NiE Life 2017 (Vol 485)

Vol 485

WEDNESDAY 25 OCTOBER 2017

Elementary A code of ethics Intermediate The basis of social harmony BRATs Divers with a purpose

Tel: 03 7967 1388 Fax: 03 7955 4039 thestar.com.my/education

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Integrity Supported by the Ministry of Education

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-NiE ,

25 OCTOBER 2017

Elementary

A code of ethics

Integrity

Note to the teacher

century

NiE Activity 1 Critical thinking

learning skills

OUR children are riding the great wave of technology today. They now have facts and procedures at their fingertips.

Teachers have to equip their students with new skills that allow them to thrive in today’s global economy.

The activities in The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education pullout combine literacy skills with current content to build this set of skills.

The key below indicates the skills integrated into the activities in this pullout.

THROUGHOUT the year, we have featured many types of character building values in our NiE pullouts, such as respect, trustworthiness, responsibility and honesty. Learning about these traits is one thing, but experiencing them is something else altogether!

Today, we are going to look at another important trait known as integrity.

What exactly is it? It is a very powerful word that must not be taken lightly.

See if you can come up with your own definition of integrity after the following NiE activity.

● Identify ● Reason

● Measure

Creative thinking ● Imagine ● Connect ● Brainstorm

Let us look at some simple comic strips from The Star. In groups of four, discuss what you think is wrong in each story. Then, on your own copy, write what ought to be the right thing to do, even though no one is watching.

PICTURE 1 What is wrong in this situation? ................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................

Who is at fault here? ................................................................................................................ ...............................................................................................................

What should have been done? ................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................

How is integrity damaged? ................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................

PICTURE 2 What is wrong in this situation? ................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................

Critical thinking

Who is at fault here?

● Identify

................................................................................................................ ...............................................................................................................

● Reason

What should have happened?

● Measure

................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................

● Organise

How is integrity damaged? ................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................

Creative thinking ● Imagine ● Brainstorm ● Connect

By studying these two examples, define what integrity means:

● Invent

Problem solving ● Question ● Research ● Recreate ● Present

Communicating ● Oral ● Non-verbal ● Written ● Aural

NiE Activity 2 Critical thinking ● Identify ● Reason

● Measure ● Organise

Creative thinking ● Imagine ● Connect ● Brainstorm ● Invent

Problem solving

C.S. Lewis, author of The Chronicles of Narnia, had a simple way of defining integrity: doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.

Here’s another comic strip taken from Kee’s World in The Star. Study the scenario. Next, create two versions to complete the storyline: one that shows integrity, and one that doesn’t. Work in pairs to complete the task. You can pin up your final strip on the classroom noticeboard for your friends to “like”. ● Question ● Research

● Recreate ● Present

How the story ends with the main character showing integrity:

How the story ends with the main character NOT showing integrity:

Collaborating ● Listen ● Contribute respectfully ● Compromise ● Attain goal nie editorial manager: SHARON OVINIS senior nie executive: ROWENA CHUA writer: S. SIVAM layout designer: SHOBA illustrator: HASSAN BAHRI To order The Star for NiE lessons, call: Sundarrajan 03-7967 1388 ext 1437 or 016-288 3682 We welcome feedback; write to: Star-NiE, Star Media Group, 15 Jalan 16/11, 46350 Petaling Jaya or e-mail us at: starnie@thestar.com.my

-NiE ,

25 OCTOBER 2017

Moral uprightness

Elementary Integrity

HOW long can you go without telling a fib – even to yourself? Now, tell the truth and shame the devil! Once we begin lying, truth and integrity take a back seat, don’t they?

Many songwriters and singers have songs that touch on these values: honesty, truth and integrity.

Example

NiE Activity 1 Critical thinking

● Identify ● Reason ● Measure ● Organise

Creative thinking

Problem solving

● Imagine ● Brainstorm ● Connect ● Invent

● Question ● Research ● Recreate ● Present

Communicating ● Oral ● Non-verbal ● Written ● Aural

We are kind and caring to those we love. Can we also be honest with them? In this song sung by Billy Joel titled *Honesty, the singer belts out the following lyrics: In pairs, look through The Star to create a collage of pictures that you feel represent five words in the lyrics. When you are done, team up with another pair and share what you and your partner have done.

