2024年2月22日 星期四

Fruitless struggle for her betterment

After witnessing the predicament faced by my student, I am now bewildered and reserved on the assertion that education is for betterment of life.


Ms Khu, an OKU student of mine, became a quadriplegic after a horrific accident in 1999. She was paralysed from the neck injured and has to be seated in a wheelchair for the rest of her life. Because of her immobile and asymmetrical condition, her mother quit her job and took care of her full time. Incidentally her mother was illiterate but she knew the importance and role of education. Under her constant advice and infusion, her daughter, Khu, realized the importance of the education for her survival on the route for her future independent living.


Before the fate-changed accident, Khu was a high school student in Kedah. The accident had derailed her study as her movement was confined to bed and wheel-chair in her daily activities. Realizing the importance to her especially as an OKU, two years after the accident, she went back to school continuing her high school education. After completing her high school education, Khu decided to further her study in Tuanku Abdul Rahman (TAR) college in Penang. This was the time when I knew her through the former President of Society of Disabled Persons Penang.


Since Khu moved to Penang, she had been under my guidance as an English teacher for numerous years. My sharing with her and my constant emphasis to her was that Education was for her life betterment and the solution for independent living. I reiterated that only knowledge with wisdom enriched from education, obstacles and hindrance in life will be solved, cleared or reduced. Khu’s never-say-die attitude had railed her through high school education, first-class honors degree in Social Sciences and finally master-degrees in Sociology.


However, it seemed to me that I had misled her that education would definitely help her as till to date, despite her many attempts she still could not find a job to enable her to gain a humble living. After completion of her master-degree course in USM almost 7 years till now has been struggling but repeatedly failing to get employed both in private and public sectors. Despite her quadriplegic condition, when she was called for an interview she would attend irrespective the distance. Once, she even travelled to Bangi from Penang to attend the interview with her limited monthly income spending on travelling and lodging. But the end result was the same and unsuccessful!


What a sarcasm to my repeated encouragement and advice to her that only education was the right route for her to weather the storm in her future in spite of her quadriplegic. I am in dilemma whether her frequent failures to get jobs would discourage her to share her experience of her achievement to motivate students especially those OKU as she was often invited by some schools showcasing on stages disseminate her challenges in her studying life as a student.


To me, if she gets employed she can be an exemplary model for other OKU to follow. But now clearly and surely her repeated failure may dim the hope as a model for those unfortunate that education is for betterment of life. It is a setback and also a disappointment to her. Hopefully, fighting spirit will be always with her and the present failure to secure a job will not erode her confidence.


Our government has, time and again, called on public sector to employ more disabled people or OKU in the workforce in order to achieve one per cent employment target. To this appeal, I wonder have the various government departments taken the initiative to answer this persuasion?

2024年2月7日 星期三

False hope on her struggle for betterment

What a setback and disappointment to her, an OKU, who graduated with a master-degree but fails to get a job despite her numerous and continuous attempts! And what a ridicule to my repeated encouragement and advice to her that only education was the right route for her to weather the storm in her future in spite of her quadriplegic. To be frank, after graduation, her attendances to the interview for jobs always end up with failure for her to secure a job to enable her to have a decent and independent living.


Ms Khu, an OKU student of mine, now a close friend of mine became a quadriplegic after a horrific accident in 1999 and was paralysed from the neck injured and has to be seated in a wheelchair for the rest of her life. Because of her immobile and asymmetrical condition, her mother resigned from her job and took care of her. Though her mother was illiterate, she knew the importance and role of education in daily lives. Under her constant advice and infusion, her daughter, Khu, realized the importance of the education on her future.


Before the accident, Khu was an ordinary high school student in Kedah. Knowing the importance of education, she passed her SPM in spite of her quadriplegic and furthered her study in Penang Tar college. This was the time when I knew her through the former President of Society of Disabled Persons Penang. She has been under my guidance as an English teacher for numerous years. My sharing with her and constant emphasis to her was Education was for life betterment and solution for independent living. Only knowledge via learning, obstacles and hindrance in life will be solved and reduced with wisdom enriched from education. Her never-say-die attitude had railed her through high school education, first-class honors degree in Social Sciences and finally master-degrees in Sociology. But to me, it seemed to me I had misled her that education would definitely help her as she still could not find a job to enable her to gain a humble living.


