By now, everybody knows that Pluto is no longer a planet in our galaxy. The decision made by the International Astronomcal Union (IAU) is widely spread globally and there is no way that people that has access to internet or print media have not heard about it – unless they are damn ignorant.
This is why I was really disturbed when I read Tempo this morning. Not by the scientific part., but the part about how our teachers are going to explain Pluto’s new status to their pupils. Their response – as written by Tempo – startled me.
A teacher from Padang said that he’s now more careful in reading the newspapers. He is waiting for the news from Ministry of Education whether they should explain this latest development to their students. Otherwise, he will just stick to the 9 planets, as this is what the formal guide book from the Ministry says.
I am speechless. This is so “the old regime”, whereby there have to be guidance and approval from the top level. If this is the kind of attitude our teachers have, what would become to our children?
Fortunately, Tempo also carried out a very encouraging news about Indonesian students that have just won the Foreign Minister’s Award in Asia Cup International Court Moot Competition. The team consists of four law students of University of Indonesia. And they are all very young, one is aged 18, the other three aged 20. It’s not easy to be able to shine in that kind of competition.
The competition required them to debate and argue, just like real lawyers in court. That’s why they have to be very fluent in English and know inside out about what they are talking about. Their competitors come from renown universities, such as Kyoto and Osaka University, National University of Singapore etc. And they beat them all. Wow, their parents must be very proud.
Now, I am picturing you being a lawyer in a reputable firm - about twenty five years from now. Would I like that?
(Written on September 8, 2006)
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