Honesty is such a lonely word Everyone is so untrue Honesty is hardly ever heard And mostly what I need from you.

I can always find someone To say they sympathise If I wear my heart out on my sleeve But I don’t want some pretty face To tell me pretty lies All I want is someone to believe. (*This song was re-recorded by Beyonce in 2008.)

Imagine this: you returned from recess and found a really cool mechanical pencil on your chair.

What would you do? Take a few seconds to think about it and then, share your answer with a partner. As a class, volunteer answers to get a discussion going: What would you do with the pencil versus what is the best thing to do with the pencil?

What would you expect if the pencil actually belonged to you and you had lost it along the way?

NiE Activity 2 Critical thinking

● Identify ● Reason ● Measure ● Organise

Creative thinking

Problem solving

● Imagine ● Brainstorm ● Connect

● Question ● Research ● Recreate ● Present

Communicating ● Oral ● Non-verbal ● Written ● Aural

Collaborating ● Listen ● Contribute respectfully ● Compromise ● Attain goal

In groups of four, look for a photograph or a short story from The Star. It could be a story from a movie or comic strip. It must show that the person featured has done something that is not socially or personally responsible.

What were the consequences of this irresponsible behaviour? Take turns to share your findings in class.

Finally, write a brief reflection (based on the story/ photograph/movie/comic strip you have picked) in your exercise book using the following template as a guide:

Summary of story (in 100 words):

What happens when people don’t take responsibility for their lives?

What would the consequences be for themselves?

What happens when people don’t take responsibility for their communities?

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-NiE ,

25 OCTOBER 2017

INTERMEDIATE Integrity

The basis of social harmony WHEN you watch a movie, don’t you tend to get all riled up when everything the antagonist plans for appears to fall into place for him? Why do you resent his “good fortune”? Do you find yourself (more often than not) rooting for the protagonist instead? The reason is simply this: we can’t stand people who indulge in things they haven’t quite earned!

NiE Activity 1 Critical thinking ● Identify ● Reason

● Measure ● Organise

Creative thinking

In pairs, scan through your copy of The Star. Cut out as many names or photographs of one set of people who, you think, have integrity, and another set of people who, you think, don’t.

● Imagine ● Connect ● Brainstorm

People who, you think, have integrity

People who, you think, don’t have integrity

Then, answer these questions as a class based on your selection: 1. What distinguishes one group from the other?

2.

Who gets featured more in the media?

3.

Why is this so?

NiE Activity 2 Critical thinking ● Identify ● Reason

● Measure ● Organise

Creative thinking ● Imagine ● Connect ● Brainstorm ● Invent

Problem solving ● Question ● Research

● Recreate ● Present

Don’ts

● Oral ● Written ● Non-verbal ● Aural

In groups of four, look in The Star for a picture of a person or character who, you think, is a role model for integrity. Cut it out and paste it on a sheet of A3 paper. Then, develop a list of do’s and don’ts for the person. Finally, write out the answers to these questions at the bottom of the paper: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Integrity

Communicating

Do’s

ple: m a x e e t Templa

What happens when we live in accordance with rules that guide our integrity?

What happens when we don’t?

In what ways do integrity and the lack of it affect our community and society?

How can you, as a young person, demonstrate integrity?

Summary of what integrity means to you (questions 1 to 4)

Activity

There is a meaningful song titled Man in the Mirror sung and performed by Michael Jackson.

This song challenges us to examine our own choices and the directions of our lives. The chorus reads:

Here’s an exercise you can do in your journal or exercise book. List at least three characteristics that you wish to improve on.

Then, on the opposite side of the page, list three characteristics that you wish you had.

List at least three things you can do to “change your ways” so that you develop the characteristics you wish to possess.

How I am now:

How I want to be:

1. ________________________________________________________________ 2. ________________________________________________________________ 3. ________________________________________________________________

-NiE ,

INTERMEDIATE Integrity

25 OCTOBER 2017

9

Short-changing yourself

MANY of you harness ambitions to hold down secure, well-paying jobs. In order to prepare for this, you will do your best to earn a place in a college or university of your choice.

