Luxury and Kids

The best for kids is not to let them have the best. Moderation and average breed appreciation. When kids indulge in constant luxuries, luxurious pampering will be regarded as norms. Luxury will then rob off the innocence joy of simplicity of life from kids.

For example for a cup of hot beverage like hot chocolate or latte, to enjoy it is to have it in an expensive joint like Starbucks, Coffee Bean or maybe an upscale cafe but never in an open stall. I have come across teenagers who refused to go out with friends with non-designer jeans.

However, luxury is relative. Some view Mercedes Benz as a common car while others might view it as a luxury. It is somewhat educational to guide kids to differentiate luxury from the average base on the financial standing of the family. On the other hand, it will be much much more beneficial if kids are able to appreciate simplicity from the sophistication.

Occasional luxury can do wonders in building a close and meaning family ties. Constant indulgence in luxury will bring upon more harm than good for a kid. Do you agree? Please comment...

Kids' Integrity

Recently a couple of teachers commented that the answer sheets for multiple choice questions (MCQ) were deliberately designed in such a way as to make copying difficult for exam candidates during exams. This had triggered the juice in my grey matter to flow and it kept me thinking about integrity, a value we valued greatly from others but seldom from ourselves.

Honesty, the basis of integrity, was once thought to be the best policy. However, nowadays, honesty no longer enjoyed that status anymore. At times, honesty was even regarded as stupid or inappropriate. When there was no honesty, how could integrity exist?

How should our educational system promote integrity? How should one instill honesty within a child? For me, leading by example is the only foreseeable approach. People around our kids, namely the adults they can and should trust, must live by example. Do you agree? Please comment...

Tuitioning Kid$

In this part of the world where I live, tuitioning kids are a very lucrative endeavour. Income from tuitioning kids on part-time basis usually exceeds the income of a common full-time job. When tuitioning kids become the full-time job, income is only second to the top management salary in the corporate world.

This dollar issue has somehow led to a very serious problem. Any Tom, Dick or Harry and Auntie, Siti or Mary suddenly become a 'legitimate' tuition teacher. Unquestionably some are highly qualified teachers, very experienced and truly dedicated in aiding kids in the process of learning. However, most are jokers and know nuts about teaching or even the requirements of the syllabus.

I have come across a tuition teacher who conducts tuition sessions with a ratio of one teacher to sixty students! I have also encountered countless people with very limited education conduct tuition sessions even for students preparing for major public examinations. Sad to mention also, much too often tuition teachers have problems solving even basic homework questions from school.

This is 'money over everything' kind of attitude. Who cares whether the kids are really benefitting from their tuition classes? As long as parents are paying, there will always be willing souls to tuition their kids, for one reason or another. Do you agree? Please comment...