Principal Leadership Styles in Indonesia

Principal Leadership Styles in Indonesia

Nur Annisa Mei Rizki (06012681519039)

            Leadership cannot be separated with human life. In a small scale,even a man is a leader for himself. In social life, a leader is needed in every aspect, from a family, a company, a regency, province and a country . A leader has a responsibility to serve their followers and ask the followers to reach their goals together. The term leadership put forward by experts, leadership is a person's ability and readiness to influence, guide, direct, and or move others to get them to work in order to achieve a common goal. Leadership is the ability to influence other people so willing to commit an act voluntarily to achieve certain goals. A good leader is able to lead himself before being able to lead others. Leadership is a close relationship between a person and a group of people because of their common interest.

            Nawawi (1993)  stated that leadership is a process of directing, guiding, influencing or controlling mind, feelings or actions and behavior of others. Of the several views of leadership above, it can be the common thread that leadership is a social influence in this case intentional behavior is run by a person against another person for structuring activities and relationships within a group / organization or educational institution. In educational institution, included school, principal plays an important role to achieve school’s goals. A principal can be called as the motor to improve the quality of a school. The principal is a responsible leader in the educational unit level, as well as the reciprocation of the school led. So its presence is required to have a variety of abilities, both with regard to management and leadership issues. It is intended that a principal may develop and promote the school in an effective, efficient, independent, productive and accountable. That condition requires academics to carry out various tasks according to their role and function.

            To run the managerial duties, as well as responding to the demands of today's changing, the principal must have strong leadership that is able to carry out various programs that have been agreed upon as well as their vision and mission. It is given that the principal does not only have a responsibility to the teachers, staff and students, but also must establish a relationship with the community at large. Implementation of these responsibilities, requires principals to have the ability and leadership skills to be prepared since the nomination of the principal.

            Preparing for school principals is intended that the principal will have proficient skills education leaders in developing the institution as well. Therefore, principals need to be equipped with the insights about effective leadership, as will be explained in this paper, namely, the importance of school leadership, indicators of effective school leadership, the type of school leadership and school leadership ethics.

Principal Leadership Style

            There is no perfect person in the worls, principal is too. The best principal style  in a school can be the different with other school. In this essay, the writer focus to explain three main principal leadership style that are commonly used by most of the principal in Indonesia.

1. Transformational Leadership style

Transformational leadership was firstly found by Burns (1978) , he is the first researcher who formulated this leadership style. He stated that transformational leadership style focus to motivate the follower or employee to reach the goal together. As stated by him, “Such leadership occurs when one or more persons engage with others in such a way that leaders and followers raise one another to higher levels of motivation and morality” (p.20). There are some researchers who stated that transformational leadership style is effective to be applied in the school organization. Leithwood et.al (1999) stated that transformational leadership is the best way to restructuring school. Verona and Young (2001) also said that transformational leadership style is effective and suitable for organizational and social context such as school. These researches have done the research about the relationship between transformational leadership style and the result of the students’exam, The result shows that the principal need to increase the degree of the transfomational leadership style in order to increase students’score in exam.

Leithwood (1994) confirms that many school leaders possess the characteristics of a transformational leader. Scope (2006) conducted a study that examined the leadership styles of middle school principals at successful schools and school culture. The researcher determined that there were 77 schools in the state of Indiana that were considered to be successful, which was based on meeting or exceeding the state average score on the Indiana state standardized test. Thirty-six principals participated in the study, and the results suggested that a significant relationship existed between the variables. Also, the findings indicated that effective leadership is related to the transformational leadership style and school culture.

2. Transactional Leadership Style

Transactional leadership style is different with the transformational leadership style. If Transformational leadership focus on motivate the followers,  transactioal focus on reward and punishment for the follower in order to reach the organizational goal. Burns (1978) stated that transactional leadership use an agreement to the follower as the motivation to work. It focus on the contractual task that mostly followed by the follower who wants to get higher level in organization.

