I ended 2010 with a D in ranking :(

For the teachers out there, this news will be as if someone has buried you alive and put a tombstone over.

FOR THE RECORD
My graduating pupils achieved good results during N levels 2009. All of them acheived 100% pass and 50% achived distinction. It was my best result too.

However
RO said that the N levels result is not important. It prepares the pupils for O levels. Hence it will not contribute to my ranking....????? N levels is a national examination and it is not important???? It really baffled me....

FOR THE RECORD
I think I was doing ok at my GEO scale and was promoted to the next GEO scale in 2009.

However
RO said that as the next GEO scale, I cannot compare up to those in the scale. Hence.I was given a 'D'. My question remains unasked by the RO, why am I ranked at the new scale when i have done all my work before OCT at the previous scale??? I was not paid at the new scale through the year, why should I be ranked at the new scale??? It is kind of a strange system. I wonder if there is anyone out there experience this... in schools or private sectors???

Of course, there were other comments like lack of written feedback and lack of rigour marking and giving written feedback (I gave verbal feedback) on EVERY marked assignments. Supposed to give marks for every question and total mark for EVERY marked assignment and fill in the content page.

DEAR RO, YOU MEAN THAT I DID NOT DO ANY WORK OF A TEACHER
Then how did my N levels pupils achieve 100% pass and 50% distinction in 2009????


Consider me emotional, but i still wondered how did I carry on teaching and preparing students for O levels after receiving the news. I can only cry out to GOD. ABBA FATHER, SAVE ME, BLESS THE WORKS OF MY HANDS. LET MY WORKS BE FRUITFUL FOR ALL TO SEE.

I only know my conscious is clear. I have done my best to help the pupils to filfull their dreams.

2010 already looks worse with the work plan from the RO.
I have only one thing to say to this RO:
"To improve results, all he has to do is to win the hearts of the staff.
We are professionals. We too want the results to improve."


Today I have read a wonderful verse which i believe it is timely
forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
see, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up;
do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.

- Isaiah 43:18-19
AMEN

The Fruits of My Labour 2009

2009 has been fruitful for my tuition students. They have performed beyond expectation and have made much improvements. I am hopeful that they will do even better as some of them face the 'O' levels next year.

This will sum up some of their performance as the 'O' levels batch will not know their results till next year much, but I believe they should be able to level up because

I managed to spot all (except 2) of the questions in E. Maths paper two.

a) Sec 3 pure physics (Chung Cheng Yishun) scored 83%
b) Sec 3 pure physics (Chung Cheng Yishun) scored 81%
c) Sec 3 pure physics (Chung Cheng Main) scored 76%
d) Sec 3 combined physics scored 61 out of 70 marks (Totally amazing!!!!)
e) Sec 3 combined physics scored 48 out of 70 marks (It is still amazing considering he failed sec 2 science and failed in the beginning of the year. If he continue to stick with me, he should be able to achieve distinction and I will continue to ensure my 100% distinction in Physics.)
f) Sec 1 science 20+ (28) out of 35 (Anglo-Chinese Baker Road) (Equally good improvement considering he was failing in the beginning of the year.

hahahahah

Oh yes. I need to collect data from my maths pupils so that I can update here.

Thus, I want to give the glory to GOD because He provide the victory (good results) as well as enquires for 2010. Haiz, 2010 will be an even more busy year.....

Anyone looking for tuition for pure physics, E maths and Add maths, lower secondary maths and science, do leave a message with your mobile number in the chatbox and I will get back asap.

The Academic Year is coming to a close!!!!! Bloody Phillip Securities!!!

The academic year is coming to a close. Why? The graduating class is about to face their worst nightmare (prelims) within this two months and soon it will be the actual 'O' levels. While the other levels will start their end of year examinations after the prelims are over. Then it will be almost over and time to prepare for the holidays. The year end holidays will be the time that most teachers look forward to as the week breaks and june holidays are usually taken up for extra classes and remedials.

One can never get used to this lifestyle even though I have gone through many cycles. Why do I say that? Because I still struggle to wake up every morning when it is still dark everyday. How I wished that I can sleep till I wake up naturally every morning (or noon) HAHAHA! Soon it will be primary school for my firstborn son. ARGH!! it is the struggle to wake him up and getting him to school, like what all parents face when their children reach school attending age. So no more sleeping in late, but what differences does it make? I am already waking up early now.

