Fieldtrips

Ideally- as geographers, we ought to be passionate about them. I love to attend such fieldtrips too. Yesterday's trip to Pasir Ris Park and Labrador Park was fantastic. And as the Master puts it, "learning is experiencing". What I see and processed in my head, I will remember for long.

Ideally- all students who are studying Geography ought to go for fieldtrips for almost every topic so that they can understand the essence of Geography.

Ideally- all Geography teachers ought to and would love to bring their students for fieldtrips. Learning will never be the same again for students. Teachers can transmit their knowledge to students passionately.

Pragmatically speaking- how many of the Geography teachers have the time to arrange fieldtrips for their students? Arranging for one already takes up alot of time. Plus courses and other non-teaching duties that teachers have to fulfill. Arranging for fieldtrips just isn't top of their priority.

Pragmatically speaking- Geography teachers like any other teachers have a syllabus to follow and rush through. It is already stressing enough to teach what the students need to know for exams. Bottomline: the bosses want results. Fieldtrips or not. The goal of the education system is focused more on pragmatic results and on the economy. Is it in congruent with our ideals that students should enjoy learning for the sake of learning? It can be possible in Secondary levels, but unfortunately, this is often not the case, despite the ultimate aims of the education system.

Pragmatically speaking- Can we trust our students to behave themselves in public? Do we dare risk our rice bowl to achieve the ideals of (a Geography) education?

Pragmatically speaking- Do students have the time to spare for fieldtrips, save for the occasional one? CCAs, enrichment lessons, industrial attachments... Will this favour those who are exceptionally capable once again?

Pragmatically speaking- There is always the issue of safety of students and financial viability. If the boss is reluctant to push for fieldtrips, the subordinate will have a difficult time to convince him/her. This is especially so when there are others who share the same view as the boss. Or worse still, if the boss is not exactly what we expect him/her to be. You know what I mean.

Therefore, pragmatically speaking- as teachers, we have to remember too that this is not just a vocation for us. This is also our rice bowl. Blame us for being selfish, call us sinners if fieldtrips cannot be organised for students. But do not blame us totally. We want to and we dearly want to do it. But at the end of the day, do not forget that we are human beings after all who have to work to support our families. Do not forget that we are human beings who do not live in isolation. Do not forget that we are human beings who are battling our own fears as we trudge onwards on this path.


Do not blame us, teachers, totally. We are human beings after all. And all human beings are not perfect.

Fight the system if we have to. But we should fight smart for the sake of our own survival and for the good of the long-run. Yes, we should not be too pessissmistic, but let's douse our sense of idealism with the reality.

(Note: These thoughts are mine, and entirely mine. This is my personal opinion, therefore I am not speaking for anyone else. Cross-posted.)