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Editorial Team:
Advisor:
Murali Nivedita
Student from Class 2/7
Riverside Secondary School
3 Woodlands Streets 81
Singapore 738524
2 May 2020
Mdm Shanti Devi
Principal
Riverside Secondary School
3 Woodlands Streets 81
Singapore 738524
Dear Mdm Shanti
Proposal for outdoor learning journey to Sky Greens
My name is Nivedita and I am studying in class 2/7. I am the ambassador of our school’s Green Society. This is to inform you that my teacher-in-charge has asked me to plan an outdoor learning journey to Sky Greens, a vertical urban farm in Lim Chu Kang for Secondary 2 students from our school.
I am sure that this learning journey will teach Secondary 2 students many new and valuable information about how vegetables are grown in Sky Greens. This will definitely be enjoyable and this makes the learning of students more interesting.
The learning journey will be on 6 June from 8am to 10.30am. The learning journey will be held during the June holidays and it will be two hours and thirty minutes long so that there will be enough time to explore the Sky Greens farm.
Furthermore, I feel that it will be more convenient for students if the learning journey is held during the June holidays as it will not affect their normal curriculum in May. The purpose of the outdoor learning journey is to make students learning more enjoyable and fun compared to classrooms. Students will have an opportunity to learn how a farmer’s day-to-day duties will be like. They will also get to learn about how Sky Greens produce their vegetables using minimal land, water and energy resources which are environmentally friendly.
Lastly, students will be able to try some processes of producing vegetables out themselves. Students will definitely benefit from this outdoor learning journey.They can draw inspiration from what they have learned during this learning journey and can set up a garden in creative ways and in ways that they have been taught during the learning journey. They will also learn the value and importance of vegetables. Lastly, students will share their experience with their parents and their friends. So, they will also be willing to visit Sky Greens.
The two activities that students can participate in the learning journey is the Hydroponics Experience and the Sustainable Wreath Workshop. In the Hydroponics Experience students will get to learn how farmers carry out day to day duties like harvesting and transplanting. They will also learn to avoid wearing yellow to attract pests. In the Sustainable Wreath Workshop, there will be a 60-minute guided workshop and students will be able to make their own edible vegetable wreath using vegetables produced by Sky Greens.
I am sure the Secondary 2 students will be extremely excited for this outdoor learning journey to Sky Greens. We will thus like to request that you allow us to plan this outdoor learning journey to Sky Greens. We would like to meet you in person to discuss this. Thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to your positive reply.
Yours sincerely,
Murali Nivedita
Katherynn Koh
Class 4/2
Do you know that Singaporeans spend an average of twelve hours per day on their mobile phones? Nearly thirty percent of Singaporeans stated that their sleep schedule is inconsistent due to the distractions from their mobile phones. The most frequent users of technology are youths. Youths can be dependent on technology but that does not mean all of them do not have the self-control to put it away. Some of them are still able to go on with their daily lives without the use of technology, while the other half of youths can be obsessive with the use of technology. Youths use technology as a method to de-stress and for entertainment. On the other hand, the youths who are not obsessed with technology are more inclined to participate in outdoor activities.
Technology has proven to be one of the platforms people use to de-stress. Some of the coping methods people use are playing games. Playing games are popular amongst adolescents as it helps them to escape the stressful reality of being a student. Playing games online is also an opportunity to have fun with friends. Although playing games is a good way to relax, playing too much games can be unhealthy. This will lead to an addiction if it goes unmonitored. Many youths said that they cannot live without playing games. This eventually leads to an addiction as adolescents are more likely to succumb to addiction easily. This dependency on their phone allows quick access to games. Technology addiction can get extreme until some youths admit that they would kill just to be with their mobile phones. Thus, youths can be extremely dependent on technology.