According to Barling, Slater, and Kelloway (2000), transactional leaders are able to motivate their followers by choosing rewards and incentives that will be the most desirable to them. s Bass (1999) states, “Whereas transformational leaders uplift the morale, motivation, and morals of their followers, transactional leaders cater to their followers’ immediate self-interests. The transformational leader emphasized what you can do for your country – the transactional leader, what your country can do for you” (p. 9)

If a principal uses transactional leadership style, it means that he/she will give reward or punishment to the all of academics in a school, such as teacher, staff, students, even a security. It’s commonly used if transformational leadership style is not effective anymore. The follower sometime need a “shock therapy” if they don’t do their job or break the rules. A teacher who always late when come to school is need to be punished as the concequency and a teacher who always come on time, do their job well and has achievement need to be awarded to motivate him/herand also motivate the other students. Students are also needed to be punished when they do wrong and they must be awarded when the have an achievement even if it is a simple thing.

3. Laissez-faire Leadership Style

Bass (1985) stated that Laissez faire Leadership is one of the weak leadership style. The laissez faire leader tends to ignore and avoid an intervention when it is needed. The leader with this style is commonly not responsible with their job, they tends to not inspire and motivate the follower to reach their goal. Bass (1998) describes President Ronald  Reagan as an example of a laissez-faire leader. As opposed to closely monitoring his  employees, he gave them the freedom to make their own decisions. As a result, there  were a multitude of scandals that were revealed during and after his term in office. This  could possibly have been avoided if he had utilized a different leadership style.

However, even most of researcher said that this leadership style is weak and ineeffective, there are some researchers that believe this leadership style can be beneficial in some cases. Barnett, Marsh, and Craven (2005) stated that Laissez faire leadership style  can be important to be applied in some situation.

Even laizzes faire leadership style can be effectife, but as the principal in a school,it is better for the principal to avoid this leadership style to decrease some mistakes in doing their job. Motivation from the principal will be so important to build the spirit of the followers.

Conclusion

Based on the three principal leadership styles that the writer explained before, it can be concluded that there is no perfect  leadership style that is appropriate for the principal. In every school, there will be different situation and it needs different style to lead it. Indonesian goverment should facilitate teachers to have training before they are chosen to be a principal. It is very important to guide the principal to have knowledge and vision in doing their job and responsibility.

           

Refference

Bass, B. M. (1985). Leadership and performance beyond expectations.New York: Free

            Press.

Bass, B. M. (1998). Transformational leadership: Industry, military, and educational

            impact. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

Burns, J. M. (1978). Leadership.NY: Harper & Row

Leithwood, K. A. (1992). The move toward transformational leadership. Educational

            Leadership, 49(5), 8-12.

Martin, Shawn T erese, "Relationship Between the Leadership Styles of Principals and      School Culture" (2009). Electronic Theses & Dissertations. Paper 269

Nawawi, Hadari. (1993). Kepemimpinan Menurut Islam. Yogyakarta: Gajah Mada University      Press   

Scope, P. S. (2006). Relationship between leadership styles of middle school principals

            and school culture  (Doctoral Dissertation, Purdue University, 2006).

The Kite Runner ,,,“For you, a thousand times over”

The Kite Runner,,,Children have to be Happy!!

First, i didn't really like reading a novel, especially if it was written by foreign author. I thought that the language must be so complicated, even if it has been translated. But, when i saw my older brother recommend me to read this novel, I tried to read. Yup, The Kite Runner could be the great novel I have ever read. It made me cry and made me realize that there are so many people who have to lost their "happy" life, when they have to feel the war, loneliness, and fear.

It is written by Khaled Hosseini and he also comes from Afganistan, the plot of this novel. This novel told about the kid's life in Afganistan where they were so happy at first, but it was suddenly change when the Russian invasion came. Amir, as the main character, had to leave his country with his father to US. He had to leave his brother, that he just knew it when he was adult. 

Then, Amir had a good life in US, he found his girl and get married. His life changed again when he knew that his uncle called him for the first time after the have been separated. His uncle asked Amir to go to Pakistan because there was a secret that must be told. Then, AMir went to Pakistan and met his uncle,,then everything has been told by his uncle. He realized that Hassan was his "real" brother; when he was kid, Hasan was the best servant in his home, he also was the best friend of Amir, they spent time together all day long and Amir loved him as a brother.

Amir and Hassan 

The sad part of this novel came when Amir knew that Hassan has died, he was killed by Taliban because he didn't want to leave his old home in Afganistan T_________T , but Hassan's child was alive! That's why Amir had to find his niece. The conflict was so horrible when AMir had to fight with Taliban and he knew that his niece had to be Taliban servant.

