my ajumma notes

So much hoo-ha about sexuality education in school these few weeks. I was surprised to read the following: 1. Parents said they did not receive information about what their children would be taught and did not know that they could opt out of the programme. Thought it is obligatory for schools to send out info and to give parents the opt-out form. We definitely got those handouts. The school listed the topics that would be covered, with a few sub-points about what would be discussed for each topic. I suspect that the school also tweaked the timing of the Science lessons to fall in line with the sexuality ed programme. Many schools did the topic of 'Reproduction' for P5 Science in Term 1 this year. However, the boy will only do it in Term 3, after the Growing Years lessons (i.e. the sexuality ed programme) have been completed. So, get them thinking about the social and moral perspectives first before learning about the scientific mechanics. Good idea, no? 2. A teacher said she(...

As I sat in the cab to the hospital in the wee hours of the morning of the day my father breathed his last, this song was playing on the radio. There are several interpretations of the meaning of the song but I thought that some of the lyrics were quite apt (although his name is not Danny). Oh Danny Boy the pipes, the pipes are calling from glen to glen and down the mountain side The summer's gone and all the roses dying 'tis you 'tis you must go and I must bide But come ye back when summer's in the meadow or when the valley's hushed and white with snow 'Tis I'll be there in sunshine or in shadow Oh Danny Boy, Oh Danny Boy I love you so And when ye come and all the flowers are dying If I am dead, as dead I well may be You'll come and find the place where I am lying And kneel and say an Ave there for me And I shall hear tho' soft you tread above me And all my grave will warmer sweeter be If you will bend and tell me that you love me Then I shall sleep...

The boy and I quite enjoy the current 9pm serial. Which Singaporean wouldn't be able to identify with themes such as school, homework, grades, tuition, Tiong Bahru market and dengue fever? Actually, I think 'My School Daze' is a rather lame version of the title. They could have used 'School Is Killing Me!', or 'My School Bag Is Killing Me' (milder) or 'My Back-breaking School Bag' (even milder) or something. I'm impressed by the acting of the kids (teens included) in the show. They are, on the whole, much more natural than some of the 'veteran' actors and actresses alongside them. Anyway, it is strange to see Ann Kok and Cynthia Koh acting as parents. I must have missed many years of local TV because the last time I saw them, they were doing 'sweet young thing' roles and now, they have suddenly become 'aunties'.