- James Baldwin, in his 1956 novel Giovanni’s Room
COMMENT | For the record, while I am not a supporter of vernacular schools, I have always understood the need for them.
Also, I have never understood the need for religious schools, religious classes, and any other forms of formalised cultural outlets, believing that this is the sole province of parents and not the state or any kind of formal or informal groupings.
Education beyond what is taught in the syllabus is also about internalisation.
What are the ideas that kids are internalising in public schools when our history books are compromised, the civil service racialised, politicians routinely demonise other ethnic groups, religious operatives demonise other religions, and quota systems as well as the non-existent social contract determine educational advancement in rakyat-funded education establishments?
Meanwhile, what are students in vernacular schools internalising, when they understand from a young age that by virtue of their minority status, everything in this country funded by their parent’s tax-paying ringgit is not open to them because of the non-existent social contract, and that their cultural identity is their refuge, and that the majority community envies their economic influence...