A Lesson in Humility

I learned something during the course of my dissertation writing. It's about the virtue of humility.

I'm not the type of person who usually asks for help from others. Lately I learned that it's nice to have people cheering you on. It makes hard tasks much more bearable.

I also learned that I'm my own worst critic and enemy. Sometimes I tend to impose such a tall standard on myself that I barely get to do it. The result: HARDLY ANY WORK DONE!!!

It also pays to follow the ways of established scholars. They know more that I do so it's wise to learn and follow them. When the time comes when I 'm good enough I can have my way.

Dissertation writing is such a humbling experience. For now I better keep my head down and go with the flow.

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Illustration Cited:

http://www.zindamagazine.com

Never Underestimate Students

There's a trend among universities, especially third rate ones, which belittles students' abilities. Administrators of such universities encourage professors to not let students have a "hard time."

They said that today's students are not as smart as the early generations because they're not as disciplined. Technology made them lazy. There's a lot of diversions nowadays so they have little focus.

To address this problem they tell professors not to make students' lives difficult by not giving heavy course requirements. Examinations should be "easy recall" types so students won't have a hard time.

This attitude seriously undermines todays students. They may not have much focus and discipline but they're very creative and resourceful. Thanks to modern media they have innovative ideas how to do things.


I believe the task of schools these days is to train students to focus their creativity towards productive endeavors. Administrators should not handle modern students with kid gloves. They're adults after all and adults learn best through experience and usually through the hard way.


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Illustrations Cited:

http://www.jonschallert.com/seminar_descriptions/default.asp

http://www.hyeline.com/creative.htm

Teacher's Pay

I often wonder why teachers are among the lowest paid professionals in the world. Bankers, engineers, doctors especially lawyers among others have high potentials of striking it rich. Teachers on the other hand cannot even be assured of a comfortable life when they retire.

This causes tremendous problems for the education sector. Poorly paid teachers are likely to be demoralized which may compromise their teaching. How can they teach well when they problematize where they'll get the money to pay the latest bill?

People say this is a logistical problem. Schools are not for profit institutions. Therefore, they cannot give higher salaries beyond what they charge for tuition.

While such a response has merit it is best for schools to become more entrepreneurial. Schools should be more creative in generating income to maintain good teachers and to improve its facilities.

Singapore's Biopolis, a city like facility devoted to biological research, is a prime example. The Singapore government invested in a high tech facility to attract the best scientists in the world and gave them superb compensation. In exchange their output will then be shared with the Singapore government to be used for the best interest of the city state.

Teachers like Biopolis scientists should also be treated like invaluable resources of the country. Not only do teachers train future generations of citizens but they also produce new knowledge through their researches. Giving dignified wages for teachers is a first step in improving the quality of education in a country.

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Illustrations Cited:

http://bernardoh.wordpress.com/category/education/academic/

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup/?id=1984671&refnum=427242

http://www.waseda.jp/prj-wobri/images/photo-biopolis.jpg