hand the tools,
The other peep
To make sure all ’s asleep.
Old-fashioned eyes,
Not easy to surprise!
How orderly the kitchen ’d look by night,
With just a clock,—
But they could gag the tick,
And mice won’t bark;
And so the walls don’t tell,
None will.
A pair of spectacles ajar just stir—
An almanac’s aware.
Was it the mat winked,
Or a nervous star?
The moon slides down the stair
To see who ’s there.
There ’s plunder,—where?
Tankard, or spoon,
Earring, or stone,
A watch, some ancient brooch
To match the grandmamma,
Staid sleeping there.
Day rattles, too,
Stealth ’s slow;
The sun has got as far
As the third sycamore.
Screams chanticleer,
“Who ’s there?”
And echoes, trains away,
Sneer—“Where?”
While the old couple, just astir,
Think that the sunrise left the door ajar!
TO fight aloud is very brave,
But gallanter, I know,
Who charge within the bosom,
The cavalry of woe.
Who win, and nations do not see,
Who fall, and none observe,
Whose dying eyes no country
Regards with patriot love.
We trust, in plumed procession,
For such the angels go,
Rank after rank, with even feet
And uniforms of snow.
A robber ’d like the look of,—
Wooden barred,
And windows hanging low,
Inviting to
A portico,
Where two could creep:
One hand the tools,
The other peep
To make sure all ’s asleep.
Old-fashioned eyes,
Not easy to surprise!
How orderly the kitchen ’d look by night,
With just a clock,—
But they could gag the tick,
And mice won’t bark;
And so the walls don’t tell,
None will.
A pair of spectacles ajar just stir—
An almanac’s aware.
Was it the mat winked,
Or a nervous star?
The moon slides down the stair
To see who ’s there.
There ’s plunder,—where?
Tankard, or spoon,
Earring, or stone,
A watch, some ancient brooch
To match the grandmamma,
Staid sleeping there.
Day rattles, too,
Stealth ’s slow;
The sun has got as far
As the third sycamore.
Screams chanticleer,
“Who ’s there?”
And echoes, trains away,
Sneer—“Where?”
While the old couple, just astir,
Think that the sunrise left the door ajar!
TO fight aloud is very brave,
But gallanter, I know,
Who charge within the bosom,
The cavalry of woe.
Who win, and nations do not see,
Who fall, and none observe,
Whose dying eyes no country
Regards with patriot love.
We trust, in plumed procession,
For such the angels go,
Rank after rank, with even feet
And uniforms of snow.
Emily Dickinson: Life
IF I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
What interested scholars most,
What competitions ran
When Plato was a certainty,
And Sophocles a man;
Expound the skies
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
What interested scholars most,
What competitions ran
When Plato was a certainty,
And Sophocles a man;
Expound the skies
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