I just can't tell you detail of this novel. but I know that the story looks so real T____T ,, i can't stop crying. I just can't imagine how that kids have to feel those bad things, they become slave, they are tortured!! 

Hosseini wrote it with the good language, he gave the real situation of the place from the politic, geographic, social and cultural system in Afghanistan. 

It's the nice novel,,,read it now!

Some nice quotes i got from this novel;

“For you, a thousand times over” 

“There is only one sin. and that is theft... when you tell a lie, you steal someones right to the truth.” 

“Children aren't coloring books. You don't get to fill them with your favorite colors.” 

“There is a way to be good again...” 

Amir and his nephew

Khalled Hosseini , Kite Runner

What happened to north Korea?

We will never know what happened to north korea because I think, this country is a mystery. We even don't understand what the people want and you never know the real activities of the people there. North Korea is only one country who still hold the communist principal. Yup, do you want to know what happened in  North Korea? 
This country is clean enough, we can see it in the Pyongyang, the capital city. There is no air pollution or even rec lame board which are put a long the street. 

The city is like a ghost town during the week. There are only a little bar inPyongyang, but has been closed since 22.00. There was no crowd in the city. It'sa strange fact because the city is inhabited by about 3 million people, "saidCockerell on the CNN website.

He has visited North Korea more than 100 times. "There is no hustle and bustle.Everything was happening so short, about five minutes. Usually, the first day youwill say to yourself, 'Bloody hell, I am currently located in the North, wherecitizens'?"

North Korea is a society of workers. Here, the last working day for six days, and the kids are in school more often. "On weekends you may be able to see peopleplaying or are in the park," said Cockerell.

"It's a very poor country. People are not spending money because they do nothave it, and not many people can afford."

Cockerell worked in a tourism company, Koryo Group, based in the Koryo.

Nicholas Bonner, who also lives in Beijing, established companies that offer toursranging from two-day visit to Pyongyang to 16 night trips around the country.

The typical customer is adventurous and travelers Koryo fine. Many travelers enjoytheir trip. Sometimes you may see a strange man looked across the street, youmight suspect. It could be they were spies.

What Can i do - The Corrs

This is the old song that I still listen ....the corrs always creates the great song forever!!
I grew with this song,,,remind my childhood moment,,,love it :D

I haven't slept at all in days
It's been so long since we've talked
And I have been here many times
I just don't know what I'm doing wrong

What can I do to make you love me
What can I do to make you care
What can I say to make you feel this
What can I do to get you there

There's only so much I can take
And I just got to let it go
And who knows I might feel better, yeah
If I don't try and I don't hope

What can I do to make you love me
What can I do to make you care
What can I say to make you feel this
What can I do to get you there

No more waiting, no more, aching...
No more fighting, no more, trying...

Maybe there's nothing more to say
And in a funny way I'm calm
Because the power is not mine
I'm just going to let it fly

What can I do to make you love me
(What can I do to make you love me)
What can I do to make you care
(What can I do to make you care)
What can I say to make you feel this
(What can I do to make you love me)
What can I do to get you there
(What can I do to make you care)
What can I do to make you love me
(What can I do to make you love me)
What can I do to make you care
(What can I do to make you care)
What can I change to make you feel this
(What can I do to make you love me)
What can I do to get you there
(What can I do to make you care)

And love me... love me...

belinda - See a Litttle Light!!! ^____^

And this,,,,,See a little light ..Luz Sin Gravedad English Version,,both of them are GREAT!!!

Stay alone in my room, every moment passing too slow, watch the candles
burn into the night
Fall into a dream, wake up and everythings the same, a second older, but alone, just
like a child
If you just give me a sign, to live and not to die

[Chorus]
Then I can see a little light, I can find a piece of mine, I dont know where you are, maybe
near or maybe far, I just need a little light
Here a clock tiking on a 'riding hood have meaning'
If i could find the love like in your eyes
see a million people, everyones so lonely
but we dont have to be alone tonight

[Chorus]

uuu, u, lalala a uuu a
If I could see a little light, If I could find some piece of mine,
If you just give me a sign
I can see a little ligh, I dont know where you are, maybe
near or maybe far, I just need a little light ...
Stay alone in my room, every moment passing too soon,
watch the candles burn into the night..

