Before the school second semester plus Hari Raya break, 293 lucky students were presented with the best gift any kid could ever dream of, free netbooks! These netbooks were given to so called under-privileged students based on their SMM information. Some were really needy students but some weren’t, as they probably didn’t give accurate information about themselves in the SMM. Nonetheless, although this present seemed well-intended, it did not take into account the effects of such thing.
It’s only been 2 weeks and we have received several reports because of these netbooks. One student spoilt his netbook when the perhaps not-so-smart kid downloaded porn and his netbook also got infected by virus. His parents went to the Multimedia Centre at their village to report and they traced the site the kid went to. Kids being kids, think they’re so smart but actually not. He was warned and I’m not sure what was the fate of that netbook. Another student showed off her netbook in school and before you know it, it’s lost. A few days later, the culprit was caught. So, yesterday the victim and the culprit along with his accomplice were called up on stage. They were ordered to publicly apologise to her for their crime. I thought the school was being too nice to the delinquents - perhaps because they were Form 1 students. I hope the disciplinary board contacted the parents, especially because they themselves already received netbooks but were too greedy, and that drove them to steal this girl's netbook. Imagine a few years down the road what other things they would be daring enough to do if this is what they are doing in Form 1. I say this because I saw no remorse, guilt or regret in their faces. They really ought to be taught a lesson!
Teachers were actually doubtful as to why suddenly students were given free netbooks. One fine day, the school was contacted and told that this list of students was entitled for free netbooks. What the school had to do was to inform the students that they will receive the netbooks. Then, the selected students were to activate their netbooks at the Multimedia Centre, they also have to pay a certain amount for the line monthly.
What we teachers had problems with were the students they selected and the rationale behind this. If they were genuinely interested in helping the students, I’d rather they give the netbooks to the school and teachers could give a fair opportunity to all students to use this facility with guidance and supervision. But when they made the decision, did they consider if the students were delinquents, rebels, or simply academically challenged which will be a hindrance for them to make full use of the netbook without guidance and supervision?
If they had that much money, why didn’t the computers in the lab upgraded instead? They could have used the money for many other things for the betterment and improvement of schools and teachers. Send teachers for trainings, upgrading school facilities and better books for schools. Anyways, who knows what other problems will arise due to this supposedly noble action. I heard another student sold his netbook already. Giving kids candies, well too many candies, could just rot their teeth…I think this isn’t a genuine and smart move. Period.
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