While you are there, you will be given many assignments and writing tasks to become more knowledgeable in the field you pursue. To cope with such tasks, you will no doubt turn to the Internet as your source of information. But beware of the phenomenon known as plagiarism.

The world of academia has become steeped in it. Many students reproduce or copy works and writings of others as the Internet has become easily accessible. They do not understand that assignments are not merely for showing what they know; instead, they serve a greater purpose – to show how students can expand their knowledge.

Plagiarism is downright stealing. Do you agree? How would you feel if someone stole your creative work or hard-earned research and claimed it as his own? Integrity must be reflected in all layers of society. Try the following activity to test your belief in the importance of integrity.

NiE Activity 1 Critical thinking ● Identify ● Reason

● Measure ● Organise

Problem solving

Creative thinking ● Imagine ● Connect ● Brainstorm ● Invent

● Question ● Research

Communicating

● Recreate ● Present

President

Vice President

● Listen

● Oral ● Written ● Non-verbal ● Aural

Society often complains that some people in leadership roles lack integrity. In groups of four, develop a student body (or student council).

The objective is to ensure that student interests, studies and funds are well taken care of.

First, decide on the job scope of each position. Next, scan The Star for names and pictures of people who, you feel, would go all out to take care Secretary

Collaborating ● Compromise

● Contribute ● Attain goal respectfully

of the welfare of the students in your school. (Characters can be chosen from movies, too.)

Finally, present your student council to the class but remember that you have to justify your choices and convince your classmates why your team deserves to be voted in. Individuals can vote for the most ideal student council. Here are the positions you need to fill in: Treasurer

Auditor

Public relations officer

Security council head

Responsibilities

(Note: The purpose of the student council is to give students an opportunity to develop leadership by carrying out school activities and service projects. They help share student ideas, interests and concerns with the school -wide community – www.blaineschools.org.)

Critical thinking

Do you think your entire class can come to a consensus in picking the best personality for each role? Why? Explain.

In pairs, pick three professions from the Classifieds section of The Star. These would be professions you would consider honest. Provide three reasons why. In the next portion of the task, you will be given three situations. How would a

NiE Activity 2 ● Identify ● Reason

● Measure

person of integrity in this line of work sort out this situation? Discuss and then, share your answers in class. Do you agree that these are actions of people who demonstrate sound moral and ethical principles at work?

Problem solving

Creative thinking ● Imagine ● Connect ● Brainstorm

● Question ● Research

Communicating ● Oral ● Written ● Non-verbal ● Aural

● Recreate ● Present

Collaborating ● Listen

● Contribute respectfully

Profession 1: ……………………..…………..…..

Profession 2: ……………………..…………..…..

Profession 3: ……………………..…………..…..

Reasons: 1.

2.

3.

Reasons: 1.

2.

3.

Reasons: 1.

2.

3.

This person, A, has used up the last bit of toilet paper in the office toilet. What would he do?

This person, B, sells a product or service. His client will only buy this product or service if it is available. B says that he isn’t sure but he will check with his manager. It turns out that the company B works for cannot offer the product or service desired by the client. What would B do in this situation?

This person, C, has been trying very hard to get tickets for a Bruno Mars concert. But as luck would have it, all the tickets have been sold out. A client from C’s company can offer C two tickets in exchange for a service C can authorise in the company. What would C do?

Action taken:

Action taken:

Action taken:

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-NiE ,

25 OCTOBER 2017

ADVANCED Integrity

Fostering a culture of honesty INTEGRITY starts with us. If each of us did our part, how would that be reflected in our society? Read through these statements. Are you a person of integrity?

● ● ●

I try to do what is right, even if it’s difficult or costly.

I practise high ethical principles.

I don’t compromise my values by giving in to temptation.

How we practise integrity (that is closely related to honesty) can be placed into four steps, as follows:

What we say

How we say it

What we do

How we do it

To speak truthfully and to follow through with what we have agreed to.

Use positive actions and choice of words.