Shania Twain - Don't ( I love it ^_^)

OOH,,this is one of the best song from Shania...i love it!!!

"Don't!"

Don't.. don't you wish we tried
Do you feel what I feel inside
You know love is stronger than pride
Don't.. no don't
Let your anger grow
Just tell me what you need me to know
Please talk to me don't close the door
Cause I wanna hear you.. wanna be near you

Don't fight.. don't argue
Give me the chance to say that I'm sorry
Just let me love you
Don't turn me away.. don't tell me to go

Don't.. don't give up on trust
Don't give up on me.. on us
We could just hold on long enough
We can do it.. we'll get through it

Don't fight.. don't argue
Just give me the chance to say that I'm sorry
Just let me love you
Don't turn me away.. don't tell me to go

Don't pretend that it's ok
Things won't get better that way
And don't do something you might regret someday
Don't..
Don't give up on me

We can do it.. we'll get through it

Don't fight.. don't argue
Just give me the chance to say that I'm sorry
Just let me love you
Don't turn me away.. don't tell me to go

Don't fight.. don't argue (Don't give up on me)
Give me the chance to say that I'm sorry (say that I'm sorry)
Just let me love you (Don't give up on me)
Don't turn me away.. don't tell me to go

Don't fight.. don't argue
Give me the chance to say that I'm sorry
Just let me love you (don't give up on me)
Don't turn me away.. don't tell me to go 

Sambut Ramadhan Part 2,,,yeayyy!!

Haaa,,,capek juga yah abis lari2 keliling Lapangan Bolah,,,yeah,,,Sambut Ramadahan emang mesti banyak olahraga nih,,,,biar siap fisik,,hihi.

Neh,,,kita lanjutin lagi nih bahasan kita tentang puasa,,,maaf nih,,,,mesti agak2 alim dikit akhir2 ini,,yah,,kan mau puasa,,mesti ada yang berubah kan??? Maaf ya,,kalo saya jadi agak pendiem entar,,,hihi

Eit,,,benter nih Guys,,,mau seriusan dulu,,nih,,ehemmmm

Bismillahirrohmanirohim

“Hai orang-orang yang beriman, diwajibkan atas kamu berpuasa sebagaimana diwajibkan atas orang-orang sebelum kamu agar kamu bertakwa, (QS al-Baqarah [2]: 183)

Wah,,pasti nih,,saya yakin temen2 udah pada tau nih ayat tentang perintah puasa,,,Malah dah apal di luar kepala yak!! Nih ayat penting banget nih buat kita muslim sbagai landasan kita untuk menjalankan puasa di bulan Ramadhan. Wajib lo,,,wajib..yang gak puasa ,,Dosa!!

Neh,,terus kalo udah tau puasa ntu wajib,,,mesti di lakukan nih ya,,,jangan iya2 aja,,,!! Laper nih,,Haus,,capek,,,lemes,,,ahhh,,,Males ah puasaaa!!! Aduh ,,,,,jangan dong,,jangan lemes,,makanya kita mesti tau nih apa yang mesti kita lakuin kalo lagi uasa,,biar gak kerasa capek dan ngebosenin!!

Yang pertama ternyata ya balik2 ke badan kita nih,,jaga2 kesehatan. Kalo tubuh  kita fit,,ya pastinya insyaAllah puasa aman deh,,beneran lo!! Kalo sakit kan??lemes,,mana bisa puasa,,eit tapi bukan berarti kita tidur seharian lo!! Walaupun tidur itu boleh2 aja,,mending banyakin sholatnya deh,,pasti lebih manfaat!!

Yang kedua nih,,,banyakin amal sholeh,,apaan??nggak bukan olahraga kok..gak capek deh,,benerannnn. Amal sholeh bisa dengan tadarusan,,sholat sunnah,,,menghadiri kajian2 islam, pokoknya banyak deh yang bisa kita lakukan hal2 yang manfaat!!jangan sampe sia-sia deh ramadhan kita!!!

Ketiga, hindari perbuatan maksiat, baik yang terang-terangan maupun tersembunyi. Suer, ini dia yang rada susah. Terus terang aja, untuk urusan nahan lapar, insya Allah kita kuat. Tapi bila harus nahan godaan hawa nafsu, kayaknya bagi sebagian teman remaja ada yang kesulitan. Tapi bukan berarti tanpa bisa diselesaikan lho. Insya Allah asal berusaha bisa.

