Faithchild

So much has been said about the integration of knowledge. I remembered reading from Ismail Faruqi, Naquib al- attas etc… and trying to practise it while in school (with much much difficulty) and with my students (when I was teaching in PADA) and of course while doing TEENS alive.

I remembered clearly when it was first mentioned in my 1st FMSA camp… i was like.. what the heck was that??

Alhamdulillah, i have been ‘tarbiyahed’ slowly and especially today with the workshop by Bro Dawud, i found something more real and practical and foundational about integration of knowledge. The challenge now is to get back to thinking and practising it… after ‘flip-flopping’ with the concept for a few years now.

If any educators are out there reading this, i implore you to attend his workshop.. (of course when he comes here next time :))

Basically, we all know that most education systems that currently exist do not make us better human beings. And i mean better as in wholesomely better. In Singapore, we reward those ‘clever’ ones.. though they are not necessarily the kinds of human beings we would want our children to be. Everyone wished they were smarter… every parents wished their kids were smarter, just so that they could get into the universities and get better jobs, better pay and better living conditions.

In my contemplation, having to go to schools for certain businesses in my life, this is just not right. ..

I was touched when he said that the heart of the matter when we speak about education is the heart and not the mind. The heart when inspired, moves and excites the mind to find out and explore. The mind when spoonfed, breeds laziness… when praised, becomes bloated. I remind myself to put education in the proper perspective i.e. developing a wholesome person with the ‘ilm and ‘aml, to submit himself to the One God and serve his community.

With this, i think i still have a lot to educate myself!

Due to some ‘office politics’ here, i was brought into the mood for reflection.

I do wonder whether there are people who intentionally wants to do evil to others. It’s not that i think the world is all-good. Perhaps it’s more about trying to rationalise why some people ‘have the heart’ to hurt others. ok,ok, i’m not saying i’ve not hurt people… i surely did in cases where it’s unintentional or reactionary e.g. talking back to my mom, giving my hubby the cold treatment.

Basically, the point of my thought is that could one ‘have the heart’ to plan and execute an evil plan for one’s selfish gain? In addition to that, one is in a ‘caring’ profession?

Or is it a case of misunderstanding of intentions? Inability to communicate clearly and nicely to another?

I don’t know.. at this point, i could only pity the party affected. Pray for the best that she finds a job that is much better for her and is more appreciative of the efforts that she puts in.

On a brighter note, it is good to know the ‘bengkelians’ are rounding up people. Bestnya! I believe it’s not abt ‘membangkitkan’ zaman kegemilangan mat yoyo.. the past will remain a sweet reminisce, but it’s abt catching up with old friends and networking… and probably something more?

As i was watching Barney and my daughter’s ability to memorise the intonations (as she can’t speak yet) and the actions of the characters, despite her being 20 mths, I was wondering that wouldn’t it be good if we have a ‘melayu barney’. As in, to have our children learn malay and love malay, what could be the best thing but to show songs and plays. Currently, krayon is just ‘fair’ to me.

Of course, the nearest to having a mascot is the mat yoyo cats. Maybe they should be revived… in fact, kalau business minded, once the cats gain popularity, mat yoyo merchandises can be sold in stores. Yelah, kalau dulu kan, exclusive untuk pemenang penonton di rumah.

Haha, idea ada.. duit tada..