J in JERI

27 lapse achieved!!! That's more than 10km of non-stop jogging today and I have never felt healthier before. In the midst of the 20th round or so, it just crossed my mind of how physical health or 'Jasmani' is one of the important aspects as emphasized in the National Philosophy of Education.

"...to produce individuals who are intelectually, spiritually, emotionally and physically balanced and harmonic..." (National Philosophy Malaysia) 

However, the reality in the Malaysian education system is, the importance of physical health is always placed second to the other aspects mentioned in NPE. Ideally, teachers would of course find a balance to develop students in all of these aspects. But how would one do so when the intellectuality of an individual has always been paraded by the system as the deciding factor to his or her success in life? Hence, the exam oriented education that we practiced and stillllll practicing now.

Here's a few questions to ponder:

1) Why aren't physical health test considered in determining how well a student achieves in school? (bringing in the importance of multiple intelligence and considering how students can excel in many dimensions besides intellectual)
 This leads to the second question...

2) Why aren't students streamed, or ranked in classes according to their physical abilities like sports achievements, and other aspects rather than pure exam results? (not that I'm supporting streaming or ranking but that's the ugly truth)

3) How can Malaysian teachers preach the importance of physical health when they themselves do not practice healthy lifestyles? (e.g: smoking, overeating especially if there's free food LOL)

As the word A.S.I.C.S (Anima Sana In Corpore Sano) brings the meaning, 'Healthy Soul in a Healthy Body', we must come to realize how health is relatively important to one's development of the mind and soul.

With this, I hope that we as Malaysian teachers will not turn a blind eye on the importance of J in JERI, and strive to develop our students to be holistic individuals. And the way to achieve that, is to start with ourselves...