Sir Ken Robinson: Do schools kill creativity?

Quite an old video, but I find it still interesting and relevant in today's education environment, especially in Malaysia.

In my opinion, parents nowadays should be more proactive in their children's education, or rather more accurately, teaching them the skills of learning. Schools do not teach that. Today, more than ever, schools have become too exam oriented. The method of instruction play a crucial role. Currently, school children are not encouraged to be creative, to experience & experiment, to discover. These are skills that will provide them with the right attitude and capacity to seek knowledge for themselves.

The interesting is, when left alone, without any adult interference in their learning experience, they are actually able to learn faster. It's as if kids are born with a natural ability to learn on their own. Below is a video titled: Sugata Mitra's new experiments in self-teaching.

In the working world, we often see employees waiting to be given instructions and directions from their superiors or employer. Why? Because they were conditioned since they were young. How the brain develops during childhood will determine the outcome in adulthood.

New Perspectives on Early Brain Development

Of all the discoveries that have come out of brain research in recent years, one of the most intriguing has been a hint of how the neural circuitry develops. The “wiring” of the brain is an amazing phenomenon of precision considering that the mature brain contains in excess of 100 billion neurons that are intricately connected with one another in ways that make possible the amazing functions underlying human behavior. Each neuron links up with thousands of other neurons to form trillions of connections. The total length of “wiring” between neurons is estimated at 62,000 miles (Coveney & Highfield, 1995).

As early as 15 years ago researchers believed that the wiring diagram for each person was primarily “programmed” by one’s genetic blueprints, much like the wiring of a new house before being occupied. However, the contemporary view is that while the main circuits may be prewired, such as for breathing, control of heart beat, and reflexes, other basic pathways are quite rudimentary, containing trillions of finer “unprogrammed” tentative connections. These connections are dependent upon stimulation from the environment and experience in the environment. It is this stimulation that completes the architecture of the brain.

Scientists now believe that to achieve the precision of the mature brain, stimulation in the form of movement and sensory experiences during the early developing years is necessary (Greenough & Black, 1992; Shatz, 1992). Experience appears to exert its effects by strengthening and bonding synapses, which are the connections that are made between neurons. Connections that are not made by activity, or are weak, are “pruned away,” much like the pruning of dead or weak branches of a tree. If the neurons are used, they become integrated into the circuitry of the brain. Due to differences in experience, not even identical twins are wired the same (Chugani, 1998).

 Source: Optimizing Early Brain and Motor Development Through Movement

Crime - some video footages

Below are some video footages I came across on youtube. Some are quite graphic but that's the reality of crimes...

Another angle of the above robbery.

Notice the pistol on one of the robbers.

Death penalty threat for polluters in China

Polluters in China could soon face the death penalty after the authorities stepped up the courts’ powers to punish firms who carry out grievous environmental crimes.

A judicial clarification took effect this week guaranteeing the enforcement of environment-related laws and regulations “which have long been lax and superficial in China,” the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The move is a “powerful legal weapon” for enforcing protection, the report said.

“In the most serious cases the death penalty could be handed down,” it added. The death penalty is usually imposed for corruption and other economic crimes.

Public anger is rising over the country’s appalling environmental record. The cities are choking with smog and factories have done serious damage to the country’s rivers.

“The watchdog will strengthen monitoring measures, especially on enterprises that are located in environmentally-sensitive areas where major pollution accidents have happened,” the statement said.

Source:  Death penalty threat for polluters in China

Now, that is what I call being serious.

Rising crime rate in Malaysia

 IIUM lecturer Prof Datuk Seri Dr Syed Arabi Idid said the results of the nationwide study, conducted between April 6 and 14, showed that crime had surpassed economic woes as the main worry.

“While the results of a survey in March 2008 found that the state of the economy was the major anxiety among Malaysians, this has slowly given way to concern over crime,” he said.

However, in April, there was a drop in perception to 15% from 25% recorded in March. 

Source: Crime the number one worry for Malaysians, survey finds

 

Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said police bashing would not help solve the problem, but sharing and implementing ideas in preventing and solving it was the preferred approach.

He thus called on all Malaysians from all levels of society to be united as one in combating crime. 

Source: Malaysian society must be united as one in fighting crime - MCPF

The statement by Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye is nothing new. It is a very general view without any solutions. Police bashing by certain segments of society stems from frustrations. It is not because the people hate the police. After all these years, nothing concrete has come out of all the discussions, studies, KPIs, etc. 

The rising crime and insecurity of the people is not a matter of perception. It is reality.

I think it is about time we skip the rhetorics and seriously make an effort to address this problem. I think after years of conducting studies, ideas, discussions, forums, KPIs, indexes, etc. is enough already.

What is the solution then? How come things are deteriorating? 

How often do we see this?

Source

or this?

Source

Meanwhile the people have to do this:

Source

Source

Tell me, what else can the public do to protect ourselves? What options do we have?

The criminals' arsenal:

 

The public?

‘Whipping’ for robbers

Pepper spray

 Obviously, the public are sitting ducks for the criminals. 

 

Source

More upsetting news:
Steps to avoid rape and robbery

The latest discussion on Malaysians Against Rape, Assault & Snatch (MARAH) revolves around the fact that criminals are now targeting foreigners and tourists as well as Malaysian women for brutal acts of robbery and rape.

A 25 year-old American teacher was recently robbed and raped by a bogus taxi driver after she finished her shopping at a mall.

She got into the cab and the driver picked up another man a short distance away. She was then taken on an 80km terror ride from Mutiara Damansara to a house in Sungai Pelek, Sepang.

During the journey, she was robbed and one of her two abductors raped her. She eventually managed to escape and sought the assistance of passers-by before lodging a police report.