The world is changing every single day and technology evolves into a more modern and advanced invention. With the recent new apps such as Netflix and Hulu, streaming shows online now is so much easier. People use technology as a way to access easy entertainment. Youths use this method to watch their favourite movies and series, whenever and wherever. With advanced technology, people are able to download their movies or shows with their wifi at home and watch it offline when they are outdoors. The recent pandemic, Covid-1, made everyone practice social distancing. It is now much harder to watch movies and shows together with your friends who are at their own house. But with the new function, “party streaming”, everyone can watch the movie at the same time and be able to chat live. The convenience of recent technology is remarkable but it can be a huge distraction to youths. Youths tend to binge watch their favourite shows or movies, forgetting about their responsibilities. Some even sacrifice their sleep just to finish the show. This shows that adolescents are more prone to getting addicted to technology.
Not everything is about technology. Some populations of youths lead healthier lifestyles as they have a shared balance of outdoor and online activities. There are youths who prioritise their responsibilities and health more than their mobile phones. These are the people who do not have the fear of missing out like most adolescents do. Some people enjoy outdoor activities. Playing sports is one of the outdoor activities. Doing exercises such as jogging and brisk walking improves the posture and cardio of youths. Playing sports such as soccer, badminton and basketball improves the health of adolescents as playing sports burn the calories in the body and also keep the eyes healthy. Some youths prefer outdoor activities rather than spending time caged in their room playing video games or scrolling through their social media’s feed. Therefore, not all youths are extremely addicted to technology.
Not all youths are addicted to technology but most of them are. Therefore, technology addiction is a real thing and it can get extreme. It is advisable for not only youths but everyone to have a balanced use of their mobile phone.
Written by: Eka Syafiqah (From class 3/4)
Good morning fellow Riversidians. I am Eka Syafiqah of class 3/4 and as the head of the student council, I want to talk about an upcoming school project that may excite quite a number of you – a two day computer workshop for the elderly in our community. We are looking for trainers for the elderly participants. Here are some details you may want to take note of.
Classes will be held on 15 and 16 June in our very own school, at Computer Labs 1 and 2 at level 3. We will be expecting a maximum of 80 participants, so do be prepared to meet lots of new people! The classes will be from 11am to 3pm and lunch will be provided. The workshop’s aim is to help the elderly participants become more technologically advanced by learning simple computer tasks and ways to protect themselves from dangers online.
As an elderly, it is hard to keep up with the rapid increase in the use of technology in our everyday lives. Learning how to use basic technology is already challenging for them. The goal of the workshop is to ensure that the elderly are tech-savvy enough to be able to communicate online and successfully carry out online transactions, while still ensuring that they are safe and constantly protected on the internet. Having the necessary basic skills allows them to explore the internet without worry and discover new ways to spend their free time.
I highly encourage you to be trainers. Learning to communicate effectively with a diverse group of people is a rare skill. Most people do not have the valuable opportunity to practise that skill, but through this workshop, you will be able to. Other than that, helping out the elderly is one of the best and most fulfilling ways to contribute back to society. Not to mention, participation in this workshop adds to your VIA hours and will be reflected on your report book. Of course, that is just a bonus and not the main reason you should be thinking of before signing up.
With that, I hope you do consider signing up to be a trainer for the workshop. All the benefits gained from the workshop is a once in a life time opportunity, that I hope you take advantage of. Thank you for your highly appreciated time and attention.
Lee Rui Qi
Sec 5/1
I was greeted by with the familiar voice of the kopitiam aunty shouting out the orders she just took down across the hawker centre whilst accompanied with the aromatic smell of mouth-watering fried hokkien mee upon walking into my usual hawker centre. This particular hawker centre has played an essential part in my seventeen years of life and I simply cannot live without it.
One of the more memorable experiences I have had while eating a meal with my family was at the nearby Marsiling mall hawker centre. I vividly remember that all of us had a rather long day and when we arrived at the place, we were all exhausted. However, the miraculous thing was that once our hot piping steamed chicken rice, spicy and flavourful Mala had arrived and we began to fill our stomachs while chatting with one another about the current affairs, all of our tiredness vanished. Filled with a full stomach, we went home with happy hearts that day. These are truly the times that are simple, yet I am grateful for. I genuinely feel that hawker centres are of much significance in my life, as I have the opportunity to bond and build stronger ties with my family in that place. Often busy with our personal schedules, we rarely have enough time to catch up with one another. With these hawker centres available, I can find comfort through delicious local cuisines and the precious times we share as a family.
