Disability Audrey&Erika

Some people argue that disabled students should not be integrated to our mainstream education system as special schools out there are able to attend to these students better.  Special schools for disabled students are tailored specifically to meet the students needs and this allows students to be able to fare better in a special need school with an environment conducive to their development. In a special-need school, teachers who are specially trained to teach disabled students are hired to attempt to equip them with numeracy and literacy skills. They are also taught on life skills and have co-curricular activities that foster their values. Although the special need education system closely resembles our mainstream education, the disabled students are able to learn to live ordinarily better as they are able to keep up with the school's pace which is designed for them, children with delayed intellectual development. If they are to be integrated to our mainstream education system, it might be too fast for them and they would not learn anything as a result.

However, I feel that people with disabilities should still be integrated into mainstream education system. If they are placed in different schools they will feel like they are segregated from the rest of the world, they would start to feel left out and this will worsen the situation. More teachers are also getting trained to cope and handle people with disabilities so that they would be able to keep up with lesson. Schools are also trying to help and meet the needs of the children with disabilities. All 190 primary schools and 69 secondary schools have at least one allied educator trained in this field and who has specialized skills and knowledge to identify and support students with learning difficulties and mild special educational needs. The ministry also provides grants and works in close partnership with volunteers welfare organization to provide school-based specialized education services for students with physical and sensory disabilities.

Education news by Erika&Audrey

Summary: The society for the prevention of cruelty to animals (SPCA) agree that more can be done in terms of legistration, education and awareness to raise the standard of animal welfare in Singapore. They strongly encourage adopting of pets instead of buying. The SPCA has also been conducting educational talks at schools and other organizations for more than 30 years. In 2014 , MOE included the animal welfare as the new character and citizenship education. This initiative is to inculcate a respect for animals in our young, leading to more responsible behavior in terms of acquiring and keeping pets, and towards those animals that share the environment with us.


Opinion:According to my research, there is an approximate number of 9,300 abandoned pets per year in Singapore and it is found the the number is bound to increase each year. I find it amusing and ironic that more and more people are becoming a vegan or vegetarian claiming that they refuse to be cruel to animals but judging by the increase in abandoned pets caused me to doubt people's intentions. There are many ways that we can help with pet homelessness, even the smallest and simplest actions make a difference. For example. as can make it compulsory for all animal shelters or pet shops to micro-chip their pets before they are brought back home by adopters. Adopters must make sure that they update their pet identification tags and only choose to adopt a pet if they plan to care them for the remainder of their lives. I hope people can raise more awareness for the abandoned pets in Singapore and all over the world. 

Valentine's Day: Erika&Audrey

Summary: Research shows that making love during teenage years may hinder their relationship with future partners as having a passionate and fulfilling first relationship may result in a boring and disappointing relationship with future partners during adulthood. However, contradicting study shows that some couples are able to last long despite seeking a well maintained relationship in their youthful  days.

Opinion:  One significant point that we agree on is that if you had a very passionate first relationship and allow that feeling to become your benchmark for a relationship dynamic, then it becomes inevitable that future, more adult partnerships will seem boring and a disappointment. As an expectation has been set, it will be difficult for one to not try to meet it. To find happiness with a future partner, they would have to lower their expectation and not try to replicate and compare with the first relationship. Also for future relationships to work, they should be calm and compose. 


Vocabulary:
Benchmark - a standard or point of reference against which things may be compared.
anthropologist -  people that practice anthropology, which is the study of humanity. 
inevitable - certain to happen; unavoidable 
Euphoria - a feeling or state of intense excitement and happiness.
Puppy love - intense but relatively shallow romantic attachment, associated with adolescents.

2015 news: Erika & Audrey

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/06/27/us/supreme-court-same-sex-marriage.html?referer=&_r=0

Summary: In a long-sought victory for the gay rights movement, the Supreme Court ruled by a 5-to-4 vote in June 2015 that the constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage. The decision, which was the culmination of decades of litigation and activism, set off jubilation across the country, the first same sex-marriages in several states. It came against the backdrop of fast moving changes in public opinion.

Opinion: I feel that this news deserves to be on the cover of a magazine because this piece of news on same-sex marriage is one of the biggest news of 2015. As the world changes, laws against homosexuals became loosened and more people are able to voice out their opinions. Although I personally do not revitalize gay marriages, I feel that every single person in this world should have the rights to love anyone and choose to marry whom. Nothing can prevent someone from loving another. Not gender, not age, not size or colour, It would be incredulous and unreasonable to do so. However, legalizing same sex marriages could open the flood gates. Many problems would arise. Gay couples will not be able to produce offsprings. Even if they adopt, their children would deprive of either father's or mother's love which is not healthy for a child's development. Also, our future generations will be strongly influenced by this, and there is a high possibility that there will be more and more gay couples in the future. Marriage is between two individuals of different sex and never the same. 

Introduction Erika&Audrey

Audrey: Hello, my name is Audrey Yeo. I am from 2H last year. My CCA is Chinese Orchestra and I play the DaRuan.  I am previously from Rulang Primary School and I have 2 siblings, my brother and sister, who are both older than me. I came to River Valley High School because my house is nearby and many of my ex-classmates were planning to enroll in here. I did not regret my choice as I met many new friends and created lots of happy memories. This year I would like to make more new friends as I feel that I am a very awkward person and do not get along with many people.

Erika: I am Erika Ong, I was from class 2G. My cca is Chinese Orchestra. I was from Henry park primary school. My hobbies are reading and swimming, I started swimming from the age of 5. My favourite subject is mathematics even though mathematics is not my best subject. I am awkward around new people but I hope I can make new friends this year