National Education. Big Scary Words.
“na·tion·al [nash-uh-nl, nash-nuhl]
–adjective
1. of, pertaining to, or maintained by a nation as an organized whole or independent political unit: national affairs.
2. owned, preserved, or maintained by the government: National Parks.
3. peculiar or common to the whole people of a country: national customs.
4. devoted to one’s own nation, its interests, etc.; patriotic: to stir up national pride.
5. nationalist.
6. concerning or encompassing an entire nation: a national radio network.
7. limited to one nation.
–noun
8. a citizen or subject of a particular nation who is entitled to its protection.
9. Often, nationals. a national competition, tournament, or the like.
10. a national company or organization.
ed·u·ca·tion [ej-oo-key-shuhn]
–noun
1. the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life.
2. the act or process of imparting or acquiring particular knowledge or skills, as for a profession.
3. a degree, level, or kind of schooling: a university education.
4. the result produced by instruction, training, or study: to show one’s education.
5. the science or art of teaching; pedagogics.
—Synonyms 1. instruction, schooling, learning. Education, training imply a discipline and development by means of study and learning. Education is the development of the abilities of the mind (learning to know): a liberal education. Training is practical education (learning to do) or practice, usually under supervision, in some art, trade, or profession: training in art, teacher training. 4. learning, knowledge, enlightenment. Education, culture are often used interchangeably to mean the results of schooling. Education, however, suggests chiefly the information acquired. Culture is a mode of thought and feeling encouraged by education. It suggests an aspiration toward, and an appreciation of high intellectual and esthetic ideals: The level of culture in a country depends upon the education of its people.”
courtesy of Dictionary.com
I especially like the last line:”The level of culture in a country depends upon the education of its people.”
I have the good fortune of being invited to be part of this year’s NEtwork Conference. I can see why we need this.
We have to find in ourselves the need to be loyal to one’s country…Being Singaporean.
What does being Singaporean mean? How can we encapsulate that identity in one word? When I asked an American, he said,
“Being American = Freedom”, Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité in France.
Here? The people I asked…? – Food, Kiasu-ism, Singlish, PAP…
THAT is why we need National Education… National Engagement. This is our country. Our Nation.