Ha,,banyak sih sebenernya yang bisa kita lakukan selama puasa,,,ah,,jangan sampe deh rugi!! Saya ulangi sekali lagi Ya Allah,,moga bulan Ramadhan kali ini gak sia-sia T_T,,nangis huhuhu… siapa yang tau kita bisa ja gak ketemu lagi sama Ramadhan tahun depan??

Liat deh hadis ini

Rasulullah saw. bersabda: “Betapa banyak orang yang berpuasa, tapi mereka tidak mendapatkan apa-apa dari puasanya itu kecuali lapar dan dahaga” (HR Ahmad)

Gak mau ya Cuma laper doing??udah laper,,,,,kagak dapet pahala lagiiiii

Apabila seseorang dari kamu sedang berpuasa pada suatu hari, janganlah berbicara tentang perkara yang keji dan kotor. Apabila dia dicaci maki atau diajak berkelahi oleh seseorang, hendaklah dia berkata: Sesungguhnya hari ini aku berpuasa, sesungguhnya hari ini aku berpuasa(HR Bukhari Muslim)

Ya Allah,,Pertemukan kami pada bulan Ramadhan dan jadikan Ramadhan kami manfaat dan menjadi tempat kami mendekatkan diri kami kepadaMU..Amin

Mi angel de amor...

Salah satu lagu favorit waktu masih SD,,hehe,,,Mi angel de amor....
Belinda......Nice song....><

Palestinians Under Attack

Sebuah email yang datang dari sahabat kita di palestina...Osama, 23 tahun
seorang korban dari keberingasan Israel mengabarkan saya,,,saat itu,,atas kebiadaban Israel,,
ini isi emailnya....walau dengan bahasa inggris yang tidak terlalu jelas,,,karena ia harus menerjemahkan inggris dan arab,,,

Palestinians Under Attack

Palestinians are exposed for horrible unfairness at the hands of Israeli forces.




The siege by Israel lasted for months..
Power blackout has lasted for months..
Potable water has been disconnected for months..




Starvation has been spread along the Gaza Strip among children and elderly


The biggest crime and is the one that comes to complete the unfairness ( the attack)


Besides the starvation and blocking any life resources from getting into the Strip Israel is killing, attacking any remaining lives in Gaza.




We want the whole wold to be informed what is Israel!!!



We want the whole wold to know the reality of Israel
Its reality is The killing of defenseless, helpless and poor people by this Brutal and inhumanity



So, Where is the truth

where is the humanity


Look below at the photo attached as a result of the Israeli attack against Palestinians

Where is the world's conscience , feelings and humanity


Where si the Just and the Truth


Why is all that Unfairness and unjustice ?.l


Where is the United Nations ?1


Where are the right and just callers and proponents .


****
sebenarnya masih banyak foto dan email yang ia kirimkan pada saya,,namun karena keterbatasan tidak bisa ditampilkan di sini,,,
semoga dengan kiriman ini,,,kita bisa selalu mendo'akan mereka.
Sungguh,,ia mengatakan ia tak butuh uang kita...mereka butuh senjata,,begitu yang ia katakan kepada saya...

Tips download video Youtube (nggak ribet)

Asalamualaikum wr wb,,,,fren,,,,kadang nih,,kita tuh pengen banget dapetin video yang kita tonton biar bisa kita tonton secara offline. tapi masalahnya,,,kadang susah banget download video tersebut dengan cara cara yang manual.
Langsung aja deh,,ni buat pengguna Opera browser nggak usah panjang lebar,,,,aq jelasin yahhhh...
1. buka web yotube. www.youtube.com
2. kalo udah,,langsung tulis video apa yang pengen kamu tonton,,,tulis aja judul atau kata kunci lain,,,,
3. udah??? tonton aja deh sampe videonya selesai,,
4. kalo udah selesai ditonton,,kamu tinggal buka file local disk(c)----document and setting-----user-----local setting---------application data----opera---opera---profile----cahche4---
5. Nah,,kamu pasti bakal liat file2 yang aneh2 itu,,tenang biar gampang,,,langsung aja kalian klik kanan mouse trus pilih arrange icons by size....trus,,,file2 itu udah tersusun berdasarkan ukuran.
6. nah,,,,kalo mw cari hasil video tadi,,tinggal cari file yang ukurannya besar,,biasanya lebih dari 1 MB.
7. trus kamu tinggal ganti nama file tersebut, rename and ditambah ekstensi flv. contoh.video islami.flv.
8. Udah deh,,kamu tinggal nikmatin video itu,,jangan lupa pindahin aja filenya ke tempat yg bagus,,oke...^^

Moga manfaat,,,
Seneng deh bisa berbagi ^^^
mohon saran dan kritiknya..

