The Self Reality Check

As we are approaching the end of the spring semester, we are supposed to submit a final paper by April-end. My colleagues and I chose subjects that are of interest to us to investigate. I chose to talk about Practicum in faculties of education or teacher colleges. I will check to what extent practicum is reflected in real class room practices. It is a very interesting topic. While I was working on my seminars on Egypt and Singapore, I realized the huge gap between the two systems with relation to the application of practicum. And that was when I came up with a title for my paper "The rhetoric-reality gap".

Yet, when I started arranging my thoughts to write down the outlines of my paper, a thought flashed through my mind. I will talk about the rhetoric-reality gap of educational practices but what about OURS as INDIVIDUALS!!!

There are frequent stories of people who did something which is the total opposite of what they said. Sometimes you meet those people who make you startled once they open their mouths to talk. You feel like "Wooow…this is truly inspirational. That is exactly what we need to fix the society". Days, weeks or years later, their actions REFUTE their rhetoric.

As educators, it is crucial to have what I call "Self Reality Check". What you tell your students in class or whatever policy you write down to be applied at schools nationwide, should be what you originally believe in and do. I believe that our actions define to a great extent who we are. Actions speak louder than words. So, be sure that if you ran into your students in a store or at movie theater, they will see what they usually hear from you. This practice shouldn’t only be adopted by educators, it should be universal.

If you tell people that the rich should help the poor then you should be the first one to do it. If you tell your students don’t lie then you should be the first one to be honest. I am not saying that we are angels or that we should be. We are humans and this is our saving grace. I am only saying what I try so hard to remind myself with every time I start talking or giving advice to someone "Practice what you PREACH".

"The Rich VS the Poor"

When a "Less Wealthy" people watch a "More Wealthy" people riding a Porsche, living in a mansion, dressed up, eating all kinds of food, they assume that this is undoubtedly the kind of life everyone should or aspire to have. The "Less Wealthy" think that the "More Wealthy" definitely have no worries, no burdens on their shoulders, their biggest problem could be when they are thinking where to spend the summer vacation; in the Bahamas or Bora Bora Islands. May be they are still confused where to go shopping, in Paris or Dubai. It is really very interesting how people tie their happiness and the amount of problems they could have to their fortune; or "not fortune". Mother Teresa said "Even the rich are hungry for love, for being cared for, for being wanted, for having someone to call their own". You know why this saying is very true, because we are all human beings; at least we share simple facts drawn by physics and biology.

This takes me to our presentations about the "More Economically Developed" countries and "Less Economically Developed" as described in the syllabus. Having listened to all of the seminars, I recognized that of course the "More Developed" countries allocate a higher percentage of its GDP or National Budget to Education. In Singapore, the budget allocated to education comes right next to the armed forces budget. So, this means that education is held up high and put on a pedestal; so to speak.

I had this feeling that vibrated through my body and I asked myself a question "Why do not our country or the other less developed countries give due care to education?" I believe that education is the backbone of any nation. It is the road to spreading peace and awakening countries. Is Money the only reason why these developed countries have better education system, well-prepared teachers, highly equipped educational facilities, proactive teacher education curriculum and ongoing professional development?

On Wednesday, we were gathered to reflect on our seminars and what we think of the content we presented. Dr Joyanne asked a question "Do you think it is the governments of these countries that helped the reform to happen"? Caroline and Othman agreed to great extent that without the policies and the approaches adopted by these governments, reform wouldn’t have taken place. Yet, I saw it differently. I believe that it starts from the people. If the people were not open to change, to develop and have a brighter future for them and their children reform wouldn’t have been realized. Othman and Caroline said that they should go hand in hand. But, I say that it’s the peoples' will in the first place then the governments' guidance in the next place that could bring about transformation.

When Singapore first thought about reforming education, the first step taken was towards the investment in Human Capital, the Singaporean People. They catered education based on their diversity and the different needs of every child. So, they guarantee that no one would be left behind or overlooked. They nurture the sense of belonging to Singapore since the early years of the child's education. They want to grow Singaporeans who are concerned with their country and will not save effort to make it better. And because they were aware that it all starts with education, and because Teachers as Educators are key to this development, they were careful that whoever gets in the teaching profession should be passionate and welling to make a change in a student's life. It is never easy to be a teacher in Singapore. The first question they ask you "Are you the right one?".

It is not money, believe me, it is our will for change and to be better. I know it is easier to accept the status quo. And I think we are witnesses to that now in our beloved Egypt. After seeing what happened after the revolution, most of the people now say "we wish we go back to Mubarak days. They were calm and better". I know it is hard to take the decision to change. I know it is extremely painful to make yourself step out of your comfort zone. All we need is a leap of faith. We, "the less economically developed" countries should believe in our capabilities and not to wait for any other country to make it better for us.

That is why I referred to people with the terms "Less Wealthy" and "More Wealthy". Because being rich or poor is not ONLY determined by the amount of money you have, but with your powers as a person. So, BELIEVE.