Thursday, April 27, 2006
4:28 PM
Another lil somethin....
the presence of so many cases of poverty just highlights the existence of a so called underclass in this affluent Singapore society. There are instances where students are unable to meet the demands of the school system and fall out altogether from this middle class institution, otherwise conferred as a level playing field that extends the concept of meritocracy. Yet upon investigation of such individuals, their home environment impedes their social and educational development due to structural incompatibilities.
1) During my NS days, being attached to Investigation Branch was more of a boon than a bane. I got a chance to experience first hand some juvenile cases. One case i'd like to highlight is the Theft of Water Dispenser. In this case, two brothers attempted to steal the coins in the water dispenser and were apprehended. When quetioned and asked y they did such a thing, they said that they had no money and getting $2 made a big difference. I tink ur 1st reaction would be how stupid can u get??? budden upon further investigation, these two boys were not schooling, both parents arent working, electrical and water bills unpaid...goes to show the extent of poverty and their criminal acts are not actually for fun but an alternative act to support themselves.
2) In a case Maly told me, this boy who went to school with cockroaches in his school bag. When a team was sent to investigate, they found the home in a unimaginable state with the mum unstable and the father having a fatalistic view. the boys were cursing and swearing because their father swears at home. I feel that these students will fall out from the school system because education is not of a main concern for them. the home environment and the parents attitude causes them to behave in a manner 'socialised' to them
Sometimes, because the school system is structured in a way whereby you have to be the best in everythin you do, these individuals fall behind because of the lack of social support and environmental upbringing. These kids then get scolded, marginalised and this perpetuates a sense of hopelessness that you wonder where it will lead them to...
.sincera fazzy.