Other than the memorable experiences of having the opportunity to bond with my family through the various dishes at the hawker centre, I always have a sense of pride, no matter whether I am gobbling down the delectable nasi lemak that the friendly makcik had poured her heart and soul into, or the simply tangy flat yellow noodles, or a more familiar term, “mee pok” served with sweet and sour ketchup paired with fish balls. While savouring these local dishes, I am always grateful for the existence of these hawker centres as it allows me, as the younger generation to keep in touch with the iconic dishes of Singapore. Especially now that Singapore is a diverse society that embodies different cultures and influences, it is of utmost importance to understand more and have the chance to be able to partake in these authentic food cultures in our everyday lives. This is why I, as a teenager, find that hawker centres are significant as I am able to keep in touch with Singapore’s abundance of food that keeps our different cultures and traditions alive.
Last but not the least, when I am grasping my last few dollars and standing in between a food centre and a high-end western restaurant, I would automatically gravitate towards the food centre. Being able to order a huge serving of delicious nasi briyani served with sides of lamb shank, curry and even a can of my favourite Ribena drink compared to only being able to order a small side of chicken wings with a pathetic serving of tartar sauce with my only few notes left, really allows me to feel thankful for hawker centres. Most hawker centres in Singapore are always filled with people from different walks of life because of the affordable pricing of generous servings of food. As a teenager, I do not have a stable job and income yet and am relying on my parents financially which is one of the reasons why hawker centres are important to me. My hunger is satiated even when I am left with little money in my wallet.
As a teenager living in Singapore, hawker centres and food centres really hold an important place in my heart as not only do they allow me to bond with families and friends, stay in touch with local dishes but provide me with comfort food at minimal cost. With these food centres and hawker places representing our multi-racial and harmonious Singapore, I truly hope that hawker centres will continue to thrive so that many others would be able to experience the joy and comfort I have, for more generations to come.
Ng Yu Yang
Sec 5/2
Describe some of your experiences in food courts and hawker centres. How important are these places in your life as a teenager in Singapore?
Food plays a huge part in our lives. It is the source of life which gives us energy. Not only does it allow us to enjoy various dishes, it also creates in us the desire to try different cuisines. One of my favourite food from a different cuisine is laksa and ayam penyet from Marsiling’s old market as I feel that those dishes have the best flavour.
On every weekend, my family and relatives will always head down to the old Marsiling market for breakfast. The market will be filled with liveliness and chirpy vendors who sell our favourite crispy dough fritters. I will share it among my relatives as it is all of our most loved food and while having our dough fritters, it is when we get to relax after a long and dreadful week. We will talk our hearts out like as if we all have been separated for years. A sense of relief will always overwhelm me as I get to spend quality time with the people I love and it also made me realised that kinship is the most important throughout our lives as they are the ones who support you till the end. Trips to the market are no longer mundane as we get to catch up with one another, talk about our next meeting and even about people’s behaviour from all walks of life. It allows us to forge and strengthen deeper relationships between one another.
Another memorable experience is with my CCA mates. Every Monday evening, my CCA mates and I will stroll towards Causeway Point’s food court to get our grumbling tummies filled. When we get our food, we usually take some portions of our food and share among one another. After dinner comes dessert. We always get our favourite, Ice Kacang and start to gripe about the unbelievably hot weather, or the mind-numbing amount of homework given. It is really an important place for me as I get to be my most comfortable self whenever I am around with my friends. It also tighten our bonds with each other and I am the happiest with them.
In conclusion, my experience in the hawker centre left a meaningful and enjoyable time spend with my loved ones as we get to catch up on the things we have missed out on and also, I hope that other teenagers and the younger generations will not find dining in the hawker centre a waste of time as it is where bonds are strengthen as the endless support always comes from our own family and friends.
Ng Yu Yang
Sec 5/2
Describe some of your experiences in food courts and hawker centres. How important are these places in your life as a teenager in Singapore?
