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Recently, there was a video went viral, it was about a university lecturer interrogating a student why did he still uses mobile phone instead of computer for classes. When he realised the student family’s financial condition was bad, he sarcastically suggested that his sister should sell off her gold necklace to buy a computer for him. The teacher went even further and said that in his schooling years, he never sits with students of B40 group (low income group), because he claimed that they were always distracted and cannot focus….
There is a popular saying that “Opportunity always gives to those who are ready.” However, not everyone can get ready by themselves! Getting an opportunity is even tougher. Are we supposed to keep a distance from them? Or be the person who gives others opportunity? While our reporters interviewed 2 primary schools in Batu Pahat and Ipoh to gather information on the effect of pandemic towards students, they also took the opportunity to interviewed local 7979 Companionship Class teachers to get a clearer picture of the situation. Other than this, they also sought advises from assistant lecturer Dr. Crendy Tan of Child Developmental Psychology, to have a deeper understanding of students’ needs and situation. | Internet – When We Don’t Have it , it is a Trouble; But when we have it, it can be a Problem
Teacher Liew pointed out: “Although most of the students attended online classes, but the submission of homework rate was very low.” Teacher Chong added: “Even for students who performed well in physical class, sometimes didn’t hand in their homework too.”
Teacher Tu said: “Students gotten used to attend classes from home, which is more relaxing and less homework, therefore it is common phenomena to see students became lazier when they are back to school environment.” Teacher Choo continued on to share: “Some students’ family backgrounds are more complicated, their parents are too occupied with finding livelihood for the family, thus they neglected their children’s education. In addition, students having difficulties to focus on studies, therefore they seriously need someone to be concerned of their studies.” Assistant Principal Lee recalled some under privileged families’ condition and expressed: “Students from families who are financially lacking, their families’ condition became worse when they have to be equip with full set of computer gadget or purchasing a mobile phone to attend online classes, plus the high data consumption, all these caused tremendous pressure to many parents. It was worse for parents who are worrying of losing their jobs or business becoming bad.” Thankfully, the school helped them to apply for subsidies for computer gadgets to attend online classes, they also gave some food supplies to families in difficulties. “There was a family, the father passed away due to cancer, their mother is a Vietnamese, the student did not attend classes for weeks. So my school’s principal assigned me to help them to set up a full set of computer with necessary gadget to attend online classes. Later, I noticed that their internet data used up very quickly, after some probing, then only we realised that they used it to watch Vietnamese drama!” Teacher Loo shared humorously some of her interesting experience in helping students with mix feelings of upset and uncomprehend. “No wonder they took 4 hours to complete 2 homework!” Ipoh Elim Gospel Hall Companionship Class Teacher Qian Wen shared, she had encountered a student who attended online class while watching You Tube. There was another case, where the student shared with Teacher Jie Zhi that he doesn’t do any other thing while classes on, but he can only focus for a while, then his mind get strayed away very quickly. Teacher Wong expressed that her school did intervened into a case of a female student who had make online bad friend, this incident caught the school and parents’ attention. Dr. Tan responded: “Children need to express their emotion and feelings appropriately, if their feelings or emotions being suppressed for too long, then they may turn out to be in the two extreme expressions of either apathy or too enthusiastic.” The influence of enticing virtual world brought by internet cannot be ignored. When a primary student who still lack of discipline owns a mobile phone that can access to internet, and without adult supervision, that can be disastrous. | Do not use grades and performance to rush growth
Dr. Tan reminded: “As students have less opportunities to ask and answer questions in an online class setting, interaction is also lacking, these leads to great disadvantage and slowing down of their growth in speech foundation and development.”
