Is Teaching Dead? (Redacted)

An exerpt from Tangible Vol. 1 Error Analysis

written (and censored) by Pearl Tang Xiaow Jun

In (perhaps a childish) response to being rejected based on my association with a friend.

In this issue of Tangible, I touch upon the education system …as well as the efforts I take to create a positive learning climate in my own classes. 

Carrying out such a teaching philosophy means  both having to subscribe to practices perpetuated by the tuition industry. 

             	As a teacher/ who wants to celebrate my students’ strengths and triumphs in their learning journey, I try to create opportunities where students can be lauded for their courage and creativity. 

By making the collaborative artworks and processes into a zine, I hope to elucidate the fact that teaching and learning is not fast and formulaic. 

Education is a business that is intimately linked to the economy. A quick Google search will bring you results stating that business, IT computing, and engineering are degrees that are sought after and that  they pay well (in particular if you work as a civil servant or if you work for big multinational companies). Here’s when the money + title = success equation comes in.

In Singapore, the idea of meritocracy is drilled into us from a young age (remember the national pledge?). Work hard and you will succeed is the promise.  Tuition offers the dream of achieving what is defined as success in Singapore. It offers a possibility of attaining a place at a prestigious school, better opportunities for branding, etc. 

Due to this grade-centric, money + title = success culture, students see themselves through their own grades. One is only a good child if one is a serious learner. Education is serious business! Lessons and studying must be rigid, structured and you must follow the pedagogy.

On that note, this particular series of work is titled, Making Merry in response to learning and grades. It is a reflection of the collaborative art making process and communication I have with my students as I try to understand my role as a teacher and how I see myself in relation to these young individuals.