Food plays a huge part in our lives. It is the source of life which gives us energy. Not only does it allow us to enjoy various dishes, it also creates in us the desire to try different cuisines. One of my favourite food from a different cuisine is laksa and ayam penyet from Marsiling’s old market as I feel that those dishes have the best flavour.
On every weekend, my family and relatives will always head down to the old Marsiling market for breakfast. The market will be filled with liveliness and chirpy vendors who sell our favourite crispy dough fritters. I will share it among my relatives as it is all of our most loved food and while having our dough fritters, it is when we get to relax after a long and dreadful week. We will talk our hearts out like as if we all have been separated for years. A sense of relief will always overwhelm me as I get to spend quality time with the people I love and it also made me realised that kinship is the most important throughout our lives as they are the ones who support you till the end. Trips to the market are no longer mundane as we get to catch up with one another, talk about our next meeting and even about people’s behaviour from all walks of life. It allows us to forge and strengthen deeper relationships between one another.
Another memorable experience is with my CCA mates. Every Monday evening, my CCA mates and I will stroll towards Causeway Point’s food court to get our grumbling tummies filled. When we get our food, we usually take some portions of our food and share among one another. After dinner comes dessert. We always get our favourite, Ice Kacang and start to gripe about the unbelievably hot weather, or the mind-numbing amount of homework given. It is really an important place for me as I get to be my most comfortable self whenever I am around with my friends. It also tighten our bonds with each other and I am the happiest with them.
In conclusion, my experience in the hawker centre left a meaningful and enjoyable time spend with my loved ones as we get to catch up on the things we have missed out on and also, I hope that other teenagers and the younger generations will not find dining in the hawker centre a waste of time as it is where bonds are strengthen as the endless support always comes from our own family and friends.
Charmine Tan Renbao, 4/7
As the saying goes “Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you”. This humble saying encapsulates the idea that people would not be content if they are treated poorly by others as it undermines their self-worth. Even though this applies to the minority of people, I believe that the majority will be happy through other ways. Most people can find happiness from holding onto precious memories of good encounters and achieving their goals or dreams, while some feel blessed if they can lead a fruitful and meaningful life.
Proponents of the idea that people can only be happy if they treated fairly claim that the feeling of satisfaction and joy from being treated fairly overrides all other emotions such as anger or sadness. People will usually reciprocate the same type of treatment to someone if they feel that the other party deserves it. However, this “an eye for an eye” mentality is flawed as most people would not dwell too much on such things and prefer to look at the bigger picture of maintaining a harmonious relationship with the person instead. This, in turn, will not cause people to feel disadvantaged or disappointment if they are not treated fairly.
To add on, people are often satisfied if they have a notable achievement that they can recount to their friends and relatives alike. Feeling proud and reaching a milestone in one’s life allows one to be able to create precious personal moments that he can hold on to for a long time. For instance, the athlete Joseph Schooling grinned from ear to ear when he was awarded the prestigious Olympic gold medal for his outstanding record in the men’s 100-metre butterfly event. In an interview, he mentioned he felt that all his hard work had paid off when he received the award representing Singapore in the international arena. From this, we can tell that happiness can stem from intangible sources and make one feel as if he was standing at top of the world.
Besides, people can easily find meaning in their humble life, be it through pursuing their passion or living a stress-free lifestyle. For busy white-collared workers working in a big corporate company, they would inevitably feel pushed into a corner every day as they are pressured to meet the high expectations of their bosses to earn their good favor in return. For these people, ‘stressful’ and ‘happy’ rarely appear in their list of go-to vocabulary. This is no surprise to anyone working in that same stressful situation. However, for retired blue-collar workers, who choose to move to the quiet countryside to spend their better part of their retirement lives in, experience many encounters of being happy and enjoying life to the fullest. For example, they could find contentment by planting crops and ploughing it to eat or admiring the scenery in front of their houses. As seen, people will be more joyful if they can escape a routine life and turn to a more ‘stress-free’ and ‘happy’ lifestyle compared to their city counterparts.
We can choose our source of happiness if we look beyond ourselves and appreciate the things we have around us. In a nutshell, I do not concur that contentment can only be achieved if people are treated fairly and that there are other more meaningful ways to search for it. After all, would it not be nice to always feel happy as life is too short to be sad?