Nevertheless, Teacher Jie Zhi expressed that online class is not all bad, it definitely benefiting students who do poorly in school in two major ways. As their homework became lesser, students are not required to hand in homework on the following day. Thus, Companionship Class’s teachers were able to teach the students according to individual progress and ensured that they fully understand the lesson before moving on. In the past two years, students and teachers had the privilege to learn and teach at their own pace, they don’t have to rush to catch up with the mass. Teachers play very important role in school, other than they need to cultivate the students from young to have habits of setting up goals and direction, they also have to help them to be responsible and civic minded. Assistant Principal Lee who had 18 years teaching experience shared this. She added on to say: “We should not assess a student just base on their grades, it has to be more diversify, such as art, skills and character. Currently, Chinese primary school no longer use grades in class arrangement, our main consideration is to avoid using grades to label a student. Every student has his or her own strengths and weaknesses, by guiding them, their potential can be better developed.” Teacher Hong, a teacher who had taught for over 20 years in a Chinese primary school in Ipoh shared to us: “It is an accomplishment for us to be able to shape a student. They heard too many negative voices, so whenever the students shown some progress, I’ll praise them exaggeratedly.” Teacher Hong herself was originated from an under privilege family, back then she was doing not very well in school. But in her standard 6 years, she met a good teacher who gave her an opportunity which had totally transformed her life. Now, she wishes to be this type of teacher too, she hopes that the children will remember there was a teacher who praised them when no one acknowledges them. | Create a Learning Space
Gereja Ern Tian, Batu Pahat Companionship Class’s teacher said: “During MCO period, when the children remained at home, they kept on eating, so costs a lot. But when the children attend Companionship Class, their lunch and tea break are being taken care of, this has reduced their parents’ household expenses, especially for those families that have many children. Sometimes, kind hearted brothers and sisters will share with the children some special delicacies to bless them too.”
“There was one student who shared with me, that he will played mobile game from the moment he wakes up till at night.” Teacher Jie Zhi shared frustratingly. Thankfully, when the school and Companionship Class resumed physical classes, he returned to being eager in learning, he even informed the teacher which subject he needs to put in extra efforts. Teacher Qian Wen shared with thankful heart: “Now, they are in their learning prime age, if they don’t learn now, then it’ll be a waste of time which will be a pity.” The teaches are aware that the time they can spend with the children is very limited, therefore they think that it is important for the children to build strong foundation and cultivate good habit in their primary school years. Teacher Jie Zhi told us, when brothers and sisters in their church saw that the children can spend hours focusing on their homework, they wanted their children to join Companionship Class too, but they were rejected based on unfulfilled requirement. Dr. Tan emphasised: “Peers social interaction is very important, children learn from interacting and observing others.” Therefore, when a child does not have self-discipline to learn, then they need to be confined in a space together with other students to learn, I belief good learning habit will be easier to build with the addition of teacher’s company and guidance. 