ST Reflection 2009 – Secondary 2NA/2E24 August 2009Call us, helplines urge to troubled teens – (Home Section Pg B6) Q1a) List two reasons why teens are reluctant to call helplines despite the promise of anonymity and professional help. Teenagers do not want to call the helplines as they fell akward when talking to strangers about their problems. They also prefer to share their problems with their closed ones or they just keep it to themselves.
Q1b) According to Ms Lily Chu, how does Touch leadership and Mentoring prefer to help troubled teens?
Touch leadership and Mentoring prefer to help youths because it is effective as it offers educational workshops and also counseling.
Q2) Have you confided in your friends or family members about the problems you face in school/life? Why or why not?Have you been betrayed by your friends before? If yes, how? (You may change the names of the people involved for privacy)
Yes, I have. I chosen to talk to my family members and friends as they are very close to me and can understand my problems easier. They can also help me by giving me advice from their experiences.No, i havent.
7:23 AM
Straits Times Reflection Term 3 Week 8 2E/NA
1a) What are the 4 rules for religious harmony? All groups have to exercise tolerance and restraint, Keep religion separate from politics,Government must remain secular,Maintain the common space that all Singaporeans share.
b) In your opinion, how can we maintain a common space in schools? First of all, the government must ensure that all teachers are of different races and religious. As teachers form the core of the school community, it is crucial that they practice racial and religious harmony in order to inculcate these values in their students. The school must also make sure that there is an even distribution of students of different races and religions in each class. This measures will ensure that people of different racial and religious groups will interact and bond. Common practices such as saying the pledge and singing the national anthem ensures that eveyone sees themselves as equal and one, united people.
2) Do you respect other religions? Why or why not? What do you think of children who stay away from their parents' funerals because they believe the traditional rites are against their new religion?
6:36 AM
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Straits Times Reflection Term 3 Week 6 2E/NA
Home Section page 1 Elderly Falling Prey to 'Volunteer' Ruse (trick)
1a) What is the modus operandi (method of operating) of the con artists? Their modus operandi of the con artists is the con artists would disguise themselves to be volunteers from a welfare organisations on a project to spruce up the homes of these senior citizens or posing as health officier to con the senior citizens.
b) What are the Lion Befrienders planning to do to ensure the old folks do not get conned again? The Lion Befrienders have a full-time staff to introduce new volunteers to the senior citizens to ensure that the old folks recognise the people who visiting them.This will ensure that stranger will not make use of this opportunity to pose as new volunteers to con the elderly.
2) Do you like doing social work? Why or why not?
YES. Instead of spending my time doing things that are not beneficial like watching television excessively, doing social work is a much better way to spend my free time. Doing social work also inculcates many prized values like responsibility, emphathy and sincerity.It teaches us to be independent and face challenges head on. By doing social work, I will feel proub of myself for contributing back to the community. Even if it is a small deed, it can still make a difference. At the same time i can enrich my experiences and broaden my horizons on life. Through interaction with others, I will improve my social and communication skills which will benefit me in the long run. Apart from just donations to the charitable organizations, I actually can feel the difference I am making if I am involved in the social work and interacting with the people. Besides that, I will also realize how fortunate I am. Therefore, I like to do social work.
6:13 AM
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Straits Times Reflection Term 3 Week 5 2E/NA
In Section page 3 A Deadly Business
1a) What are the 2 worrying trends about drug trafficking mentioned in the article? There is an increasing trend of Singaporeans being arrested for drug crimes overseas. 330 people were arrested in Thailand and Malaysia. There is an increasing number of teens getting involved in the drug trade. Singaporeans are being used as drug mules overseas.
b) Why are Singaporeans increasingly being used as "drug mules"? As Singaporeans do not need a visa for many places, they clear the immigration checks faster. Singaporeans are also less likely to be checked because of Singapore's reputation for being tough on drugs.