I asked myself, "why can't the school start later since most of the schools are single session?" It is becasue of some "selfish" self who will be late for work if school starts at 8am or 8:30am and it will result in school ending late and pupils will need to have lunch.(as if the secondary pupils are not already having lunch in school now.)


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About Pillip Securities

I should have blogged this earlier. What a bunch of irresponsible idiots!!!

In between the last blog till today, I have made a loss of $5k in the stock market. Thanks to the lousy system of Phillip Securities. My email response as below


I believe the company is liable for my loss. The reasons are as per below
1) Phillip Securities as a service provider should have a reasonable duty of care to upkeep and maintain the system to ensure smooth running of the system. No disclaimers can be used to escape liabilty to damages.

2) I have withdrawed the order as normal it is usually done after two to three minutes while still displaying the pending withdrawn message. Least that i expect, the transaction is done after i received the email one hour later. it is not reasonable to receive the confirmation of purchase through email only one hour after the transaction is done in this present time of IT era.

3) I did not receive any confirmation of transaction, hence i presumed that the transaction is not successful so I continue to make a second order and later withdraw the order, resulting a total of 5 lots of OCBC shares at the end of the day. The result of such transaction will not occur if the system is capable to handle the transaction smoothly.

4) To my knowledge, there are other consumers who have experienced such transaction that takes place as a result of the system. It is not reasonable for a broker to receive and take brokerage fee and clearing fee and commission to not take responsibility for the operation of the system.



Thinking that Singapore Investors Association is able to help, I joined them as a member but it is fruitless and there is no reply from them at all. (equally useless)


Hiaz, I am still suffering from the consequences of this loss. My advise to those still using Phillips Securities: they only want your money (bokerage and commision) when they always claim disclaimer when their system is faulty or cannot cope with the high traffic. They are not interested to help you make money (not service-orientated). They forgot Phillip Securities also make money when customers make transactions.They can all go burn in hell.

Child care leave – a privilege or an entitlement??

In this last week of school, I faced an interesting situation. My immediate reporting officer (RO) informed me that I had taken a high number of medical leave (MC) and child sick leave in the last one term, asking me to work on my health and keeping the numbers low.

Due to my bad experience last year, I felt slightly more sensitive about it. Why? Towards the end of the school term last year, the same RO informed me that I have not been given a good appraisal because of the high number of MCs in the year. It is going to affect the promotion timeframe, performance bonus and my annual increment because they are all tied to performance.

Honestly, now I am still quite calm after hearing about it and allowed me to reflect about. I have no queries about medical leave being an entitlement as written in the ministry of manpower website. But what I dislike is do not write in under the umbrella of benefit when it is not a benefit. What do I mean? We are entitled to 30 days of medical leave under the old scheme (the present is 14 days) but we are not expected to take any because it will affect the performance ranking. Obviously, these people do not understand the definition of benefits so let me help them by doing the research.

–noun
1.
something that is advantageous or good; an advantage: He explained the benefits of public ownership of the postal system.
2.
a payment or gift, as one made to help someone or given by a benefit society, insurance company, or public agency: The company offers its employees a pension plan, free health insurance, and other benefits.
3.
a theatrical performance or other public entertainment to raise money for a charitable organization or cause.
4.
Archaic. an act of kindness; good deed; benefaction.

From dicitionary.com

Similar definition in http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/benefit

1.
a. Something that promotes or enhances well-being; an advantage: The field trip was of great benefit to the students.
b. Help; aid.
2. A payment made or an entitlement available in accordance with a wage agreement, an insurance policy, or a public assistance program.
3. A public entertainment, performance, or social event held to raise funds for a person or cause.
4. Archaic A kindly deed.

From http://www.thefreedictionary.com/benefit

Interestingly, thefreedictionary.com included the word entitlement in the definition of benefit. Further search on entitlement bring up the word of a right granted by law or contract ( a right to benefits)

Apparently, it seems that it is preferred that teachers go to school sickly to clock attendance and teach at lower performance rate. I believe that I own it to my pupils that I give my 101% to my pupils during lesson time, doing it when I am not sufficiently fit is not being fair.

Besides, have we forgotten about the lessons we learned during the SARS period? If we are sick and not well, we should stay at home to rest and go to places that are crowded. (like schools, there are hundreds of pupils) I have seen pupils go to school when they are sick because the parents are not at home to take care of them. These pupils go to school tired and sickly and are not able to concentrate, what is the point of going to school then?

