Opinions of the Primary School Registration System

[rains]

3Boys:

You can call it sour grapes, I call it injustice. And if I recall from a different thread, you can't stand injustice. Or is that talk only?

You got the wrong person. Nobody likes injustice, but everybody has to accept injustice from time to time, unless it's a life and death matter. And I won't be so naive to say that I can't stand injustice. Or rather, I wish I am that young to make such proclamation.

[3Boys]

Harlequin:

3Boys:

Harlequin,
just go peruse Chief's stats on phases of admissions to popular schools, and see how much 2A is now taking up, and the trends, and see if you don't think its a problem.

I do agree with you that it's already a problem..... just that what's the best solution.... :gloomy:

I have written in another thread;

1) Be more selective about which alumni can be granted priority. There are active alumni and there are sleeping alumni. I can understand and accept if the active alumni get first dibs.

2) Constrain 2A to a certain percentage of total admissions. It cannot go on ad-infinitum where some time in the near future, if >80% of students admitted to a certain school are children of alumni. It makes a mockery of a public school system, where theoretically the CHILDREN (not the adult-alumni, by the way), ought to have a fair shot at entering any school.

[3Boys]

rains:

3Boys:

You can call it sour grapes, I call it injustice. And if I recall from a different thread, you can't stand injustice. Or is that talk only?

You got the wrong person. Nobody likes injustice, but everybody has to accept injustice from time to time, unless it's a life and death matter. And I won't be so naive to say that I can't stand injustice. Or rather, I wish I am that young to make such proclamation.

Well, I don't accept this injustice. Not when there is no merit to it apart from vested interest and policy-laziness. This does not impact me in any way, my die have rolled. Call it sour grapes if you like, whatever the case, stratifications that impede are not a good thing, so I say dismantle.

[3Boys]

Back link to another thread --> http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=32400&hilit=MOE+to+review

[rains]

There will always be 1001 reasons for each phase to be removed. It just depends on which phase you don’t like or view as a threat. Using smoking and oxford/Harvard as examples are irrelevant. Oxford/Harvard is by merit and financial prowess - that really does not do justice to diversity. And although I don’t smoke, I find it irksome that the non-smokers are trying to force smokers into corners.


For every argument against the alumni priority, there’s one for it. You have used ‘diversity’, ‘environmental harm’, ‘Unfairness’, ‘bad practice’ … which don’t hold water since phase 2B is a greater evil and worse practice that contributes to the lack of diversity, environmental harm and unfairness. And worse, it breeds elitism - an argument (also) against the alumni phase.

The more I type here, the higher the risk of getting attacked personally which irks me.

[SAHM_TAN]

Members who do not support P2A or P2B, do you not believe that all schools are good schools?


3boys,

In promoting diversity, are you against SAP schools too?

[3Boys]

rains:

There will always be 1001 reasons for each phase to be removed. It just depends in which phase you don't like or view as a threat. Using smoking and oxford/Harvard as examples are irrelevant. Oxford/Harvard is by merit and financial prowess - that really does not do justice to diversity.


For every argument against the alumni priority, there's one for it. You have used 'diversity', 'environmental harm', 'Unfairness', 'bad practice' ... which don't hold water since phase 2B is a greater evil and worse practice that contributes to the lack of diversity, environmental harm and unfairness. And worse, it breeds elitism - an argument (also) against the alumni phase.

The more I type here, the higher the risk of getting attacked personally which irks me.

I also say remove 2B, it is also egregious, but not more so. Even so, just because 2B is bad does not mean that 2A is not bad, yes?

But 2B is also the lesser problem.

Just look here and see which is the bigger issue. And growing, by the way.

http://image.kiasuparent.com/kspfiles/files/file/A-BukitTimah.jpg\">

[3Boys]

SAHM_TAN:

Members who do not support P2A or P2B, do you not believe that all schools are good schools?


3boys,

In promoting diversity, are you against SAP schools too?

I am worried about SAP schools. It needs to be watched carefully.

In fairness, when the alumni priority scheme was started, it was probably with good intentions, and perhaps the issues were not as acute.

But now, the defensive responses from those who are on the scheme tell you immediately how entrenched it has become, and if that's not a red flag, I don't know what is.

[SAHM_TAN]

rains:

There will always be 1001 reasons for each phase to be removed. It just depends on which phase you don't like or view as a threat. Using smoking and oxford/Harvard as examples are irrelevant. Oxford/Harvard is by merit and financial prowess - that really does not do justice to diversity. And although I don't smoke, I find it irksome that the non-smokers are trying to force smokers into corners.


For every argument against the alumni priority, there's one for it. You have used 'diversity', 'environmental harm', 'Unfairness', 'bad practice' ... which don't hold water since phase 2B is a greater evil and worse practice that contributes to the lack of diversity, environmental harm and unfairness. And worse, it breeds elitism - an argument (also) against the alumni phase.

The more I type here, the higher the risk of getting attacked personally which irks me.

Do you include PV in P2B for breeding elitism too? For all schools or just the top schools?

[rains]

Sun_2010:

Doesnt the same principle apply for Alumni?

I worked hard , benefitted from the school and earned your keeps, what more? My children too should benefit since I once belonged to that school ( for all you know I might have been the one who pulled down the averages :evil: )

If I feel an natural affinity for my alma matar, then i would help/get involved no matter what the measurable benefits .

I doubt if those who studied at Harvard or Oxford get such leeway. Learned scholars( 3B, pirate and others) in this forum please comment

I'm not sure if that's truly how you feel - that when you do well, it's because you had benefitted from your alma maters.

The affinity to an alma mater is the same as patriotism. Just because I am working or living abroad does not mean that I don't love my country. I am not there physically for my country for the last 30 years but that doesn't mean I should be asked to give up my right to vote or citizenship.

If I live in Bedok, I would enrol my kid into my alma mater even tho there are better schools in Bedok. It's my alma mater and I remember it for what it was - that is the reason.

Oh of course there is another reason: to escape the madness and the exhibition of the ultimate human ugliness at P1 registration at phase 2C.