Lead by example. If we expect our younger sibling to ask for permission before he takes something of ours, shouldn’t we do the same?

If we are given a task to complete, do it right from the start; no shortcuts!

NiE Activity 1 Critical thinking ● Identify ● Reason

● Measure ● Organise

Creative thinking ● Imagine ● Connect ● Brainstorm

Communicating ● Oral ● Non-verbal

● Written

Look at these photographs from The Star. In groups of four, share how we can practise integrity (as individuals) in such situations (or before they hit the boiling point!)

Photograph

EXAMPLE

Stealing

Can you find a suitable photograph from The Star that shows a lack of integrity? Paste it here to complete the activity.

NiE Activity 2 Critical thinking ● Identify

● Reason

Creative thinking ● Imagine ● Connect

● Invent

Communicating ● Written

Look at this example that explains what integrity means to this person:

Breaking someone’s trust is like dropping a precious porcelain saucer.

You can glue it back together but it’s never going to look the same again.

Here’s a quick activity you can do in groups of four to illustrate what integrity means to your group. Look for one photograph or item in The Star that is symbolic of how precious integrity is. Then, compose a quote to liken what it means to break someone’s trust. Start with:

Breaking someone’s trust is like…

-NiE ,

ADVANCED

ARE children born with values like honesty, honour, respect and social responsibility?

Or are these values derived from cultural socialisation? We live in an age where “the end justifies the means”. People rationalise their actions with seemingly valid reasons.

NiE Activity 1 Critical thinking ● Measure ● Organise

11

Uncorrupted virtues

Integrity

● Identify ● Reason

25 OCTOBER 2017

Creative thinking ● Imagine ● Connect ● Brainstorm ● Invent

Problem solving

Communicating

Read this story that appeared in The Star in March, 2017. How far would you go to study in a prestigious university?

What would you have done if you were under immense pressure to enrol in a prestigious medical school in India? Would you have been among the 630 students caught for cheating?

Student doctors barred

INDIA’s highest court has barred hundreds of students from becoming doctors after they were caught paying bribes and cheating on exams to gain admission into prestigious medical schools.

Around 630 students from central Madhya Pradesh state were found to have copied answers, had proxies sit for their exams or just outright paid to gain entry to selective medical colleges between 2008 and 2013. The Supreme Court first delivered a split verdict, with one judge suggesting the students serve time in the army as punishment.

Paying bribes to secure an exam paper early or get bumped up the admissions ladder is not uncommon in India, but the brazen nature of this scam caused particular outrage.

Federal investigators joined the probe two years later after a local TV journalist covering the lucrative scheme mysteriously wound up dead

● Question ● Research

● Recreate ● Present

● Oral

● Written

How do we develop a culture of integrity? In groups of four, come up with answers for the following prompts based on your understanding of how cheating for medical exams (in India) have developed over the years. Do you agree or disagree with the statements? Justify your answers and give a solution.

Steps

How do we rectify the situation? Justify your answer and give one solution or example.

Learning begins in the classroom

Learning creates a culture that rewards success. There must be other systems that reward hard work, courage, determination and respect for classmates.

History

Dishonesty and disrespect flourish in society. Can you think of an example of a role model who stood up for his beliefs and values and thus made a difference in the world?

Punishment

Should punishment be meted out to those who cheat? Can dishonesty be made into a teachable moment? (You can draw reference to the story above.)

NiE Activity 2 Critical thinking ● Identify ● Reason

● Measure ● Organise

What is trust?

Creative thinking ● Imagine ● Connect ● Brainstorm ● Invent

Is it the fact that you can believe in someone? Could knowing that someone is telling the truth lend itself to building a trusting relationship? If a person who committed a misdemeanour owned up to the mistake and allowed himself to be accountable for his misdeed, would he be able to earn your trust once again?

A very tragic fire robbed the lives of 23 people at the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah tahfiz in Kuala Lumpur last month. The fire at the religious school swept through the top floor of the three-storey building.

Witnesses were unable to save the victims, who were mostly school-going children. The case is being investigated as a criminal offence as foul play is suspected.