There is a quota for government department on the employment of OKU, however, it seems that the door has been shut to her. Khu, an student, after completion of her master-degree course in USM almost 7 years till now has been struggling hard but repeatedly failing to get employed both in private and public sectors. Despite her quadriplegic condition, when she was called for an interview she would attend irrespective the distance, Once, she even travelled to Bangi from her home town in Penang to attend the interview with her limited monthly income spending on travelling and lodging. But the end result was unsuccessful ! Khu, Is she an exemplary lesson for me to reiterate and repeat that education is for betterment of life? From Khu’s repeated failure to secure a job, have I to rescind ?

2024年2月6日 星期二

得理要饶人

龙年,谈龙最恰当合适。对于华人,龙与神明相配相合,在漫画和神话中,许多神明甚至观世音菩萨不时站在龙背上从天而下!其实,从“龙”要攻击对方的动作,我们可理悟龙的层次面的实际举动,运转成为日常与人处世的态度,来减少我们与那些时常格格不入的友人的摩擦?


龙是与蛇一样的,龙要攻击对方之前,其龙头往往是向后方退缩。如果龙头退缩的距离或角度离对方越远,冲力顺势增强,攻击力度也因此更强劲而猛。在日常生活中,与人互动时、如果意见不和,各持己见 ,矛盾激化时,对方的突然沉默和退缩,可否是犹如《龙》的退缩后来一个正面的反击?


老虎与敌扑斗时,老虎想要扑前,虎头就往下低。虎头越贴近地面,它就能跳得高,其伤害力和攻击力度也是顺势增强。想想看,与人相持不下,咄咄逼人,形势比对方强时,对手突然向你低头,可否是对方准备来个反攻反击呢?所以,与人剑拔弩张,争执时,某方有沉默退缩时,我们可要视可而止,得饶人处而饶人不要再咄咄逼人;可不要有错觉认定对方理亏,再乘机逼近!不要把人逼入死胡同,其反击的力度是难以估计的。同样的道理,在球场上,缺乏经验的新手,没有观察力,眼光不锐,对手的一个假动作就很容易被误导受骗,最后把球赛弄输了!


球员的假动作,龙的退缩举动和虎头的下低是备战的前序,可不是让某方有机可趁,占便宜的机会!所以,一个人在顺境时,除了要谦虚,更要依据对方的反应来调整自己的言行,得理要饶人,善行谨慎可规避不必要的持续争执和敌对!对方的突然沉默或打退堂鼓,可是机缘来脱束自己的紧绷心情,嚣张口气。忍一时风平浪静,退一步海宽天空。误解可是缺乏理解和沟通吧!龙的退缩举动和虎头的下低可不是咄咄逼人啊?空间挤压出,你还要趁机?

2023年12月18日 星期一

哎呀哎,只好再等人民当老板的那一天的到来!

以巫统为首的国阵失去政权后,由公正党为首的希盟掌权,执政中央后的今天,老百姓的日常生活是否有改变呢?如果有,其影响会是怎样的呢?对于我,政权的改变却致使我的日常生活有着三百六十度的倒置性的转变!说起来,你们会不信!现在我是过着《无风无夜有蚊》的日子,孩子也因此可选择不再在家同住了!换了政府,希盟替代国阵后,新的政府让我的生活有了很大的变化!