7979 Under Privilege Children Companionship Class programme is a place of preparing opportunities to children. HISTEAM has been promoting this programme since our first trial in year 2012 until now. Under Privilege Children Companionship Class programme provides homework guidance, life coaching and family care.
If you wish to know more about Under Privilege Children Companionship Class programme, give the children an opportunity to turn things around, please click the link below: Notes: 1. All the primary school teachers’ names are pseudonym. 2. However all the names of Companionship Class teachers are their real name. 前一阵子,网络疯传一个视频,关于某大学讲师质问一位学院生,为何仍使用手机上课,而非手提电脑。当得知该名学院生家境困难后,这名讲师讽刺他,叫他让姐姐把金链卖了换取电脑。不单如此,讲师还说自己在求学时期不会与B40(低收入群体)同学同坐,因为他们经常分心,无法专注于学业…… 常听人说,机会是留给准备好的人。但其实不是每个人都有能力靠自己准备,更不容易遇上机会。我们应该远离他们?还是成为一个给予别人机会的人呢? 本团队采访记者走访峇株巴辖和怡保的两所华小,收集疫情在过去2年对学生所产生影响的资讯,也顺道采访当地开办7979弱势儿童陪读方案的陪读老师,了解学生的实况。另外,还向儿童心理发展学博士陈燕婷副教授请教,深入探究学生的需要和处境。 | 网络—--没有是困扰,有了也烦恼 刘老师表示:“虽然大部分学生都出席网课,但功课的呈交率相当低。”张老师补充:“就连平时在实体课表现优异的学生,有时也没呈交功课。” 涂老师说:“学生已逐渐习惯在家的上课模式,比较轻松随意且功课少,因此出现学生返校后变得懒散的现象。” 接下来,朱老师分享道:“部分学生的家庭背景比较复杂,家长忙于应付生计,难以兼顾孩子的学业,再加上孩子也难以专注上课,因此非常需要有人关心他们的课业。” 李副校长回想起一些弱势家庭的处境后表示:“原本家庭条件欠缺的学生,如今需要各种配备如电脑、平板或电话,加上网课需要大量的互联网数据,对许多家长来说,真的是被压得喘不过气来。对于一些面临失业或生意欠佳的家长,更是雪上加霜。” 所幸,校方为他们申请了网课配备的补助,也为困难家庭送上物资。 “有一个家庭,爸爸癌症过世,妈妈是越南人,学生连续数周都没上课。于是,校长安排我为他们签办网络配套。后来发现网络数据总用得很快,一查之下才发现,原来是因为他使用上网数据来看越南戏!”吕老师好气又好笑地分享她在帮助学生时的有趣经历。 “难怪两份功课,却用了4小时才完成!”怡保以琳福音堂陪读班的倩雯老师告知,遇过一名学生一边上课,一边上优管(YouTube)。曾经,还有学生告诉洁芝老师,他上网课时很专心并没有做其他事,但是上课一阵子后却开始慌神和发呆了。 黄老师表示,校方曾经介入一位女同学在网络上误交损友的事件,这件事惊动了校方和家长。陈博士回应:“儿童在情绪和情感上需要适当抒发,若长时间没办法表达,可能换来过于冷漠或太过热情的极端表现。” 网络的花花世界带来的影响不容忽视。当缺乏自律的小学生拥有一架可以上网的手机,身边却没有人督促他,后果将不堪设想。 | 别用成绩和绩效来赶羊 陈博士提醒:“由于学生在网课中缺乏发问和回答的机会,加上极少互动环节,因此在他们语言基础及认知方面将大吃一亏,成长速度较为缓慢。” 虽然如此,梁洁芝老师表示,上网课也不全是坏处,至少对课业表现弱的学生有两大好处。由于功课较少,学生也不必隔天交功课,陪读班老师可以按照学生的学习进度施教,确保学生能掌握和吸收。这两年来,学生和老师都可以在不用“赶羊”的情况下,好好地学习和教学。 “老师在学校扮演着非常重要的角色,除了必须从小灌输学生设目标和方向,也培养他们的责任感和公民意识。”从事教育界18年的李副校长循循善诱地说。她补充:“我们不能只以成绩评估学生,而是应该从多方面评估,比如艺术、技能和品格。华小如今也不再按照成绩分班级,主要考量是不以成绩来标签学生。每个学生有各自的强弱项,都可以透过引导,让他们获得更好的发挥。” 在怡保某所华小任教约20年的洪老师向我们说:“可以造就学生,是一种成就。他们有太多否定的声音了,所以当学生有进步,她就会夸张地赞美。”洪老师小时候来自弱势贫困的家庭,成绩也不理想。但在6年级那年,她遇到了好老师给予机会,这改变了她的一生。如今,她也想要成为这样的老师。她希望孩子记得,当没人欣赏他们的时候,曾经有那么一位老师会赞美他。 | 缔造一个学习的空间 峇株吧辖恩典堂陪读班老师说:“之前MCO(行动管制令)期间,孩子在家时一直吃,是一笔很大的开销。孩子来陪读班享用午餐和茶点,让家长省去很多饮食开销,尤其是有好几个兄弟姐妹的家庭。有时,还有弟兄姐妹爱心奉献一些特别的食物,让孩子们享享口福。” “有个学生告诉我,他从早上起来就玩电动直到晚上。” 洁芝老师无奈地告诉我们。但当学校和陪读班恢复实体课后,他又开始积极学习了,并且还会主动告知老师自己在哪个科目上需要多加强。倩雯老师更是感慨万分地说:“他们现在正是读书的年龄,如果现在不读书就是浪费时间,太可惜了。” 老师们晓得能陪伴学生的时间相当有限,因此认为小学时期就需要打好根基和建立好习惯。 洁芝老师告知,当一些教友看到陪读班学生可以认真花几个小时做功课,也想让自己的孩子来,但碍于条件不符合而被婉拒。陈博士也强调:“同侪社交互动非常重要,儿童需要透过与人的互动和观察来彼此学习。” 因此,当孩子无法自律学习时,如果有一个地方,那里有一班同学一起学习,加上老师的陪伴和督导,我认为学习习惯将更容易建立起来。 7979弱势儿童陪读方案,正是一个为小学生准备机会的地方。全人关怀团队从2012年开始7979弱势儿童陪读方案,并推动至今。弱势儿童陪读方案为学生提供课业辅导、生命教育及家庭关怀。 欲了解更多7979弱势儿童陪读方案的详情,给他们一次翻身的机会,请点击: 注: 1. 华小老师一律以匿姓称呼 2. 陪读班老师则使用真名 Comments are closed.
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