Missionary School Model for 1Malaysia

After Najib visited his alma mater (St John, KL), this is the latest spin.... Missionary School as Role Model for 1Malaysia.

I don't think we need the missionary school model... what we need is the right values and attitude. What made the missionary schools excellent were those. The Principal, teachers and staff had the right values and attitude. It wasn't the school... it was the people who made the difference. People with the right commitment and conscience.

The Christian missionaries came from afar and dedicated their lives to giving an education. Sure, their motivation was to win souls for their God but they went around it, at least their actions were more right than wrong. Their heart was one of service to others; not self above others. They considered their work a means to honour their God, bring glory to His name. And they served, taught to the best that they could, according to the Scriptures. And I'm sure most agree that their legacy does bring honour to the God they serve, as much as some may not want to admit it.

What is wrong with our education system today then? We're back to the same bush again you see. It's back to values and attitude. You have too many Principals who got their principles wrong. They look at leadership as not of their service to others but how others should serve them... kowtow to them... show their power so to say. Good heads with the right ingredients are hard to come by. Incompetent heads bent on polishing butts are aplenty...

The heads themselves try to squirm their way out of responsibilities if they could. They would have classes to teach in the master timetable but it that is only for the records. In reality, somebody else would be teaching those classes. And they take opportunity to be away from school for as long as possible, when given a chance. Discipline is lacking now because Heads do not enforce it. As they say, the rot always starts from the Head. And then they go on this frenzy of creating programmes, so that they have something to show for. Extra classes, beautifying the school... all these have underlying motives.

And very much like UMNO, religion is a means to an end... cos their own lives don't reflect the faith they proclaim. No faith would condone laziness or bias. Yet, I open my ears and too many deragoratory remarks fly out with no remorse.

Bias... many teachers are racists. They tell their students not to interact with other races, they teach kids of their own race to 'hate' the other races... it's done subtly and openly. They tell students certain races are lazy... etc, etc.. My teachers never did that. They taught us to embrace differences. True there were racial undercurrents even during my student days but those remained undercurrents. Teachers never encouraged them. They taught us as should. Teachers today are like politicians.... they sing different tunes with different groups.

Teachers of yesteryears did not teach us to cheat or lie. These days, it's a disease spreading right from the very top to the bottom. We cheat when we create files which don't tell the truth. And we pass that on to the students when they do their coursework. We do not teach them to face the consequences of their own actions. We teach them, everything can be sorted out; doesn't matter whether it is through the right or wrong way. Ever wonder why our police force is perceived to be more corrupted... it starts from school...

We are more interested in the superficial rather than substance. You see, the superficial can be seen... substance is mostly felt, not seen. You can make a huge impression with the superficial. And that.. sadly, is what's happening in school. It's all about making an impression; cos that's the key to moving up...

And the education system... we have kerja kursus which are mainly copied work... I'd probably need lots of space just to ramble about it.

So, I beg to differ with the PM.. it's not missionary school models we need. It's getting back onto the right moral absolutes' path which is needed.

And how did we get here? NEP... quota system. The quota system coupled with UMNO's desire to remain in power made right the wrongs. They kept a section of the population shackled to the belief that they were inferior and needed assistance, and that the other races were out to 'eat' them up. Well, the crutch has debilitated not only them but everyone else too! Cos, the wrongs they generated out of it.. the cheating, lying, deceit, etc., etc... have crept into every aspect of our lives and entrenched themselves there. To get rid of them.... God help us! Cos we need not only a paradigm shift but a cleansing of the soul as well.

BTW, I am a product of a missionary school. I have high regards for my teachers and utmost respect for them. Today's students don't say so for the majority of their teachers.... speaks volumes, doesn't it?