Menulis....??Nggak Mau ahhhh!!

Ini adalah tulisan keberapa ya????. Ketika ada sebuah tugas dari departemen dalam organisasi yang saya ikuti mewajibkan seluruh anggotanya untuk menulis maka saya merasa bingung apa yang akan saya tulis. Tiba-tiba muncul sebuah ide untuk menulis opini tentang apa yang saya dan teman-teman saya alami yaitu ya ….MENULIS. Walaupun dengan pemikiran panjang, ragu, takut dan sedikit tertekan karena tak pernah menulis seperti ini. Mengapa saya ambil tema ini? Karena saya pikir menulis adalah suatu hal yang mungkin banyak orang tidak sadari merupakan sebuah bentuk ekspresi yang sangat penting, termasuk saya yang baru saja menuliskan tulisan perdana ini. Banyak orang, khususnya mahasiswa yang tidak peduli atau malah anti untuk menulis dengan alasan malas, tidak percaya diri, bingung atau menganggap tidak penting. Hal itupun terjadi dengan saya. Jadi, saya sangat ingin membahas masalah tulis-menulis di dalam tulisan saya ini. Haa,,,maaf kalau tak berstruktur...
Sebagai seorang mahasiswa, intelektual muda, generasi penerus bangsa atau apalah namanya adalah seorang ”agent of change” atau lagi-lagi apalah namanya tentu mahasiswa dituntut untuk kritis, peduli dan memiliki jiwa pembaharu. Mereka dituntut untuk berperan aktif dalam memajukan bangsa, tentu salah satu bentuk ke-kritisan mereka adalah dengan tulisan. Dengan tulisan mereka dapat mengekspresikan ide mereka, opini, fakta lapangan dan lain-lain. Tulisan mencerminkan tingkat intelektualitas kita. Orang pintar dapat kita lihat dari tulisan mereka kan? Mana kita tahu kalau ia orang pintar tanpa tahu karya mereka. Jadi selayaknya mahasiswa itu aktif dalam menulis. Tapi faktanya? Mungkin hanya 1% mahasiswa yang mau menulis, ini hanyalah perkiraan saya, karena saya belum pernah melakukan riset sama sekali. Hal ini tentu menjadi sebuah ironi yang sangat memprihatinkan bagi kita, termasuk saya yang malu pada diri sendiri.
Setelah kita lihat di lapangan dengan faktanya seperti itu, jadi apa ya akar masalahnya?. Saya pikir, alasan-alasan seperti malas, tidak tahu, bingung atau tidak peduli bukanlah sebuah alasan yang dibenarkan. Ketika saya telusuri dan renungi mungkin akar masalahnya ada dalam sistem pendidikan kita. Lah, apa hubunganya? Tentu ada. Saya sebagai mahasiswa semester 5 Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan program studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris merasa ada yang tidak singkron antara apa yang saya pelajari di kampus dengan fakta lapangan. Saya sebagai ”anak bahasa” tentu berhubungan dengan dunia tulis menulis dan saya mempelajari itu. Ketika saya belajar mata kuliah Teaching and Learning Strategies, dalam buku Beginnining Reading and Writing, saya melihat bagaimana cara mengajarkan dan mendidik anak menjadi pembaca dan penulis pemula yang baik. Dalam riset Celia Genishi, Donna Yun Chan dan Susan Stires, mereka menyatakan begitu pentingnya sekolah dalam mendidik anak menjadi penulis yang baik. Ruang kelas, kurikulum, perpustakaan, guru dan lain-lain sangat mendukung dalam pembentukan karakter menulis seorang anak. Saya dapat melihat bagaimana ruang kelas yang penuh dengan tulisan, entah itu gambar, opini, cerita anak atau nama anak-anak. Ruang kelas dibuat semenarik mungkin dan pelajaran mereka pun sangat menarik mereka dalam menulis dan membaca. Lesley Morrow pun dalam buku yang sama menekankan pentingnya ” Literacy Center” bagi anak-anak sekolah dimana terdapat pusat tulisan dan bacaan di sana. Siswa dapat menjadikan membaca dan menulis jadi sebuah kesukaan. Namun, bagaimana dengan faktanya? Anak-anak indonesia dengan kaku mengekspresikan ide mereka dan membaca sesuatu dengan terpaksa.
Dari pengalaman saya tadi, saya dapat melihat adanya perbedaan di lapangan. Di sekolah-sekolah umum di Indonesia, tulisan belum dianggap hal yang penting, bersifat monoton dan mungkin jadi pelajaran yang membosankan bagi anak. Bisa kita lihat contohnya, jika kita menyuruh anak-anak untuk menggambar pemandangan, maka hampir 80% akan menggambar dua gunung, matahari, sawah, burung , sungai dengan bentuk rata-rata hampir sama. Tidak perlu menyuruh anak-anak, ketika Pembukaan AMKAI tahun lalu ada sebuah permainan dari tutor sebuah Lembaga Pengembangan Diri untuk menggambar sebuah pemandangan maka saya dapat melihat kira-kira 80% mahasiswa baru menggambar pemandangan yang hampir sama dengan yang saya katakan tadi. Kita juga bisa melihat jika anak –anak ditugaskan untuk menulis pengalaman, maka rata-rata mereka menulis awal paragrap mereka dengan ” Pada suatu hari ”.Itulah salah satu contoh hasil kesalahan pendidikan kita walaupun saya kurang tahu apa. Kesalahan tersebut tentu mempengaruhi siswa sampai dewasa, bahkan mahasiswa termasuk saya.
Hal itulah yang saya pikir sangat mempengaruhi alasan mahasiswa untuk tidak menulis, lagi-lagi termasuk saya. Saya tidak terbiasa menulis, membaca dan mengungkapkan ide saya. Ide saya terpasung oleh sistem yang sangat membatasi ruang gerak saya sendiri. Ketidakbiasaan ini juga terjadi dengan mahasiswa lain, saya rasa. Padahal saya yakin mahasiswa Indonesia itu cerdas namun mereka belum mampu mengungkapkan kecerdasan mereka dalam bentuk tulisan. Jadi apa yang harus dilakukan mahasiswa agar kecerdasannya dapat bermanfaat? Jawabanya Menulislah mulai dari sekarang, dari hal yang paling kecil dan mulai menulis tentang diri sendiri seperti saya. Mau mencoba? Semangat!!