2) What will you do if you find out that one of your friends is selling drugs? How will you react if someone tries to sell you drugs?
I will report him/her to the school counsellor, Mr Rashid. As Mr Rashid is more experienced, he will be able to give my friend greater support as well as guidance to help him/her stop the criminal act. If someone tries to sell me drugs, I would say "NOOO!!" because it is a waste of money and it will ruin my future.
6:54 AM
Straits Times Reflection Term 3 Week 4 2E/NA
Home Section Page 1 Hawkers fall prey to brazen break-ins.
1a) Why is it easy for burglers to break into stalls at the two markets in the Kallang area? The ceilings are open and this enables the burglars to easily get in. They could also climb up the pipes or metal bar running along the walls. In both markets, none of the stalls had their roller shutters and locks tampered with.
b) What is the Geylang East Central Merchants' Association going to do about the break-ins?
The Geylang East Central Merchants' Association, which oversees the Aljunied Ave 2 hawker centre, held a meeting a week after the July 8 burglary. Chairman Tan Seng Peng said they will be in touch with the relevant authorities, such as the NEA and the town councils, to look into improving security, possibly by modifying stall layout and design. The NEA responded that the stall-holders who want to equip their stalls with additional security features like grilles could apply to do so. They also wanted to make a drawing and measurements of the feature that they plan to install. But the stall owner have to pay administrative fees of $16 and a reinstatement deposit before any work is being done.
2. What do you think should be done to tighten the security of the markets? What do you think of the burglars who brazenly break into the stalls? I think that they should install CCTV so they are able to monitor the stalls closely. I think they should tighten the security by installing heavy padlocks and chains and also ensure that these resources are put to good use. Besides that, they could employ security guards to patrol the area once or twice a week.
6:45 AM
Straits Times Reflection Term 3 Week 3 2E/NA
In Section Page 8 3 Cheers for the Team
1. (a) Why is cheerleading an expensive sport? It requires a lot of money to buy the necessary equipment such as pom-poms,batons,uniforms and training mats.They also have to spend money for paying fees for training sessions.
(b) What makes cheerleading such a tough sport? They have to be physically fit and have stamina. In order to perform physically demanding stunts, they have to be flexible and able to stand the pain of muscle sprains and other minor injuries. They also have to attend rigorous training regularly.
2. What is your opinion of cheerleaders? If given a chance, would you join cheerleading? Why/ why not?
I think that cheerleaders are an important group of people, especially during games. They are the ones who maotivate and spur the team on. Without them, the team will give up easily. If given a chance, I would join cheerleading. I believe it will increase my stamnina. With regular training and exercise routines, i would also be more fit and healthy. I would be able to exercise while still having fun.
5:57 AM
Thursday, April 30, 2009
ST ONLINE REFLECTION TERM 2 WEEK 3SEC 2E/NA Save the planet? This is a job for school kids…(Part B – Home Section – Page B3) Qn1)What are some of the things that schools in Singapore are doing in order to take care of the environment? Qn2)Do you think one person's effort in reducing, reusing and recycling will make a difference in saving the environment? What steps have you taken in the effort to save the earth? (1)Schools have been asking students to bring along their house utility bills to school so as to keep track of each student's energy comsumption and also educating them on how to save energy.Schools like Lakeside Primary School set a goal for themselves to have at least 600 primary four and five students to take part in such excercise like the knock-on effect at home.keeping track of students' bills are also one of the competition categeory,Project Carbon Zero which is organised by the Singapore Environment Council(SEC) and the National Environment Agency(NEA) to engage the students in such activities to reduce the energy being used in their homes. (2)I strongly agree to this.When a person put in the effort to save the earth, the earth will have a lesser risk of any harm.When another person see's it, he/she will follow and more and more people will start to do so.To help the earth, I have switched off the electrical appliance when not in use,switched off the main switch of the television and use less computer and television. As a teenager like me, this is the minimum we can do,but just some other people didnt.