:: Blogging ::

Personally, I don't blog. I find it hard to maintain a blog regularly and make posts, as I generally do not consider most things to be "special" enough to warrant a blog post. Thus, most of my posts, like this one, are about concepts, not events. Maintaining a blog requires one to have patience, eloquence and an interesting life, none of which I possess in quantity. It also requires devotion and time, which I usually reserve for other activities.

Blogging as an assignment is not very good either. Most daily events would be classified as "trivial" and notable events usually occur outside the period of time during which your blog is evaluated. The problem is that blogs are meant to be long-term, a collection of your life over time. In contrast, assignments are usually supposed to be completed quickly. A month simply isn't enough time for enough interesting events to occur to have multiple entertaining posts. Instead, it would be better for us to maintain a blog from Sec 1 to Sec 2. This gives enough time for the blogger to have interesting things to post and develop a unique style of writing. Furthermore, the blogger can see how his thoughts have matured from the large array of posts over time, tying in with the text to be studied in Sec 2 - To Kill a Mockingbird, a Bildungsroman or "Coming of age" novel.

:: Holiday Homework ::

As the Chinese New Year 4-day weekend approaches, I'm sure everyone will enjoy the festive season, the angpaos and the food. Unfortunately, what we will not enjoy is the homework given. I understand the point of giving homework. However, the amount and the timing of the homework given is sometimes incomprehensible.

The classic situation: a student is told to celebrate a holiday and is given a 3-day weekend to do so. In addition, he is also given two essays and several worksheets, which have to be completed and submitted on the next day of school. So, instead of having fun with friends, the unlucky student has to toil away at his work while juggling it with social functions that he "must" attend. The result? One very stressed out student who did not enjoy his "holiday". It happens all the time.

I really don't understand the point of holiday homework. I do not think that we will lose all of our hard-earned knowledge if we do not do work for half a week. Even if we would, I believe that full essays are unnecessary. Surely a couple of worksheets per subject would be enough. Of course, I know that there is not enough time to finish the syllabus, as Miss Soh has told us, but surely it is possible to let us off for a holiday?