BOOK REVIEW "SEKOLAHNYA MANUSIA"

TITLE               : SEKOLAHNYA MANUSIA
AUTHOR         : MUNIF CHATIB
PUBLISHER    : KAIFA
EDITION         : 7th
YEAR               : 2010
PAGE               : xxiv + 188

“Sekolahnya Manusia” (Human’s School) is the title of this book, because of after researched, many schools in this country are “robot’s school”, begin from the learning process, school’s success target, until the assessment system. The author is Munif Chatib, someone who intensely implement school-based Multiple Intelligences, that is school which appreciate the different types of students’ intelligence.

This book consists of five chapters. In Chapter I, the author tells the special moments, the moments of a teacher found a method that can transform the learning difficulties of students with the result is they are easy to understand lessons. Obviously, this process is successful after trying many ways. The process of finding the right learning method called discovering ability.

In Chapter II explained the theory of Multiple Intelligences which developed by Howard Gardner. Some of the things that emphasized by the authors of this chapter is the Gardner’s courage did redefinition of intelligence. Initially, people have relied that intelligence is determined by a formal test, but according to Gardner intelligence cannot be assessed and limited to formal tests. Another point highlighted by the authors is when MI (Multiple Intelligences) implemented at the school, came many obstacles and varied interpretations of this school.

In Chapter III, the author describes the indicators of excellent school, the school with the best process and not the best input. Generally, people think that excellent school is a school that approve new students with formal tests which very tight to screen students. However, in the application of MI, not using a formal test, but used MIR (Multiple Intelligences Research). MIR is limited only to know the students' intelligence, not an entrance test screening of new students.

In Chapter IV contains an explanation of the learning strategy with MI. The thing to understand is, MI is not a lesson, and it is not a curriculum. MI is a learning strategy that contains learning activities with a variety of models and activities. The author also explains how to design strategies in a lesson plan.

In Chapter V discussed about the process of assessment and reporting. Assessment is determined by the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective.

Reading this book is like encouraging us to look toward to our school and begin to consider bids in the book. Because in the book the excellent school concept which is generally understood have been refuted by offering things out of the ordinary public.

At least there are three attractive offers in this book to be adopted and developed as a form of innovation for our school. The offers are an excellent school’s concept, MIR as a test for new students, and placement of students in classes based on the tendency of students' learning styles.

The first bid is excellent school’s concept. Munif Chatif offers excellent school is school which not based on the best input it will be the best output, but the best process it will be the best output.

The second bid is MIR as a test for new students. The test results to determine a child is accepted or not accepted as a student at a school. The test results are information  for school to placement the students in the classroom. Information can also be used by teachers to provide the best service so that the learning experience is according to student’s learning styles.

The last bid is students are divided into classes according to their learning style. The consequence of that is the number of students in each class is not the same but depending MIR test and the result of new students’ interview.

This book is a must read for everyone who involve in education, include the parents. This book is beautifully enlightening us that no child is stupid, they just have different learning styles than in generally. The book is a new inspiring in learning approach that treats students as human beings with different potential and uniqueness of each to be developed maximally.

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LITERATURE VALUE

Before discuss about literature’s value, we should know the meaning of value. Value is an agreement of member society concerning what is bad or good. It is as regulation how to life of member society. So, we can say that value is guide line how to life.
The next question is, what is literature’s value?
Value in literature refers to qualities of poetry, prose’s, and dramas which makes them compatible to read or not.
The worthwhile of literature can be evaluated using those ways. 
1. Entertainment Value
By reading it, we can enjoy ourselves. Its indicator is, whether we’re enjoy pass the time by reading it. This value is subjective, so it cannot judge whether the literature good or bad
2. Political Value
Politic is how to manage power. The author lead our mind according him/her. It can change the way people live with and influence each other
3. Artistic Value
It helps us contemplate the reality of beauty and human creativity
4. Cultural Value
Discuss about the culture of ethnic. Indirectly, the author conserves the culture
5. Historical Value
It tell about past events. So, if we reading the literature we can know and understand about past.
6. Moral Value
We can learn what is right or wrong. It teaches the readers to live better.
7. Ethical Value
If reading it, helps us asks questions related to standards of a “good” life
8. Philosophy Value
The author lead us to contemplate about something. It explores human knowledge, how we know and what we know.

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WOOD’S PHILOSOPHY

Wood, getting older, it can give more benefits. From top until bottom, it is very useful for living thing around it.

For years, its branch become long and has many twigs. Humans and animals can take shelter under it.

Year by year, its root crawl deeper in ground. The wind cannot fall down it easily.

