And Turn The Speakers Up.

THIS IS MY LOT, BEAUTIFUL STRANGERS.

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Labels.

There are two types of prejudice: one inflicted by others, the second? self-imposed. The first is clear but the latter, hardly mentioned.

People often have the misconception that others at levels considered 'higher' or presumably 'better' than theirs' belittle and look down on them. They self-construct ideas that they're just not good enough to associate with these of other labels, or these people are just too arrogant, proud, conceited and condescending to them. With the many labels from Normal Technical to Special streams and now the Integrated Programme, how do we abolish such notions which not only handicap the morale of those we feel less adequate due to the labels they're stuck with, but also, more importantly, how do we knock down the walls between the labelled groups which have been so inevitably built?

Ask yourselves, how well do you know these people whom you choose to distance yourself from just because they're from 'better' schools, 'better' streams and what not? It would be far too sweeping a statement to say that no one looks down on anyone of a 'lower standard'- but of course, there are the arrogant and conceited ones who think the world of themselves just because they're the creme de la creme of the education system.

I'm guilty as can be myself. The mentality of Junior College students having top-notch prestigious alma matas looking down on those coming from neighbourhood schools like mine has been one I find terribly hard to part with. At 13, I already despised those coming from the more established and recognised secondary schools, because I felt that they despised me- this is self-imposed prejudice at work. Friends from the Normal Academic stream have also shared to have once disliked the Express stream just because, they're different la , or, they think they're better. Aren't we all the same? EM1 students are not of higher standard than EM3 students. Junior Colleges are no more superior than ITEs, period. We just possess different skills, different abilities.

What are the labels for, really? If there is no distinction in standard and previleges given to every student, rid the education system of these walls which do nothing but segregate people who are supposed to be equal. If the lines have to be drawn between different standards, then by whose standard are we judged? Society's? Who's to say whether one is smarter than another? We're all skilled in different ways. Having the ability to dance or be agile on the field and in the court is intelligence itself. In fact, why limit us to what is but one measely form of intelligence? What with the whole talk of academics being of prime importance. How many people who actually complete the full course of education live day by day happy and contented? How many actually find jobs, if that be their ultimate goal?

Don't say Polytechnic and College students are the same when discrimination in something so minor like bus fares is screaming in everyone's faces. Don't say they're the same when so many Polytechnic graduates have no university campus to enrol in after they complete their diplomas just because they don't meet the standard of some deciding figure.

&& enough with the snide remarks of College students being more childish and less independent than Polytechnic students already. Do away with generalisation please.

Your bad, Society. This is your bad, to have moulded so many to think that there is only one way to success and then dress it up in 'happiness'. You are not better off than someone who washes the feet of others, even if you're highly qualified on paper, but devoid of a smile of contentment and jubilation at the end of the day. If these labels are said to be necessary, I contend otherwise. If a sense of equality and cohesion between those apt in different skills and have differing inclinations is at stake, these labels are better off scratched. If labels are needed for distinction purposes, the problem is in the reason itself. When distinction is at play, segregation is expected and differences are underlined.

Right now, these walls just won't fall.

TonFlyingHigh!4:20 PM

***