That brings me to the point that I need to take child sick leave because
1) My child needs to rest at home
2) My child may spread the illness to other children in the kindergarten and that is not being gracious (remember SARS)
3) My child needs to be separate from his sibling at least during the day to avoid the illness from spreading within the family.
4) I need to rest from caring for my child at night due to the illness.

Thus, however, child sick leave is also entitlement, as all forms of leaves are entitlement from the ministry of manpower website. And I believed that it is only my right to use my child sick leave if my child is sick and not be penalized as a result of it and having my performance ranking affected as a result of it. So much about the work-life balance – why preach about it when they do not practice it?

I finally awake and understand that working is a necessary evil to take care of my family. I work (I considered it as selling my time for money – “prostituting” myself for money) for the benefit of my family. If I am single, I may not even need to work (oops, that sounds spoilt) but this is one of the ways that the gahmen enslaved and trapped people in this country as I overhear some coffeeshop talk. Hahaha! The gahmen encouraged youths to get married, buy a nice and expensive flat, take as many loans as you like (housing, renovation, car and study loans) and have lots of children and work for the rest of your life, pay lots of tax and retire poor. As a result, we will not be able to migrate overseas.


I resolve today to work towards being rich and being financially free. Amen

One Laptop Per Child

i just received my OLPC from U.S.


It is really wonderful for a laptop with the cost price of slightly over US$100. It is so small and cute. The pictures taken from another source but it is the same. HEEHEE!!!

The OLPC is working on Linus which i am unfamiliar. Hmm... need some getting used to and have not figure out complately how it works. But according to specification, it has wifi.

For more information check out the OLPC website. By the way, the OLPC version will be out in November 2009 in two months time. Hmm......tempting but the price is US$399. *FAINT*

Back from Bangkok today from the protest - different view point from the media

Firstly, it is good to be back from Bangkok from a four days holiday. I left with the understanding that the protest has started. But we still went ahead as planned.

After we reached there, it is peaceful as usual. (Business as usual) the danger and mess that is protrayed in the media is only restricted to an area of Bangkok. Generally, the people want to continue with their livehood, doing business or work to feed their family.

This turn of event gave me a few thoughts that I will like to record before I add more details.

1) Democracy is political system of the majority. (Define Democracy)
The Thailand government is the elected by the majority of the people. The minority should follow the will of the majority. If the minority is unpleased with the elected government, then they should wait for the next election to elect their desired leadership. If the present government is incompetent, the people who elected will vote for the opposition.

2) Protest is wrong. It is against the Law.
How can we trust the leadership of the protesters when they create unrest and disorderliness, roit against the police and causing damage to public property and private property. Is that the behaviour of good leadership?


3) Protest creates a unsafe environment for the tourism.
As usual, the Singapore Government discourage people to travel the Bangkok for the same reason. Tourists avoid the country and it hurts the tourism business. (I did not check the data, but I believe a good amount of the GDP is from tourism.

4) Protest is not in the interest of the country.
THe protesters claim to do it in the interest of the country but business is hurt, the country economic is hurt. Then how can it be in the interest of the country.

Disruption to the public transport system is not in the interest of the country.

5) Protesters livehood is affected
Just think for a moment, the protesters sit there for days. Where are they going to get the income to support their family? And they claim that times are bad and the economic of the country is bad. (It is time to wake up to WORK for a living, find a job. Money do not drop from the sky or grow on trees. Unless you own an orchard.)

6) Who provide the meals to the protesters??
If we look at the images from the media, we can see people provide meals to the protesters. In order to feed the hundreds and thousands, a good amount of money has to be provided. I wonder where the money come from. I read from the Straits Times that one of the eight leaders of the protest is a media tycoon. The word "tycoon" from dictionary.com means
1.
a businessperson of great wealth and power; magnate.
2.
(often initial capital letter) a title used with reference to the shogun of Japan.

How interesting....

In conclusion, good economic comes from good government with good stablity: political stablity and social stablity for growth and dvelopment.

The people of Thailand should not join the protest because when the opposition feel that they do not have the support of the people, they will not be able to protest any farther. One may not support the government, but go on do a good jobb in the workplace to ensure good economics for oneself and the country.

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