Swathi Khrishnamoorthy, 4/7
The doorbell rings signalling that the two hundred dollar shoes you ordered for the sole reason of your favourite singer sporting it that one time, has finally arrived. Your eyes still glued to the viral youtube video made by the influencer your friends have been raving about, you snatch the package from the courier. “Have you studied for the upcoming tests?” your mother yells from across the living room. “One more video!” you blatantly lie as you continue to stare fixedly at your phone. This is a common scenario among youths all over the world. Young people today indulge in the lives of others, often forgetting about their own. A shared mindset among them being a world without their adored celebrities impossible.
Although, in some instances, exalting their idols might have fruitful results. Youths, if they choose which celebrities to be their role models discerningly, can even improve on certain aspects of themselves. Avid environmentalist Gretha Thurnberg has touched the hearts of several teenagers and inspired them to be more environmentally conscious. She has aided them to overcome the hindrance that is their age barrier by allowing them to gain more courage to fight for the things that they believe in. Young people looking up to Gretha Thunberg will have their lives efficaciously changed for the better with her positive influence on them.
However, celebrities like Gretha Thunberg are far and few between. Multifarious stars corrupt and spoilt with fame have garnered atrocious attitudes. Their exact behaviours are then reflected by their impressionable young fans. Kylie Jenner, famed reality television star caused mass jealousy among her supporters after attaining lip injections. A multitude of girls took drastic measures to recreate her pouty, luscious lips by using shot glasses. Their acts of idiocy ended up in a copious amount of girls having to visit the emergency room with glass shards jabbed in their lips. Minors are very suggestible at their tender age and with inapt role models to look up to, will not make it far in life.
The disconcerting obsession teens have with fame is also cause for concern. Many youths will readily do anything possible to meet their adored idols. This is the case for many when they go to the extent of skipping school to attend a concert or stealing their parent’s credit card to procure their favoured youtuber’s merchandise. These alarming habits that they have adopted are only going to lead to their ruin in the future. Some celebrities worsen these practices by egging on teenagers to continue. Their appalling advice is supported by false claims of how they will love their fans more if they do so.
Most young people today have a perturbing addiction of fame and imitating celebrities which most times lead to abysmal consequences. It is up to them to go on the daunting mission of trying to steer clear of the monsters known as celebrities. The monster of which many have already succumbed to.
Nur Hanisah Muhamad Fadzil
Sec 3/6
School, a once sought after golden ticket to success, has lost its lustre. As humanity advanced and became more competitive in almost every possible aspect, jobs and professions are becoming ever more demanding compared to the past. Schools however, barely changed their methods to provide success in jobs for students. Therefore, it is only reasonable for me to conclude that schools are unable to prepare students for their future.
To start off, most schools do not prepare students to work alongside electronics, including artificial intelligence (AI), which are becoming ever so prevalent in modern society’s professions. Schools largely focus on teaching compulsory subjects for examinations instead of focusing on adapting the education system to the changing demands of today’s and future professions. For example, secondary schools in Singapore mostly offer traditional academic subjects, like Mathematics and English, and rarely teach their students how to manage and work with technology and electronic systems. This example clearly demonstrates how schools would rather train students for good academic outcomes instead of for their future professions.
Furthermore, numerous schools often facilitate rote learning in schools instead of getting students to fully understand or master concepts. The majority of schools encourage memorizing answers and ways to answer questions instead of thoroughly learning about a subject. This could lead students to think in a more ‘concrete’ and ‘robotic’ way instead of thinking outside the box as they stop wondering about the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of everything around them, and instead, would rather absorb the ‘what’ information of everything around them as it is without questioning it. The lack of understanding and mastering of subjects may also hinder students’ critical thinking skills as they may be unable to think in depth or seek out the source of a problem. For example, most Mathematics teachers do not explain why theorems such as Pythagoras’ theorem makes sense and instead encourage students to remember it as a formula without any reasoning. This would lead to students being unable to hone thinking skills which are critical for the future.
