School and Sports...

There's word that many sports and games for school children at district, state and national levels are cancelled for the year. Not enough funds to run them, I supposed. Gahmen a little 'pokai'. We've been losing too many things of late it seems. Even aircraft engines can lose their way to Uruguay! So schools have to go on austerity drive, in part because of such loses. There was even one comment on PM's website about MSSM being cancelled this year.

The hip and happening news seem to be how schools trying to outdo each other with the commencement of extra classes. Some are starting this week. The first part of the year is not yet over and we're starting the cramming sessions. Not crazy?

So why bother have sports and games? The gahmen keeps saying sports is important. It helps to unify the people. It keeps the populace healthy. But we've already heard that many of the Under-15 games will not be held, with the exception of takraw and football. Where is the holistic education everyone has been talking about?

Anyway, sports is almost dead. PE lessons in my school are less than effective. If we need more cramming sessions, the PE lessons will be the first to be sacrificed. My suburban kids who are supposed to be more sports inclined are just as soft as the urban kids. I had my first sports practice yesterday evening... almost all the girls when I asked them to try throwing the discus had this to say... "Malu-lah, teacher."

And us teachers... many of us seem to have forgotten how to teach students the right techniques. Add that to the fear of the sun damaging their skin, I guess the MOE might as well replace sports with beauty lessons. We seem to have more teachers qualified for that!