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Sebuah tulisan singkat yang merupakan bentuk ekspresi saya,....ha...yuk kita mulai berkarya!!!

Gaia...by Belinda Peregrin

Sebuah lagu yang "inspiring" dari Belinda Peregrin,,,,a singer from Mexico,,,sebuah lagu tentang alam,,,kita cinta alam,,kita peduli lingkungan kita,,dengan suara merdu dan lirik yang sangat ppuitis ,,saya pikir,,,in spanish tentunya....That's good song!!

Hola planeta ¿cómo estás?
Hoy pienso en ti con humildad
No puedes seguir tan invisible,
Me lo das todo y aún más,
Te juro te voy a cuidar,
Eres en mi vida imprescindible.

Ah, ah, ah, te fallé?
Ah, ah, ah, te dañé?
Me olvidé de ti, de tu divina luz
,Me olvidé de ti,
gaia planeta azul
Sé que te fallé,Sé que te fallé.

Ya no hay progreso en mi soberbia,
Manché el aire y mi consciencia
,Me creí más que Dios por mi inteligencia,
Son tantas falsas vanidades,
Me olvidé de lo importante
Y es que nunca fui dueña de tu herencia.

Ah, ah, ah, te fallé?
Ah, ah, ah, te dañé?
Me olvidé de ti,
de tu divina luz,
Me olvidé de ti,
gaia planeta azul
Sé que te fallé,Sé que te fallé.

No, no es el fin por favor ten fuerza,
Quiero vivir y no pagar condena

Ah, ah, ah, te dañé?
Me olvidé de ti, de tu divina luz,
Me olvidé de ti, gaia planeta azul
Sé que te fallé,Sé que te fallé.