However, some schools do provide opportunities for students to build soft skills – personal attributes that enable someone to interact effectively and harmoniously with other people. The schools would allow students to work in groups for certain lessons. This would allow students to socialize, building on their communication skills and ability to work in a community. For example, schools allow teachers to hold lessons in class where students would have to work together. This would allow an exchange of ideas and the students would be able to learn how to respect one another’s views which is an important trait in modern society. As seen, there are occasions where schools do ready students for their future.
Overall, however, I do not agree that school are able to prepare students for what lies ahead. Though schools can boast about its focus and importance on academic domains, can they really say they prepare students for success in the future? As we continue our journey of life, everything around us would continue to change, and we would have to adapt to it. In this case, schools would have to review on what they have been teaching students in school as the job requirements are only becoming more demanding at an exponential rate. Only then would schools be the epitome of a success-making system and would be able to confidently say they prepare their students for their future.
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By: K Myrna Keerthi, 3/7.
Examinations are defined as a formal test of a person’s knowledge or proficiency in a subject or skill. It is conducted globally across many school systems. Disguised as a harmless method of mastering a certain subject, examinations can cause unwanted stress and even be impractical. After going through an estimated twenty years of their lives in school, the countless examinations students sit through become a meaningless yearly exercise. These examinations will not determine how well they will survive in the workforce. Along with that, examinations are not for everybody. A person can be gifted in areas other than academics. Forcing them to squeeze into the narrow mould that is examinations would not do the student’s true ability justice. However, it can be argued that examinations have been in place for a long time and have been largely successful. Even so, some people get left behind as a result. As such, I agree to a large extent that examinations are not an accurate measure of a student’s ability.
Firstly, examinations do not test the skill of a student for its real-world applications. To become a doctor, students must be able to get through the rigours of a competitive academic field. There are many academic qualifications that must be attained before becoming a doctor. However, examinations do not prepare them for the emotional aspect of being a doctor. Emotions run high when you have a person’s life in your hands. Being able to manage and control them requires someone who is mentally strong. Even if you are exemplary in your examinations and are able to graduate with a medical degree, if you do not have the heart and mind to serve others, being a doctor becomes pointless. In a scenario that a patient is in a critical condition, you must not crumble under the pressure but rise to the occasion. Hence, in the real world, examinations do not measure a student’s ability.
Secondly, examinations can be a poor indicator of one’s true skill and talent. People have different strengths and talents. Academic achievement is only one way a student can show their abilities. Generalising and stating that examinations are the only way that students can measure their ability is completely untrue. For example, a student may be very talented in singing. However, some Singaporean parents seem to have the mentality of “Academics first, passion second.” As a result, if their child is not particularly good in academics, it is highly likely that they would not take the child’s interest or passion seriously. Because of this, their talent gets suppressed due to the lack of support. The emphasis on doing well in examinations is so great that if the student does poorly in their examinations, they are on the path of failure. Doing poorly in their examinations will not result in them losing their abilities. Sadly, they might find that showcasing their talents would inevitably prove to be futile.
However, examinations have been practised for many decades. Generations after generations can remember a time when they sat for an examination. Certain jobs require certain levels of academic achievements and others do not. This causes some to be at a disadvantage. Currently, in the over-competitive workforce, employers may want to hire people with certain qualifications that may not be needed. For example, to obtain the simple job of a receptionist, two people head for an interview. One of them has exceptional communication skills but graduated from a less widely recognised university. The other is mediocre in communicating but has graduated from the most prestigious university in the entire country. The latter would more likely be hired. Hence, we can conclude that people who have the skill may not get hired as education is more favoured during employment.
The process of conducting examinations still has a long way to go in terms of being more accurate. There are gaps that need to be filled to maximise the effectiveness of them. Examinations can be more realistic. Instead of making a student memorise the textbook and regurgitate the information out, we can get them to do a more hands-on examination. They can be the practical version of what they learn in the classroom. Students should also be able to choose a subject if it interests them. As of now, music is not a subject offered in the O-level examinations. It and many other subjects should be available to every student. To conclude, using the same system to test very diverse and unique individuals is not an accurate measure of measuring their ability.
Writers by the River 