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Burning Textbooks After PSLE

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Coolpica

Coolpica

4th Gear

Post-PSLE book-burning photo inflames netizens

Published on Oct 08, 2013
ST_20131008_JSBURN08_3870895e.jpg
In this picture that was initially published in Shin Min Daily News, a group of children and parents appear to be burning textbooks following the recent PSLE. The photo later made its rounds on Facebook, sparking complaints over the message it sent and the wastage of the books themselves.

By Nur Asyiqin Mohamad Salleh And Joanna Seow

WHILE many families breathed a sigh of relief after the Primary School Leaving Examination ended last Wednesday, some took celebrations a step further - by setting their books on fire.

A photo of a group of children and parents burning what appears to be textbooks has sparked discussion after being shared online. Some concerned netizens accused them of degrading knowledge and education, while others questioned why the books were not given to needy students instead.

After the photo was published in Chinese evening paper Shin Min Daily News, it made the rounds on Facebook and forums such as kiasuparents.com.

Mrs Kelly Yeo, 40, who saw the original photo on Sunday, said she felt very sad for the children. "It shows how stressed they are and what kind of mindset they have (about) exams. They don't see them as part of the learning journey.

"The source of it all is the great emphasis on exam grades in the education system."

The homemaker and mother of four boys aged eight to 14 said that after her two older sons sat their PSLE, their books were kept for the younger siblings and members of their extended family. "Some of the books my children have are also passed down from other friends," she added.

Another parent, Madam Lim Shu Min, 41, said of the children in the photo: "It's worse that their parents are there encouraging them. Education starts at home. There must be something wrong if children think it's okay to burn their textbooks."

Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Education Lim Biow Chuan said the photo sent the wrong signal from the parents.

"Books are a source of knowledge meant to help and educate a person so whatever the amount of stress one may have I don't think they should burn the books," said Mr Lim, who is also the MP for Mountbatten.

His younger daughter sat the PSLE this year and he plans to ask other families if they are interested in her used books.

However, Secondary 1 student Jaren Pang, who still remembers the PSLE stress from a year back, admitted he understood the pupils' feelings.

"You can be quite happy after your exams, so maybe that's why they burned the textbooks. To celebrate, and because they don't want to see the books ever again," he explained.

But he said the furthest his friends went was to tear their books and worksheets.

Jaren gave his books away to his neighbour, a Primary 3 student. "It's selfish (to burn them)," he added. "You might not need it anymore but other people do. It will help them."

Parents can donate used textbooks to needy students through NTUC FairPrice's annual Share-A-Textbook drive. The start date will be announced in November and people can pass old textbooks to cashiers in any NTUC FairPrice supermarket.

The drive accepts school books from any education level. While the Salvation Army does not have a drive for textbooks, it accepts used books of any sort at its donation centres.

 

 

Although I ever thought of doing that during my school days, never had the guts to do it. Now the students did that with parents' approval! [bounce1][jawdrop]

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Iceman81

Iceman81

4th Gear

Well, the book burning event shown is actually a private one held by Kiss 92 DJ Arnold Gay. The report is out on today's New Paper and also on Kiss 92 Facebook page. Seems like he jokingly made a promise to his son and he kept it.

 

How i wish i could have done that when i had finished my exams and burn all the exams papers, hehe.

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Coolpica

Coolpica

4th Gear
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Well, the book burning event shown is actually a private one held by Kiss 92 DJ Arnold Gay. The report is out on today's New Paper and also on Kiss 92 Facebook page. Seems like he jokingly made a promise to his son and he kept it.

 

How i wish i could have done that when i had finished my exams and burn all the exams papers, hehe.

 

I feel that the promise made by Arnold is silly. There are many promises that we can make to our children, but it must be sensible.

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Icedbs

Icedbs

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(edited)

A very stupid act. By doing that, the parents are sending a message that education and exams are a burden (& waste of time) and hence the glorfied act of burning the books and papers after the exams

 

Education is a life-long process & knowledge, one should never perceive it as a burden. The moment one perceive it as a burden, that person will stop learning.

 

I still have all my university textbooks with me. I feel like giving them away but I remember how much I toil over those books. And surprisingly, I do find myself refering back to them sometimes, so i decided to just keep it.

Edited by Icedbs
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Yeshe

Yeshe

Turbocharged

during my time, the text books were passed down from elder to younger siblings and used until chui then throw away...

i guess text books now can only be used for 1 year?

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Nolicense

Nolicense

Turbocharged

every year the text book edition changes. the dam teachers will tell you to go buy the new edition when they see you carry the old edition.

and the stupid thing is the new edition may only have some extra passage or different questions from the previous edition.

 

secondhand textbooks become useless just like that? unbelievable.

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Soya

Soya

Supersonic

 

I still have all my university textbooks with me. I feel like giving them away but I remember how much I toil over those books. And surprisingly, I do find myself refering back to them sometimes, so i decided to just keep it.

 

Thot most ppl say they neber apply what they learnt at uni?....... [:p][laugh][laugh]

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Soya

Soya

Supersonic

Look on the bright side. RadX can easily score >280 if he take PSLE now wif all the books available to him...... [:p][laugh][laugh]

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Nzy

Nzy

Twincharged

When I was in sec sch, after our O levels, everyone threw their textbooks into the school pond. [sweatdrop]

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Jman888

Jman888

Moderator

Look on the bright side. RadX can easily score >280 if he take PSLE now wif all the books available to him...... [:p][laugh][laugh]

 

 

total of 2 or 3 seating? :huh::huh:

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S4vtec

S4vtec

3rd Gear

Posting this at the risk of being junked, but i look at it as just another avenue of releasing stress, just like the restaurant in Spain where patrons throw their plates on the floor in appreciation of the food.

 

I still keep my Uni books too, not so much of the " knowledge " but for rememberance of the efforts. My wife on the other hand, gives hers away not wanting to see them ever again. Different strokes for different folks. Knowledge stays with you and not by the amount of books or test papers you keep after the exam. It is about the learning experience not the housekeeping experience ..

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