All years, its stick get bigger and stronger. It can used for human’s need.

Through the years, it produce more fruits. It cater for humans and animals.

A number of years, its leaves get more. It supply oxygen for the world.

When it is still young, it need caring. We must give fertilizer and water. Over the years, it is not necessary at all.

SO DO WE !!!.

*in order to contemplate the meaning of Islamic new year 1434 H

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AS PURE AS LOVE OF A FAMILY

"Sorry, your blood type is incompatible"
"What, doc?! Doesn’t match?"
The chiming clock seemed to stop. The sky falls over. The earth was flat. Just leave me alone who powerless to face the reality. My chest crammed with a thousand questions.

***

In the morning,  I have arrived at the office enthusiastically. This afternoon I was scheduled to attend a meeting with one of the foreign investors who will invest in my company. My father was the one who raised the company hard-earned to become one of the properties company which calculated on a national scale. And now, I was became CEO replace him after he retired because of age factor. I'm so grateful to be born in the wealthy family. But I do not want to fall asleep with all that, I have to keep hard working so that the company can still survive, because the current competition in the business world that is increasingly intense.
My phone is ringing.
"Your mother is hospitalized. Go home quickly"
Brief. But upset me. So the meeting with a client who had just started, I cancel by family reasons.
Immediately I go to the car with a bit hurry. I drive a little rush on the streets of the city that is not too crowded. My aim is one. Come to the hospital immediately and knew my mother’s condition.
Half hour later I arrived at the hospital. Soon I meet my father who was waiting in front of the ICU.
"Be patient, my son. Just pray. Hopefully your mom can get through it all safely”, dad calm me down.
"How's mom now?”, I asked.
"She suffered serious bleeding in the head. Now doctors are still running the operation".
Dad told me that my mother had an accident while she went to the market. When crossing the street, there was a motorcycle crashed into my mother. She was thrown several feet into the side of the road. Her head hit the pavement. However, the motorcycle which hit her running somewhere.
I get stuck, exactly regret. This morning, before I go to office, my mother asked me to accompany her to the market.
"My son, before you go to office, please take me to the market", she said. Unusually, my mother asked me to take her to the market. Mom would rather go by public transportation. But this time, she wants me to take her.
"I'm sorry ma'am. I can’t. This morning there is a meeting in the office. You can go by taxi”, I replied.
Immediately I rushed to the office. I don’t forget to kiss my mother's hand when saying goodbye. My mother was silent. I wonder what her feelings at that time.
Ssrrrttt. Operating room door opened, interrupting my reverie. A doctor go out with shabbily face.
"How's my mom, doc?" asked me worriedly. My father immediately get up from his seat.
"Your mother was bleeding quite badly. She needs blood immediately. But your mother's blood belongs to a rare type. This hospital does not keep blood stocks that match with your mother's blood. If in 24 hours your mother did not undergo blood transfusion, she is at risk of amnesia", explained the doctor.
"Just take my blood, doc”
"Don’t, my son. We wait for your sister who will be here soon", my father, who had been silent, now stop me.
I was a little surprised. At the urgent as it is now, why dad calm. It seems the father was hiding something from me.
"But mom at need it now, dad", I said distinctly. My father is silent.
"If there are no more problems, please do transfusions. Immediately contact the Blood Bank", said the doctor give the order.

***

Many times in this day I get stuck. I look closely a letter that I get from the hospital. There's a lot of impossibility that I don’t understand. It’s impossible that my blood incompatible with my mother's blood. It’s impossible that I misread the results of these blood tests. It’s impossible that the hospitals wrong do blood tests. And what impossibility else which I must understand after this.
I leave the room with heavy steps. I see my father has been with Silvia. My sister had turned up when I was at the doctor earlier. Dad look at me. Maybe he can guess my misunderstand of what had happened.
"Let your sister donate her blood for your mother," the father calm.
"Yes, brother, let me donate blood for our mother," my sister said. Maybe my father had told her before. She immediately go to transfuse blood bank.
"Who am I, Dad?" I urge my father to tell the truth.
Dad take a deep breath. He try to choose the right words to say. "Maybe after all this time keep it a secret, now is the time for you to know what you are. 27 years ago, your family had an accident. Your whole family died. Only you are survived. Your family is our neighbor. Because of no one will care for you, we intend to adopt you as our son. At that time we don’t have children. After 2 years, then your sister was born ".
My chest is tight, my tears come out by itself with the flow of our family memories. Although it is all about a beautiful memory, but still makes me sad. My body is like in the dark and cold, in my chest there is underground cave which is so large and dark.