何谓《无风无夜有蚊》?那就是,没有风,只有白天没有无夜晚,有蚊虫陪住的生活!让我来描述我住家的环境,你就会了解我目前的真实情况。我是住在组屋一楼逾五十年,楼下的底层右边是一间开杂货店,我家的窗口与客厅是面对一片大平原。就因如此,虽然不是整天凉风习习,但空气流通,是日常的景气。然卧室的窗口直接对着杂货店的小广告牌,但这广告牌的高度并没把我那40寸X 72寸卧室的窗口完完全全的覆盖着,无论是白天夜晚,总会有风吹进来;尤其是年尾的十二月,我和`我家人还会面对寒冷的北风,甚至夜晚披被入睡!但这一切都改变了!自从团结政府掌权后,团结政府中的某成员就与底层杂货店的老板协商租下该店装修为政党的办事处。装修中的工程包括竖起在杂货店屋顶和在我家卧室窗口前一个 约48 寸X 230寸的该政党的告示牌。施工完成后,我的卧室的窗口完全的被告示牌遮掩着,那时刻起,我就开始生活在无风的日子;如今高吹北风的日子,我还需开风扇,开冷气机才能入睡。



不但如此,为了引起众人在夜晚对告示牌的注意,承包商还竖起两支高于告示牌的太阳能灯,直接地照射告示牌。太阳能灯的光线也直接照进我的卧室内,顿时光线充足,让睡惯夜晚的家人难于安眠,只好等到太阳能灯的光微弱后才能入睡。这是否是变相无夜的日子? 何谓有蚊呢?装修中,该政党的办事处屋顶边缘处有点竖高,装修后有少许的杂物没清理,雨后积水是常态。积水滋蚊,孩子被蚊叮,患了骨痛热症。孩子愈后,怕会再被蚊子叮,在确定没积水没蚊虫才留家过夜了!


新政府改变了我的新生活,挨了多个月,我也习惯了。朋友问我有否向处在我楼下的政党办事处投诉。当然,那是肯定的!我的投诉不是不可能拆除的广告牌和太阳能灯,而是可解决的积水滋蚊的事!我至今共投诉两次。第一次,办事处职员听后,没有做任何的记录;第二次,另一位职员听后,只是把我的投诉写在小纸张,至今没行动,前后两次职员敷衍的态度,让我心寒,我不再投诉了。毕竟人民是老板的那天已过了。如果要有任何的改变,需再等那天到来,但还要等多四年啊!无风无夜驱蚊的日子,还是要我过,还是要我面对啊!

2023年11月29日 星期三

批评时宜吗?

不一样的学历与经验自然地就会出现不同的看法和意见,这现象是必然性的。争执与争论的产生乃至双方的分析宽度与了解深度不同也!如果看法和意见不异,放下执着,交换意见进一步了解,误解可降低。以下几个小故事,也许可让我们在日常生活中的面对不同看法时,可开导一二!
一般上,许久没到访的朋友突然来访时,我们有时在不询求到访者的意见,就倒水倒茶请他或她喝。万一,对方不喝时,我们肯定会很在意;如果是甜的饮料,我们还可接受;也许我们会认为对方是不喝一切甜的食物和饮料。但如果那是一小杯的温水,力邀对方喝时却不接受,我们的反应会很在意,内心不爽而埋怨!这不爽与埋怨是对拒绝者表面的反应,但在次层底下,我们可否知道对方不喝是因为他是位肾病患者,入口的饮水受到限制不像一般人可随时性!对方得肾病,也只有家人知道别人不知! 这是单靠看表面,失标的评论!


几年前,每次的学校的年终晚宴,我会用车载着一名年迈的李姓同事一起出席。这位李同事是与其妻子共住,孩子们成家立业后就搬出过着他们自己的生活。就因如此,每年的学校宴会,我就会很自动的去到他家载他共同出席。李同事也很高兴与我共车。这共车赴宴之事,连续了好几年,而李同事因年迈走动也逐渐缓慢许多。某年近晚宴时,突然校长来到我的班上,吩咐我以后不要再载李同事出席晚宴了。说完没解释就离开,让我莫名其妙。一般人肯定会有负面的想法,但为了求正,在下课后,我立刻去办公室找校长。问清楚后才明白校长的用心良苦!校长对我说:“你一直载李老师出席宴会,他孩子知道吗?让他孩子载吧!让他孩子知道他的身体状况!让他孩子知道李老师要人照顾吧!张老师,你好心载李老师,反而让他孩子以为他父亲还是不需他人照顾,还可行动无阻呢!”。 是的,持续性的帮扶,需配合应对性调整; 看表面再问清楚,让有关人士澄清,就没误解和误会!


