Class Participation

It was at LTB impromtu speech time when the topic of the notorious class participation came out. I guess its been an extremely touchy issue where SMU's teaching methodology is concerned. Indeed, it has sparked off numerous comments on both side of the house.

Is Class Participation good or bad?

Thinking back on the Singaporean education system, I also think of inquisitive children that always ask questions and give comments. Class participation in the early ages? Now students are just content to soak up whatever knowledge that teachers give to them and accept it at that. The inquisitive side of a child's mind has been erased. In its essence, CP is nothing more than a going back to its roots in learning, which is questioning and sharing. Yet as students, we have lost all that in our paper chase. All other non-essential knowledge have become redundant. Does it take CP to start us back on the old path?

What is learning to us? And do we learn? Thus I conclude that horrible as it it, CP is indeed a good thing.