___4e1. Devils in disguise__

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

I believe that homework is good. I believe that we should rejoice when we are given homework. However, extremism in the defense of anything is no virtue; moderation in the defense of everything is no vice.

This time round, I am utterly convinced that our new Chinese assignment is overboard. We will have to do 10 reviews in a mere four weeks. Let us not forget, we will have to do other homework as well. Remember, the amount of homework is increasing.

It is fallacious and shaky to say that these 10 reviews are meant to help us. If that was the true motive, then the 10 reviews should be spread out over a longer period of time. Surely everyone unanimously agrees that quality is better than quantity? Undoubtedly, I am able to churn out the reviews on time, if I sacrifice my sleep (and hence affecting my attention in class). This question I ask. Will it help me much? Will it be worth the effort?

I know the answers. It is clear. No and no. If it were to take place over a longer period of time, no doubt it will, and there is no doubt that I would do it with vigor. Let me present to you an analogy. I presume everyone likes to eat chocolate. The first piece always tastes delicious. The second is still delicious, but not as good. The third is worse than the second, so on and so forth. This is known as diminishing returns. The same applies for homework. We must work hard, yes, but we must remain moderate.

I am puzzled. There is a glitch in our Chinese teacher’s argument. If it was really for our good, why on earth do we need to decorate it? True, decorating may help some people remember better; hence decoration should be optional, not compulsory. Why then does she want all of us to do it? I am suspicious.

Moreover, homework should not take up all our time. We should still have enough free time everyday to do what we deem needs to be done. Homework is a very rigid method of studying. Imagine, my mathematics is suffering, but I cannot afford to do my own revision as another subject’s homework is taking up my time.

Indeed, we are the best class (our results prove it beyond reasonable doubt). Hence, I suggest we do something that no other class is doing. We should allow our students to have free time to spend. We are a responsible class; we know where to spend our effort. We know our weaknesses, and we have to correct them on our own. We cannot let homework hinder us. Homework is supposed to help us. We can do our own revision! We can study on our own! We do not need teachers to force revision down our throats via excessive homework!

Assuming the O levels is the main objective now, and that everything else is peripheral (like monthly tests), I advocate we carry out a boycott. Since squeezing all the work into a short span of four weeks is bad for us, we should not do that. I advocate that we issue an ultimatum. We shall do one (or maybe 2) reviews a week at most. Do not ask how much homework you can do. Ask what can homework do for you.

Doing something we have passion in is no doubt a joy. However, the greater the fire, the more fuel is needed to keep it going. We remain irrevocably human. Our bodies have to rest.

Gesundheit!

Hongjie Declares
@ [9:27 PM]

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haha. CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION O6! we were so busy then.

notice huifang? she's been so busy ever since the morning starts. and look at clarence with his phone. CATCH HIM! haha.

lol. look at how stressed the people were. saw adeline? stressed herself too much =X
look at huifang. she's selling her kachang puteh! lol [kidding] xD