在轻轨列车厢内,挤满了乘客,但却有座位只置放着一个瓷瓶和一张登车卡,明显的表示瓷瓶是有付款占位的;其旁边正坐着一位双眼紧闭的女乘客。看了这情景,不少乘客低声批评。“什么耍大牌,连一个瓷瓶也要买席位霸占他人的席位!”;“关上了眼睛,不忍看到一群人在站吗?”;“有钱就是有钱!手不能拿住瓷瓶吗?”。这就是乘客发出的不满声音。不久,列车到了终站,乘客们先后下车离开后,这位女乘客端起一直放在她身边的瓷瓶,然后呜咽低声对它说:妈妈,到了终站,我们要下车了!我也圆满你的愿望陪你一起坐列车从机场回家。”。“妈妈,对不起,我从来没和你同坐车一起回家!”。看吧!批评谁都会!但正确吗?合时宜吗? 没了解只看表面,就开口指指点点,会否给对方第二次伤害呢?

环顾我国目前的政坛风气,似乎是一天小争论,三天一大吵;今天是你骂我,明天我会悍,谁是谁非?错的还要争论。这犹如麻布袋里的菱角,硬要钻出来,有的更是麻袋绣花,底子不行还是每天抄新闻,弄到老百姓都很烦!所以,我们老百姓可要有耐心,不要立刻从表面下果断,可要分析后才论。听其言,观其行,还要证其为!

2023年11月16日 星期四

当焦点失衡时!

时间是凌晨约三点,在日本福冈市国际机场的巴士站等待机场大门重开时,我亲眼目睹日本人在道路上时对交通规则的遵守态度和精神,让我非常的惊讶和佩服。凌晨时分,机场周边是僻静没有任何人影,马路上也没有任何车辆,只有那些在进行机场扩充工程的工人。这些工人须不时横过马路搬运建筑材料或支援运作。但每次横过马路时,虽然没车没人,这些搬运工人在横过马路时,都利用行人横道,按了交通信号按钮,等着信号灯从红转绿后才横过马路。你相信吗?在夜深人静时,路上没人没车,等着信号灯从红转绿后,才横过马路!是的,如果我没有亲眼目睹,我也不信!在白天,日本人也是很遵守交通规则,撞红灯犯规的百分比极低。驾车人士在没交通灯的十字路口都会把车的速度降低慢行让路人先过。可见,日本政府向其人民灌输的交通规则的教育很成功,其人民对遵守交通规则的态度也反映了他们在利用公路时所表现出的礼让,容忍和相互尊重的厚度。


在我国,撞红灯犯规还有许多不遵守交通规则的事件是司空见惯之事;可见我国政府向人民灌输的交通规则的教育有待提升的必要!《道路安全运动》也不时有在学校推行,为何效应不达标呢?很明显问题就是在向学生灌输的交通规则的指南的过程,没有明确的焦点指向性!一般上,学习过程是从认知,复习,分析其对与错,好与坏才接受后成习惯。如果学习过程与学习者的喜爱串接,那就可能会产生不一样的效应!举个例子,一位思想尚未成熟但热爱赛车者,在出席《道路安全运动》时,他们的目光往往是瞄准车辆和速度,交通规则可不是重点。所以,使用道路时的礼让,容忍和相互尊重是次要了。是否是巧合还是负面效应的,这值得我们去深思为何在半夜三更,凌晨时三五成群的轻少年在马路上飙车,赛车等,忽视了其他道路使用者的安全!


同样地,在推动《反战运动》,《反暴力运动》,《醒觉运动》时,我们是否有考虑那些轻少年的思想的成熟度和他们对主题的演绎能力?全校的学生不分年纪,班级共同出席聆听观看同样的演讲与短片,脑海内的思维是什么?协商?以和为贵?退一步海阔天空!还是以牙还牙?以暴制暴?没完没了!无可否认,向青少年转达信息,因个人的理解有异,不是主持人在误导,而是听者在解译中出现了错觉!有了错觉,自然地,就有必然性的反应!