Sadly, though, the lives of the children could have been saved, had fire safety requirements been adhered to. Read the following excerpt that appeared in The Star on Sept 15, 2017.

Problem solving ● Question ● Research

● Recreate ● Present

Communicating ● Oral ● Written ● Non-verbal ● Aural

Collaborating ● Listen

● Compromise

● Contribute ● Attain goal respectfully

Fire Dept: Escape route was blocked

School did not follow local govt regulations in applying for permits Fire and Rescue Department deputy director-general (operation) Datuk Soiman Jahid said the incident could have been avoided if the school had followed the local government regulations in applying for the appropriate permits.

“The school did not acquire a permit to begin its operations but was in the midst of applying for one,” he said. He added that operations should have only begun once all permits were acquired. The school has been in operation for more than a year.

He said his department had come back to the school with recommendations for fire safety, including equipment.

“Based on our investigations now, the recommendations were not followed and renovations were made including putting up an illegal partition.

The renovation blocked access to the second exit,” he told reporters. He added that the school should have submitted mechanical and engineering drawings prior to the building construction but nothing was submitted.

He said the living arrangements at the top floor were very cramped with double-decker beds placed too close to one another. “This also would have made it difficult for victims to escape in an emergency,” he said.

In a press conference on Sept 19, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said, “All schools must adhere to high safety standards to protect students from harm.”

What has come to the forefront of this tragedy is that the building was not in compliance with fire safety codes. In groups of four, read the article carefully once again. List down at least four gross fire safety misconducts.

Next, your teacher will set you up in groups. Each group will research the following topics. On an appointed day set by your teacher, share your findings on the following:

Group 1:

Group 4:

Group 2:

Group 5:

Group 3:

Group 6:

Identify fire hazards in schools, generally.

What are some typical fire safety violations your group has seen in your school? Highlight them.

Identify basic fire safety rules and examine the basic chemistry principles of fire.

Your team is in charge of a school fire safety plan.

Your team oversees the school’s fire safety committee. Discuss what you would do as part of this committee.

Your team rewrites the article on the left.

Change as many details as needed, to give the children of this school a safe escape.

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-NiE ,

25 OCTOBER 2017

Episodes 30 and 31

By: Dean Pitchford I opened one eye. The fluorescent lights on the ceiling were blindingly bright. My right leg and chest were throbbing with pain.

I tried to rise up on one elbow, but a huge jolt of pain smacked me back onto the mattress.

Newt?

Honey, he’s awake!

Wait a minute! I am at the hospital?

Try to lie still, sweetie.

Can I visit Chris?

Is Reggie okay?

Smacked

Slapped, hit or struck (usually with the palm of the hand).

Not a scratch.

You broke his fall.

Blinding

Very bright, dazzling.

You boys are going to be sharing a room.

Behind my parents’ heads, a television hung suspended from the ceiling.

Cecil? Is that Cecil on TV?

Outside my curtain, voices suddenly started shouting.

Hey, Reggie.

Dad, Reggie didn’t knock out Chris. It was Daryl Peeps.

Hey, how are you doing?

Suspended

Hanging , hovering.

Yes, you are all over the news.

You, in your Captain Nobody suit.

Daryl Peeps?

Oh yeah, he and JJ are doing interviews for every channel in town.

When my plaster cast was dry, my bed was wheeled into the same room as my brother Chris.

HIT THE SHOWERS!

A bandage or cover stiffened with plaster of Paris used to support and protect a broken limb.

The growling of my stomach woke me up. I did not know what time it was.

What if he never wakes up?

Here I am three feet away from Chris. I managed to help so many people but I can’t help my own brother.

Useless!

I am up.

I am up

What’s wrong?

The more that word bounced around in my brain, the more frustrated I got. The last time I could remember being that steamed was the morning of the Big Game. The last time I had shouted at him.

Plaster cast

A pillow hit my head.

Where did that come from?

TOiN

G!

Frustrated

Discouraged, upset, dissatisfied.

Steamed

(Informal expression) very angry.

QUESTIONS

1. What secret did Newt agree to keep?

You’re in a hospital.

2. What made Chris come out of his coma?