No context, no credibility
Still on the subject of the suspended CSE, there was an open letter penned by law undergrad Leon Ryan that truly hit the nail on the head. It is a pretty long one, so I'll suggest you pop over to the new We-Are-Aware website to have a look here: Leon Ryan's Open Letter to MOE. It is a remarkable letter, and particularly pertinent because he is still in the education system unlike most of the usual commenters like yours truly. It provides context and a view from the ground, which has strangely been largely ignored until now.
To provide the contrast, the first comment it drew was revealing. I will quote Mr Lawrence Ang here:
Zero context. Zero participation. Total armchair critic and dogmatic, unquestioning deference to authority. And here's my response (which is awaiting moderation, so you read it here first people).
I wanted to write a short response, but my brains and fingers took it and ran. Hope you guys enjoyed it, feedback and comments are welcome.
As a product of the Singaporean education system, I am fully supportive of the MOE’s suspension of the highly irresponsible position taken by AWARE in their stance towards sexual education. Moreover, it is absolutely nauseating that after being chided by the MOE, the response has been one of resistance to change and compromise with the MOE, who represents the interest of the majority of the singaporean students , their parents and families. As for Leon’s open letter, I am afraid to say that the majority of Singaporeans will not be able to grasp let alone understand the point Leon is trying to make.
I find it hard to believe Leon is a law undergraduate, and if he continues writing like that, I am afraid he may never graduate.
Zero context. Zero participation. Total armchair critic and dogmatic, unquestioning deference to authority. And here's my response (which is awaiting moderation, so you read it here first people).
Mr Ang, have you actually gone through the CSE yourself? Do you know that all sexuality education programs by all external vendors have been suspended, and not only AWARE's? And what "irresponsible position" has AWARE taken? The only irresponsible position that is taken is the one by MOE. The suspension of sexuality education programs again mean that the students, who are the ones who benefit from the knowledge gleaned, have nowhere to turn to but the internet. While the information they can find are not easily verifiable, nor do they have the advantage of experienced trainers who will guide them in this potential minefield of confusion. I do not believe MOE represent the interest of the majority of the Singaporean students, because if they do, then the suspension of the programs, which up until the suspension, have not received negative feedback from participants or their parents, is an action that goes against the practices of the scientific method, which is a cornerstone of a modern education and critical thinking. An approach that advocates burying your head in the sand regarding any subject is detrimental to the development of our future minds and leaders. And this is where MOE, and where criticism aimed at the CSEs, especially from non-participants, have failed. I also find your statement about the "majority of Singaporeans will not be able to grasp let alone understand the point" very interesting. Most Singaporeans are, as you said, a "product of the Singaporean education system". Even myself. But if this majority is assumed to not understand Leon's letter, then MOE has already failed generations of Singaporeans. That is a bigger issue than the CSEs, do you not think so? As for your fear that "he may never graduate", I think we can all rest assured that if Leon can write such a letter, he is more than adequately equipped to do well in his field of study. More interestingly, your comment seemed to indicate a deference to authority without questioning, almost like the MOE is dogma. I believe that to be yet another failure of the MOE and our society in failing to produce students who can critically and objectively assess different issues and scenarios, taking into account the context. I will not assume that your mindset is what I can expect from the majority of Singaporeans. But if it is, then the education system has failed in its most fundamental requirements. This country deserves, and needs, better than that.
I wanted to write a short response, but my brains and fingers took it and ran. Hope you guys enjoyed it, feedback and comments are welcome.
