[Vnbiz] Education Reform: Gifts for Teachers

[Shane Wall]

Dear CACC,
   As a teacher at one of the most well known schools in HCMC, whose
children are ALL from rich families, it would be very easy to do something
similar. However, to do so would be a direct (bad) reflection on my own lack
of moral and social responsibility, to say nothing about tarnishing the name
and image of this honored and respected profession.
 
   In my classes, from Grades 1 to 5, I have been subtly insisting that the
best way any student at any level can honor their teacher(s) is to respect
them by working hard, getting a good understanding of what they learn (NOT
'good grades - there is a difference), and helping others understand. I tell
them that if they do that everyday, then they have no reason to give me
anything more than a "Happy Teacher's Day" greeting and wishes in class, or
just a simple card.
 
   For me, the problems stem from parents as much as from 'wayward'
teachers. If all the parents in a particular class or school were to refuse
to "pay" for high marks - which are worthless unless they are true - then
the teachers bluff would be called! No teacher could ever give every student
a bad mark in their class! If all the students get 2/10, then the teacher is
not teaching well enough!!!
 
   Sadly, I don't see this issue going away anytime soon. I trust Dr. Nhan,
the Minister, will make some widespread, maybe even sweeping, changes, but
while ever the parental mindset is focussed on "Get good grades, even if
they are ffake! Get good grades, even if they are fake! Get good grades,
even if they are fake!", then all the problems will still be there.
 
   As far as grading goes, I believe I am held to the truth by my beliefs,
my personal integrity, my professional ethics and above all, for the future
good of the child being graded. If a child's parents can "pay" for good
grades throughout school, even university, then when that child hits the
"real world" of employment, they will quickly be found wanting and become a
failure more often than not. Give me an average 5-6/10 child who strives
their hardest, and I will give you a successful adult!!!
 
Just some thoughts from the teacher's side.
 
Have a learning day!
Shane
-------------------------------------
Mr. Shane Wall
Principal
 
shane.wall at translingualexpress.com
Mbl: +84 (090) 9484 753
Tel: +84 (8) 820 9143
 
www.translingualexpress.com <http://www.translingualexpressk.com/> 
-----Original Message-----
From: vnbiz-bounces at mail.saigon.com [mailto:vnbiz-bounces at mail.saigon.com]
On Behalf Of Tran Dinh Hoanh
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2006 7:00 AM
To: vnbiz at vietlinks.net
Subject: [Vnbiz] Education Reform: Gifts for Teachers


Dear CACC,
 
A couple of weeks back, anh Nguyen Viet Dung reminded us of Ngay Nha Giao on
November 20.  Today, some of my young relatives in Tay Ninh reminded me
again of that day, with not-very-flattering information.
 
Teachers at their schools are requiring students to give teachers gifts.
And the gifts are not supposed to be flowers (they don't last long).
Fragrance and more deluxe items were mentioned.  Students understand that if
they don't have expensive gifts, they won't have good grade (I don't know if
the teachers really spell this out.  But that is the students'
understanding).  Poor families that do not have enough to eat still have to
sacrifice many other things to buy expensive gifts so that their children
can have good grade. 
 
Of course, we know that this kind of thing is happening in many parts of the
country, not just one school here and there.
 
So could we have some kind of government order that specifically limits the
value of a gift that each teacher may receive?  The limit probably should be
both individual (each individual gift has to be under certain monetary
amount) and total (the total value of gifts from each class has to be under
certain monetary amount).    
 
Also we need to have some kind of campaign that tells teachers to teach
children good ways to show appreciation, instead of using The Teachers' Day
to train the little children in the art of robbery.
 
Have a great day!
 
Hoanh

-- 
Tran Dinh Hoanh, LLB, JD
Attorney of Law
Washington DC 
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