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My Best Friend



Aminah is my best friend in school. She is a fair, pretty girl with dimpled cheeks. She andI first met at kindergarten and we became great friends. She is kind, jolly and helpful. We are classmates again this year and we go to school together every morning. 

Aminah likes to joke and play games. She lives near my house. In the evenings, we usually meet at my house. We sit in the garden and read story books. She is good at Mathematics. So, whenever I find difficulties in my Mathematics homework, I would ask her to help me. Sometimes, when my parents go out in the evening, she comes over to keep me company and we watch television together. That way I do not feel lonely.

I hope Aminah and I will be in the same class again next year. I like her very much andshe is my best friend.

A Wedding I Attended



My cousin sister got married during the December school holidays and my whole family attended the function. Dressed in my best, I went along with my family to the bride'shome where the 'Bersanding' ceremony was held. There were beautiful coloured lights and the garden was lit, too. I found flowers everywhere and guests were milling around.

On a dais in front of the hall were two chairs beautifully adorned in satin and silk, with two velvet cushions for the bridal couple. At about 7.00 p.m., a 'kompang' group started beating their 'kompangs' and entered the garden. The bridegroom, dressed in blue 'kainsongket' and looking like a Malay prince, arrived next, his retinue of young men, and took his place on the dais. Later, the bride, dressed also in blue 'songket kebaya' and 'sarung', arrived looking beautiful. Her jewellery sparkled in the light. In her hair were sweet-scented flowers and 'bunga goyang' which glistened visibly. She looked like a princess and sat next to the bridegroom.

Then the 'kadi' said prayers and everyone was ready for the 'kenduri'. The dinner had all the traditional dishes of 'beriyani', 'kurma', 'dalcha' with salad and' 'rendang'. After a sweet dessert, a 'Bunga Telur' was presented to each guest. It consisted of an egg placed in a small, decorated basket with flowers on top. Malay music was played throughout the function and guests were entertained to some cultural shows.

Then it was time to go home. We had enjoyed a hearty meal, blessed the blissful couple and were ready to leave the place.

Memupuk Semangat Kerjasama

Memupuk Semangat Kerjasama

Nusa tercinta kita Malaysia merupakan negara yang mempunyai anak watan berbilang kaum dan hidup secara bersama sehati sejiwa ibarat  peribahasa seikat bak sirih, serumpun bak serai.  Sehubungan dengan itu, kebanyakan anggota masyarakat hidup berjiran di kawasan bandar ataupun di kawasan luar bandar dan mereka saling berhubung, bertemu dan berurusan antara satu sama lain. Namun terdapat lakaran suram yang menyelubungi kita bahawa ada pandangan yang menyatakan semangat kerjasama dalam kalangan masyarakat Malaysia pada masa ini dikatakan semakin terhakis ibarat hidup segan mati tak mahu. Banyak kempen dan  usaha telah dijalankan oleh pelbagai pihak untuk merapatkan kembali hubungan masyarakat melalui pelbagai aktiviti kerana semangat bekerjasama begitu penting dalam kehidupan bermasyarakat.

            
Sebenarnya semangat kerjasama dalam masyarakat dapat dipupuk melalui peranan ibu bapa. Kerjasama ini boleh dipupuk melalui penglibatan ibu bapa bersama-sama ahli keluarga yang terdiri daripada anak-anak dalam pelbagai aktiviti yang diadakan di kawasan tempat  tinggal mereka. Ibu bapa sewajarnya membawa anak-anak mereka menyertai aktiviti kemasyarakatan seperti gotong-royong, majlis sambutan perayaan  atau perjumpaan bulanan komuniti. Manfaatnya setiap keluarga akan dapat dipertemukan dengan semua jiran, saling berkenalan dan merapatkan hubungan . Mereka akan lebih mesra, saling membantu bagai aur dengan tebing tanpa membezakan warna kulit, bangsa atau kepercayaan. Hal ini menunjukkan bahawa semangat  bekerjasama dalam kalangan anggota masyarakat dapat membentuk ukhuwah yang kukuh dan ampuh.

          
Selain itu semangat kerjasama dalam kalangan masyarakat dapat dibentuk melalui kempen-kempen kesedaran oleh pihak kerajaan. Pihak kerajaan seharusnya mengadakan kempen memupuk semangat kerjasama dalam kalangan masyarakat dari semasa ke semasa agar terus subur dalam sanubari mereka. Tuntasnya, semangat bekerjasama dalam kalangan masyarakat membolehkan semua anggota masyarakat memahami antara satu sama lain. Masyarakat yang berbilang kaum ini boleh mempelajari  perbezaan budaya dan sistem sosial masyarakat lain seterusnya memahami sensitiviti mereka agar dapat bertoleransi, bekerjasama dan saling menghormati. Tegasnya semangat bekerjasama  penting dalam membentuk masyarakat yang bersatu padu dan seterusnya dapat memacu pembangunan negara ke arah kegemilangan.


