Minimize food wastage! by LJ

I agree with what Sumita Thiagarajan is doing to minimize food wastage. I feel that it is important to alert people to this, and social media is a good way to do so. Many people share photos of their food on social media, so clearly this is a platform that people use to interact and socialize, and this includes conversations about food. To show incomplete plates of food is a good way to start the conversation about food. It reminds people, at the start of their meal, hopefully before they order, that sometimes food is wasted. With such a reminder, people are more mindful about how much they order, and hopefully they will not over order. For example, at some restaurants that serve buffets in America, there is a surcharge for food wastage. By making it clear that food wastage is a bad thing, and including penalties for those who do not comply, we discourage people from wasting food. Although a campaign on social media is less drastic than a fine, the sentiment is similar, to raise awareness about food wastage and make it clear to people that it is bad, and should not be done.

Environment by Green

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I cannot help but disagree with Mr Chong's entire argument. The fact that the only considerations he took into account when evaluating the value of an alternate route are economic in nature shows that he is ultimately unwilling to compromise between protecting the environment and furthering economic growth. It is not a compromise when the environment is only taken into consideration when it is economically beneficial or convenient. That may be a good way of running a business, but it is not how a city should be governed. Putting aside the economic value of the reservoir [which he has not taken into consideration], we need to recognize that the reservoir is valuable to us in itself, especially since we pride ourselves on being a green city. If we are to call this city our home, it needs to stand up for something other than economic growth. Damaging a public space that many take pride in and love when there is an alternate route available simply because the alternative route is more expensive is counterproductive to nurturing the sense of responsibility and connection that citizens harbour towards the spaces they live and grow old in. 

Discipline by MK

While the teacher in the article may have been too severe in her punishment of the child, I still disagree with Mrs Sng, the mother, in her outlook of how punishment and discipline of the child is only a parent's right to implement. Another like-minded parent, Mdm Chee claimed in the article that "Teachers should focus on their role as educators." This suggests that education and discipline are separate entities of one another. However, this is a problematic assumption to make as it forgoes the concept of how, firstly, education can only take place in a safe learning environment with effective routines - discipline is thereby necessary to ensure this - and, secondly, that formal, academic education should not take place in a vacuum, where moral education (or education of the child) is neglected. Therefore, discipline is still necessary within the context of the school and should not be solely burdened by the parent or caregiver of the child at home.

Food Waste by Enlightened

To a certain extent, I agree with Minister Masagos that ‘old cultures, such as ordering huge quantities and varieties at banquets’ are to blame for food wastage in Singapore. Since people obviously cannot finish all the food at banquets, the excess food can become wasteful if it is thrown away. However, if the leftover food can be channeled to individuals and charities who need it, it will then put to good use. This assumes that we have adequate resources to accomplish this. In reality, it may not be efficiently possible. Thus, ultimately, it may be better to manage this problem at its source which means changing the old culture of providing more than what is needed at banquets.

Discipline by Distressed

Oh dear!! What exactly can be termed "effective" discipline?  Parents and the authorities have to understand the majority of teachers discipline a child for his own good and not to satisfy a need to destress or at its worst - to vent their anger.  We need to ask ourselves whether parents and teachers have the same expectations when dealing with a delinquent student.  How far are teachers expected to tolerate unacceptable behaviour before it is deemed necessary to inform the principal and the student's parents?
In the case of the special child's needs - were the teachers in his /her class informed about the child's problems and trained to handle these special cases?  It would be grossly unfair to blame the teacher for his/her actions otherwise.
We also see cases of parents who do not respond appropriately when teachers appeal to them to help arrest a problem. How do we teach responsibility if errant students do not respond to a teacher's soft approach "talking and persuading and guiding" the child?  Will it then be reflected that the teacher is uncaring because he or she failed to help the child see the importance of self control? Well- these unanswered questions are definitely areas of concern.

Discipline by GY

I do not agree that discipline issues involving students should be handled by their parents alone.   Keeping in mind that discipline does not necessarily involve corporal punishment, and that discipline is not synonymous with penalties that may cause mental or emotional stress, parents and teachers can set boundaries and mete out penalties in their own domains to help the young cultivate a strong sense of self-discipline and respect for others.  When a child misbehaves in class, his conduct may be disruptive. If the teacher does not intervene to enforce discipline in a constructive way, the learning climate is affected and the progress of other learners in the same classroom is compromised. At home, a child's misconduct may adversely affect family life and relationships, especially among siblings.  It is more effective, therefore, for parents and teachers to play their part in shaping the children's characters, contributing to their holistic development in the process.