[locked]15 year old drops out and whaps Malaysia

digimushu · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 1:39 am Post subject:

Being in any Asian system makes u very "hardy" to stress. It stifles creativity in the name of efficiency, hence making us somewhat very resillient to breaking down.

To put it simply, what does not kill us, makes us stronger. or my version: That which does not kill me, had better run quick.

Maxforce · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 1:58 am Post subject:

day-dreamer · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 2:36 am Post subject:

I do not deny that the Malaysian Education system does indeed bring lots and lots of problems to our citizens, compared to other countries. No doubts about that.

There is one thing that never fails to capture my attention, and that is how people think. Honestly, with no offence meant to anyone, I feel that many people see things from one perspective only. Why should we? We ought to see things from different angles. While the system in Malaysia has its very own problems, dare anyone say that the system in other countries (say US, UK, Australia) has NO problems at all? Nothing is perfect in this world. Try thinking about what good the Malaysian Education System brought us. I'm sure there is, don't tell me there isn't.

There is one thing known as freedom in this world. Everyone can have a taste at it, including this 15-year-old boy. Since he thinks Malaysia's education system is so terrible, go, by all means, to somewhere he thinks he belongs. I do NOT mean that I support this 15-year-old's doing, but if that is what he really wants, there is no use stopping him, right?

Anyway, if he can tarnish Malaysia's reputation in such a way, I doubt we will welcome such rakyat. What makes him think that other countries will be better for him? Come on! Malaysia might not be the best, but it is still, much better than some others.

lyzzy · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 3:14 am Post subject:

gonjeng · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 3:27 am Post subject:

damn... i thought the discussion here is on what he did (leave school and saying the right thing at a wrong place) rather than the education system itself... oh well, i may be wrong then Smile

anyway, on his points, i disagree when he uses the word 'all', generalizing that every malaysian students are how he describes. yes, i do agree and acknowledge that malaysian education system is flawed, but this is to some extend.

you see, my believe, as far as the education system goes, the quality depends more on the students, rather than the whole system. if you expect the system (teachers, etc.) to feed you info/knowledge, you aint gonna learn a whole lot - i believe this is true regardless of which education system you are in. however, if you have the will and want to learn, regardless how crappy the system is, there are still opportunities to learn.

i came from mrsm, from form 1 till form 5. throughout those years, i did experience this thingie you guys called critical thinking. rather than simply memorizing the facts and figures, few of us actually argue with our physics, math teachers on stuff. although in the end, the teachers won the argument, but in the end we learnt more than what the syllabus specifies.

my first two years in the states... i honestly thank God that i did my high school years in malaysia. the physics, basic chemistry and calculus classes were cake to me, while my other classmates were suffering since that was their first time seeing such stuff. and in some of the classes, i can honestly say i did not understand crap of what the lecturer was explaining. i understood the material by refering back to what i've learnt in high school.

anyways, im not saying that my case are the typical case, neither do i know how typical it is for student to go to their teachers and argue stuff. i know for a fact that you have to choose the right person to discuss, since some of them can be really egoistic and arrogant. but then, this is the case everywhere in the world, or least i know it is here at my U. rather, my point is that if you wish for a perfect system to meet your expectation, dream on. well, unless laa you plan on becoming the next hishamuddin Very Happy

what the students should be thinking of is how to make the system works for you. in other words, you have to put some effort for you to obtain what you want from the system. the system itself may not be perfect, but if you add your effort as a mitigation to the imperfect system, the new mitigated system may be closer to perfect. to put it into equations:

current system -> imperfect
new system = current system + extra effort -> 90% perfect

damn i just love equations Very Happy

anyways, IMO, i think this is more practical than keep on complaining about how the system is crappy.

or you can simply opt for the easiest way out, which is to quit and look into what you 'perceive' as better. nevertheless, i do believe that the best way to educate yourself about anything is through hard work and persistent...

digimushu · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 3:29 am Post subject:

Hear hear!

nick_khaw · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 10:02 am Post subject:

Go lyzzy. I agree with lyzzy completely.

I do think it's admirable that he chooses to speak up and I may agree with some of the things he says, but I don't think that he is admirable for just quitting the system just because he cannot adapt and then bashing it on an American forum. Is he right by bringing up these issues on a forum where the majority know nothing of what goes on in Malaysia? It's like complaining about your company to a cousin of yours who knows nothing of what goes on.

MaxForce is telling us not to talk cock, but isn't that what he/she is doing as well?