Di samping itu, semangat kerjasama juga dapat dibentuk dalam kalangan masyarakat melalui peranan jawatankuasa penduduk setempat. Dalam hal ini, pihak jawatankuasa penduduk setempat boleh merancang pelbagai aktiviti kemasyarakatan dengan lancar tanpa sebarang kekangan. Jika masyarakat dapat hidup bersama-sama dalam suasana yang aman dan harmoni ibarat peribahasa ke bukit sama di daki, ke lurah sama dituruni maka segala aktiviti yang dijalankan akan dapat dinikmati  dengan penuh bermakna. Sebagai contohnya, pihak jawatankuasa penduduk setempat boleh mengadakan aktiviti seperti gotong-royong membersihkan atau menceriakan kawasan setempat,  seperti dewan orang ramai, balai raya, taman permainan kanak-kanak mahupun pusat komuniti. Jelaslah semangat kerjasama penting bagi merapatkan hubungan anggota masyarakat dalam suatu kawasan penduduk setempat.

            
Semangat kerjasama merupakan salah satu elemen penting dan vital yang membantu melahirkan anggota masyarakat yang harmoni, mempunyai jati diri dan  semangat cinta akan negara . Dengan itu, peranan sekolah amat penting dalam memupuk semangat kerjasama kepada murid-murid di sekolah. Melalui pengajaran dan pembelajaran para guru boleh membimbing murid-murid tentang kepentingan semangat bekerjasama. Pelbagai aktiviti berbentuk kerjasama dalam kalangan murid-murid seperti gotong-royong membersihkan kawasan sekolah, mengemas dan menceriakan bilik darjah, menghias sekolah dengan jalur gemilang sempena sambutan Bulan Kemerdekaan dan sebagainya dapat diimplimentasikan.   Hal ini jelas menunjukkan keharmonian kehidupan rakyat Malaysia melalui semangat bekerjasama yang diterapkan di peringkat sekolah ibarat melentur buluh biarlah dari rebungnya membolehkan keharmonian masyarakat terbentuk.

                       
Intihanya, semangat kerjasama merupakan sebahagian daripada amalan dan menjadi budaya masyarakat di Malaysia yang menjadikan negara kita unik pada pandangan masyarakat di luar sana malah dikenali di seluruh dunia. Tuntasnya, semangat bekerjasama bukan sahaja penting dalam mengekalkan suasana harmoni dalam kalangan rakyat di negara kita malah sumbangannya cukup besar terutamanya bagi memastikan Malaysia terus cemerlang dan mampu berdaya saing pada masa akan datang kerana  rakyatnya yang bersahsiah terpuji bagi melahirkan modal insan berminda kelas pertama yang dapat memacu negara tercinta ke arah kegemilangan di puncak jagat.

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Caning



The rise in discipline problems among students has been related to the lack of respect students have for teachers. This disrespect appears to be linked to the ban on caning byc lass teachers. Hence, there has been a call to put the cane back in the teacher's hand to Instill discipline.

Is it through the fear of caning that students will learn discipline ? Can the cane create asense of respect for the teacher and the school authority ?

Caning can be a powerful deterrent to misbehavior. Contrary to popular belief, caning does not scar a child or youngster psychologically unless the punishment meted out Is unjust or too severe. However, would teachers who are confronted by an onslaught of disobedience, rudeness and disrespect still be able to act rationally ? The number of casesin which teachers misused their power have caught much attention. These are teachers who resort to caning as a way to control students. No improvement in the student's behavior results in increased and more severe punishment until the punishment can rightfully be termed child abuse. it is often the teachers' mood that determines the severity of the caning. Caning in other words has become a means to release the teachers' frustration and anger. This is an abuse of power.

Teachers cannot expect to be respected by their students just because they have been given the power to cane. Respect is not gained through the power of the cane, but by a mutual understanding through a close student-teacher relationship. If a teacher carries out this responsibility well and fairly, and is able to show love and concern, he will be admired and respected. When such a teacher canes a student, the student will realize thatis is because the teacher cares. Not only will he regret his misbehavior, but he will respect the teacher.

The role of parents in training their children to be courteous and to respect adults, must not be overlooked. How many parents these days respect their children's teachers ? On top of that, many parents have become over protective. Under such circumstances, how then do we expect students to respect their teachers ?

There is no doubt that caning is useful in changing behavior if it is properly implemented. However, it should not be seen as panacea for disrespect for teachers and indiscipline in schools. Misbehavior of students is not solely caused by the fact that teachers are banned from using the cane. Therefore empowering teachers to cane naughty children will not solve the problems. Parents, teachers and those in authority should look at the root the problems and work from there.