In another incident in Rawang, two Austrian sisters were viciously attacked and robbed when several criminals slashed them in Templer Park, then ran off with their passports and belongings.

  

Perhaps we should really look at socials issues more seriously. Everything that happens has a cause. As we know, some of the known causes for crime are poverty, greed, unemployment & substance abuse.

In Buddhism there is also mention of principles of government. For instance, one of the duties of an emperor is to share wealth to the needy. Buddhism recognizes the importance of wealth in worldly society. Poverty and need are important causes of crimes and social evils, and it is considered the responsibility of the state or government to look after and apportion wealth to poor citizens and to remove poverty from the land. To do this, many methods are required, in keeping with each situation, especially creating opportunities for the people to pursue honest livelihoods, giving career support, allocating funds and equipment, as well as preventing and controlling unfair and wrongful methods, exploitation, etc. We can see from the Buddhist viewpoint that the state has a major role in the economy, unlike the economics of liberalism in which the state has only a minor economic role.

The quote above is an excerpt from my previous post: Business Buddhist Ethics

Haze - Smoking gun in Malaysian hands

(Jakarta Post) - Plantation companies have often ordered local people to burn forest or peatland near their concessions, hoping that the fire will spread onto their land. “Once the fire takes hold of their concessions, the companies shift the blame onto the local residents as if the fire had accidentally and spread to their land.

Preliminary investigations have singled out eight plantation companies owned by Malaysian investors as the source of forest fires in Riau that have caused Southeast Asia’s worst ever air pollution crisis.

The Environment Ministry’s deputy for environmental degradation and climate change, Arief Yuwono, said that under the environment law, the penalties for causing illegal forest fires are a maximum of 10 years in prison and fines of up to 5 billion rupiah (US$504,000).

Six other companies are also involved, but Balthasar refused to name them.

Source: Smoking gun in Malaysian hands

 Obviously, the countries involved, Singapore, Malaysia & Indonesia, are putting on a show for the public. You know, blaming each other, issuing threats, pretending they are working hard to find a solution. Once the haze passes, it'll be life as usual... 

The laws are in place. (I think it is too lenient)
- maximum of 10 years in prison and fines of up to 5 billion rupiah (US$504,000).

 The evidence is there.
- satellite images & the haze

The culprits are identified.

 - eight plantation companies owned by Malaysian investors 

-  Six other companies are also involved, but Balthasar refused to name them.

What are they waiting for?

Haze: Impact on economy minimal, say experts

The problem, however, would not be serious enough to affect the country's gross domestic product (GDP), said RAM Holdings Group chief economist Dr Yeah Kim Leng.

He said tourism, leisure and restaurant businesses stood to lose the most at this point.
"Malaysians only need to worry if the haze grows to hazardous levels over the next few weeks or months," he said.

Dr Yeah said the losses in the current haze situation could be in the millions of ringgit but "not hundreds of millions".

Ambank Group chief economist Anthony Dass said that although work productivity and consumer spending would take a hit due to the haze, the economic impact was "minimal and negligible".

He added that the haze situation could be considered tolerable now as many people could still be seen going about their daily activities.

"However, if the haze worsens and the Government takes drastic precautionary measures like asking people not to go outdoors, we may see a more serious impact to our daily life," he added.

Source: Haze: Impact on Malaysia economy minimal, say experts

 I really think these people are a totally different species of humans. To them, everything is about money, economy and profits. Granting that they are economists giving their views, they should at least be a little less condescending.

I doubt the economy is the first thing on the people's mind when they are now choking on the haze! Not everything in life is about money.

Haze Update - Setting new record

Pix source: The Star

1. Number of hotspots doubled

" KUALA LUMPUR: The number of hot spots detected in Sumatra via satellite NOAA-18 on Saturday rose almost two fold to 118 from 64 on Friday."

"The stations which were at unhealthy levels were:

Selangor: Port Klang at 192, Petaling Jaya (125), Banting (115), Shah Alam (112) and Kuala Selangor (104).

Kuala Lumpur: Cheras (111) and Batu Muda (108). Negeri Sembilan: Nilai (106), Seremban (104) and Port Dickson (184).

Johor: Pasir Gudang (110), Larkin (117) and Kota Tinggi (124).

Pahang: Indera Mahkota (107) and Balok Baru (149). Terengganu: Paka (105) and Kemaman (153).
Based on the API, the readings of between 0 and 50 is categorised as good, 51 to 100 (moderate), 101 to 200 (unhealthy), 201 to 300 (very unhealthy) and 300 upwards, dangerous."


Things are getting from bad to worse. Since yesterday afternoon, the situation was already apparent in Selangor. Today, it got worse. Visibility in the afternoon was estimated to be around 5km. I knew the haze was from Sumatra because the acrid burning smell was very mild. When the burning smell is strong, it usually means it came from local sources.

All schools in KL & Selangor will be closed tomorrow (Monday).

See how much hardship it causes the people. Working parents will have to make last minute plans for their school-going kids. Will the various parties responsible be able to take care of these kids while their parent go off to work? I can't imagine the suffering for those who are suffering from medical conditions, especially respiratory related like asthma or pneumonia.

This should be classified as a crime against humanity.

2. New record

API in Muar spikes at 746

 It is more than double the official API for hazardous levels which is 300 and above.

The fact that the number of hotspots increasing two-fold confirms that they are still starting new fires! All those press statements the last couple of weeks are nothing more than hot air! All these authorities and politicians who have been offering their so-called solutions & empathy in the media are nothing more than empty-talk!

How difficult is it to catch the culprits? How difficult is it to bring them to justice? How long does it take? It has been happening every year, for more than 10-20 years.