***

I stand in front of our house. I open the door lazily. I look every part of the house that be a silent prove of the journey of my life. My eyes stopped at the big picture in the middle of the living room. The photo was taken just as the Lebaran Idul Fitri two years ago. I look at every face of 4 people in the photo. Recently I realize there is one person who does not have any resemblance with 3 other people. And that person is me.
I lay down on the sofa. Slowly I breathe the air in the afternoon which is not too friendly to me. I just close my eyes. A glimpse of a shadow flashed moments of our time together as a family. The image make me little calm. I have to convey to them my decision even hard for me to do.

***

Silvia come over to my father.
"What happen, daughter," asked my father.
"Everything is well, Dad. My blood is matched with the mother's blood", said Silvia.
After a silence so long, Silvia asked back to my father. "Where is Ferdy, Dad"
"I do not know. He immediately go out after I told everything to him"
"Let him calm down first. But what if he wants to go away from this family?"
"I also think so, too. Your brother was adult. I'm sure he can take the right decision. Although in the end he chose to leave us all. I understand his feelings now. Actually I never differentiate both of you. "
All was silent. Busy with each mind.

***

The hallways of the hospital room is getting quiet. Night is getting late. In corner of the building, in groups of patients attendants spread a mat to sleep. Some of them are still chat. Most of the others have slept because of tired.
Treatment room was located at the south end of the hospital. Above the door written ''ICU", not all attendants may enter the room. On the bed, a middle-aged woman lying limp. She uses an oxygen tube, breathing fluctuates irregularly. Beside her, two men sitting faithfully.
Soon I open the door, and I come near to the woman. I hug her. I kiss her hand longer and don’t loose it. Once again in one day my tears flow.
"I'm sorry, ma'am."
"Thanks to God, your mom can through the critical period. We hope that she conscious quickly." while rubbing my back, my father get up to speak to me.
I turn my body. I hug two men earlier. "Thank you everyone. I'm happy with this family. Let me repay it all".

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THE LEGEND OF TAN UNGGAL

In 15th century, there was a king who had a kingdom at the riverbank of Sambas River. The story begun when a baby was found in somewhere on an island. The baby was found by a Nobleman in a sprout when it was pared. Nobleman named the baby Tan Unggal which was meant having one tooth. Tan Unggal grew up fast. He was very strong and undefeatable. He became a cruel king in Sambas Regency who had two children.

One day, his son named Bujang Nadi and his daughter named Dare Nandung talked to each other in park of the palace. Bujang Nadi said, “I will not get married if I do not meet a mate as beautiful as you”. “So do I my brother, I will not get married ii I do not meet a mate as handsome as you”, Dare Nandung continue. This conversation was heard by a Tan Unggal’s sentinel. His sentinel told to Tan Unggal that his children loved each other. Without any consideration, after hearing the information, he punished Bujang Nadi and Dare Nandung by burying them alive in one grave in somewhere around Sebedang lake. Their funeral was completed with the household that made of gold and a cock which were inserted in their grave, as the sign whether they were still alive or dead.

Tan Unggal was very cruel not only towards his children but also his people. Many offenders were condemned to die by Tan Unggal in his age rule. Moreover, no one could criticize him. He would consider it as rebellion and he would torture the rebellion as bad as possible. Because of his cruelty, his people evolved a big plan to topple Tan Unggal. The people knew that Tan Unggal was a strong king. But, the people’s brain was also “strong”. The people deceived Tan Unggal by telling Tan Unggal that Majapahit troop would attack Sambas with their massive number. Tan Unggal was very afraid of this information. He asked for advice how to avoid facing Majapahit troop. First, he planned to go away from his kingdom, but the people said, “Don’t do that my lord, our region was surrounded by their troop”. “It is very impossible to escape”, the people continued. Finally, he decided to hide in a steel coffin. The people said that they would hide the coffin in somewhere so that it would not be found by Majapahit troop. And then the people locked him in the coffin an sank it in deep river. Before sinking, Tan Unggal swore, he said, “Those who do not ask for permission when passing this river will be sunk”.

After his death, the people were independent an free from king’s cruelty. Unfortunately, many peculiar events happened somewhere around Sebedang lake where Bujang Nadi and Dare Nandung was buried. The villagers often heard crowing cock in the midnight and at the center of the lake. Not only that, sometimes, the left remaining damnation of Tan Unggal became real. Many boats and small ships were sunk right in the place where Tan Unggal drowned down. This accident will occur on those who do not ask for permission from Tan Unggal. So, if they want to pass that river they will say, “Oh my lord, Tan Unggal, I want to ask for permission to pass this river”

*) Story from Sambas, West Borneo

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