I am willing to admit that what I say here does not change anything, talking cock, if you will, my good MaxForce.

But please practice what you preach, MaxForce. If you don't want us to talk cock, I suggest you do the same and no longer post here as well. After all, as Lyzzy said, we're ranting and complaining on this forum. It's not going to change anything. We're basically talking cock as well.

As far as stopping him goes, I'm not going to stop him from changing his choice of education or posting his posts on whatever forum. He has every right to do that. But what I have every right to do is to voice my opinion and criticize, if I see fit, his actions. So does everyone else here.

Avvieey · Potential Super Best Friend Joined: Dec 15, 2005 Posts: 3

Hi!

I just read the kid's remark! I am very impressed by his courage (to drop out of school and pursue his own goals) and his ability to write. This kid is smart. However, I don't think I could agree with him that Malaysian education system is useless, as he may say.

I admit that our education system is not the best. However, it has also taught generations of Malaysians effectively. I guess he's still young; and one day he'll learn that only those who are able to make the best out the environment will be successful. It has always been us adapting to the environment, not vice versa. Even in nature, evolution selects for the fittest: those who are able to adapt best.

Anyway, I think it's all good for him now as he is no longer a Malaysian citizen. In my opinion, he shall not claim that he is a Malaysian at all. He is free to criticize anything. But from what I see, it is not our loss to have lesser fellow Malaysians with attitude like that.

oneforthelord · Friend Joined: Nov 07, 2005 Posts: 97 Location: Singapore

He is still Malaysian isn't he? I don't think he's changed nationality yet as he's still in Malaysia.

Avvieey · Potential Super Best Friend Joined: Dec 15, 2005 Posts: 3

Oh, I assume that he's gonna acquire the American citizenship after reading the posting on collegeconfidential.com. He's moving to the U.S. and applying to the schools as a citizen. Something along the line...

DecentMerson · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 11:56 am Post subject:

digimushu · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 12:08 pm Post subject:

Lets put it this way, he is lucky because his parents are affluent enough to give him what he needs now. Some of us here had to work while studying in high school to pay for our own food and fees.

He gripes about the inequality in M'sia, but does not come forth with credible proof on bumiputera policies. It is obvious, but if you want to say something credible, please give actual proof. Of course we all think he has guts for choosing his own independent path...and we respect him for that. We dont blame him for not keeping with our system, but we feel disappointed with his choice.

Our education system needs reforms, but then reforms do not come cheap, and all malaysians, me included, are cheap bastards. if we can choose not to pay less, we will. Nobody will pay more taxes so we will hire better teachers. Our ruling party however, has bigger fires to put out in the name of "national pride"(read: proton, MAS). So who is going to pay?

However, a lot of us, although we complain, we try to do our own little things to try to help the kids back home, esp those that are underprivileged. We go back to our schools, and we plant ideas in their fledgling minds. He writes books that will rant about our education system, but none of the kids from the rural areas will ever see that book, if they can read it. Try going to a long house in Sarawak where you have no running water, no electricity and the students all barely have money to buy exercise books.

We live a country where although nobody is happy with the way things are, they keep doing the things that will keep the status quo. The way things are, they are not going to change if nobody does anything directly. Some of us will stay and fight, to try to make changes to the system when we can. So, what are you gonna do?

topdog · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 12:34 pm Post subject:

nick_khaw · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 12:40 pm Post subject:

Oneforthelord,

He has taken the easier choice in HIS own beliefs. Don't impose your beliefs on him. I mean, c'mon. Who's to say what's the harder and what's the easier? That's very disputable. He definitely picked what he saw was easier. What you think as easier may not be what he thinks. What we can say is that he failed to adapt to the system and then he quit. That is indisputable.

You'd lose your wager to me. I've done it. I didn't do that very well but I did it anyway.

I accept your point about how there could be some underlying jealousy. Sure, I'll admit that, yes, a cynical part of me laughs at his inability to adapt to the system. But the logical part of me thinks that is just weak.

Have you read the excerpt from the book? Chapter 14, if I'm not mistaken. Read it and then tell me what you think. There is a curious lack of sources in his book.

I admire his courage, his intelligence and his articulacy, which is more than I can say for many users of Recom.

And well, don't get offended oneforthelord. After all, this is all just talking cock, isn't it MaxForce?

oneforthelord · Friend Joined: Nov 07, 2005 Posts: 97 Location: Singapore