Networking Group - JCs General

[Sieg]

iRabbit:

Sieg:

For what these noble people have contributed to our society, do we have to give priority and special treatment to our top students these days as they will be future leaders as well? Maybe yes. But are we doing them good by such partial treatment?
Maybe not.

It was only when my ds entered RI this yr did I realize that RI actually has a long established community education prg. It aimed to encourage students to learn from the community while making a positive difference in the lives of others. Thru this prg, students can interact with local and overseas communities to volunteer services to the less privileged.

There is also this Raffles community initiative fund donated by the alumni which students can tap on for their community engagement projects. So the ORA doesn't just donate to funds for sch/needy students, but to funds for the community at large as well.

In addition, there is the interact club whereby members volunteer their services. For example, some will go around Bishan area giving free tuitions to the needy.

Community work is a big thing in RI - has always been and many students are still doing it. So I don't think it's fair to tar the sch's name bcoz of a select few.

I am sure there are pupils who sincerely do community work for the benefit of others while there are also a big load who do them to clock points and enhance their personal portfolio for future uni applications such as scholarships.
I think the reason someone brought up the few high profile notorious alumnus was to prove that being top in studies do not necessarily translate to being top in other areas. Not meant to tar RI image.

[Sieg]

stetan:

Sieg:

Were they as pampered as the latest IP-JC batch?

Actually yes. When I was at the Grange Road campus, we were only one of 2 schools that had a swimming pool, ACS being the other. We had swimming lessons every week and an aircon library occupying the entire upper floor of the technical block. We also had gymnastics for PE lessons as we had a big gym with trampolines, pommo horses, beam bar e.t.c

That explains why you are supportive of the current arrangement of uplifting the new IP batch and discontinuing while disregarding the sentiments of some lower tier JCs with long history?
Well, the situation was different in our days when higher education was a luxury. There were less competition and the kampung spirit existed. These days, kids are much more pampered and self-centred. What message are we sending to them if we show favourism when they are still students? Yes, someone said they are encouraged to do social work aka service learning. But how many are actually doing it out of goodwill for the society if they aren't recorded in their report cards?

[iRabbit]

naggo-nitemare:

It really is unnecessary to defend RI for the actions of a few bad apples. It is foolish to think tt all products of elite schools are and must be angels. Home environment, personality n personal goals n experiences and mental stability, just to name a few factors, play a part in moulding a person.


Every school, gd or bad, hv bad apples. RI's bad apples tend to get the spotlight because many ex-RI end up holding higher positions in organisations.

HCI has David rasif, the lawyer who absconded with millions, and he is still missing. NYGH has the A-star scholar who walked down Holland village naked cos she is unhappy tt her bond cannot be transferred to another organisation where she can pursue her \"artsy\" interests, and not forgetting the Stanford uni post-grad student who poisoned her lab colleagues.

My point is tt all schools hope to produce law-abiding and responsible people. Whether or not these people stay on the right path is not because the schools hv failed. It is because of a host of numerous influences, circumstances and situations.

Agree that it is ridiculous to expect all students of top schools to be model citizens. Is it even possible for any sch (top or not) to make that claim?

If one is a student in an top sch who doesn't do volunteer work, there might be accusations that he's being apathetic to the less privileged, despite being blessed with the ability to help. But if he does volunteer work, then there might will be accusations that he's trying to build up a good portfolio for future scholarships.

Classic case of damned if you do, damned if you don't.

[stetan]

Sieg:

That explains why you are supportive of the current arrangement of uplifting the new IP batch and discontinuing while disregarding the sentiments of some lower tier JCs with long history?
Well, the situation was different in our days when higher education was a luxury. There were less competition and the kampung spirit existed. These days, kids are much more pampered and self-centred. What message are we sending to them if we show favourism when they are still students? Yes, someone said they are encouraged to do social work aka service learning. But how many are actually doing it out of goodwill for the society if they aren't recorded in their report cards?

I was only responding to your question of whether older batches from RI was similarly \"pampered\", nothing else.

Why are you not complaining when the govt builds such grand and modern ITE colleges for the less academically inclined ? :scratchhead: Is that not \"favouritism\" as well ?

[Sieg]

stetan:

Sieg:

That explains why you are supportive of the current arrangement of uplifting the new IP batch and discontinuing while disregarding the sentiments of some lower tier JCs with long history?
Well, the situation was different in our days when higher education was a luxury. There were less competition and the kampung spirit existed. These days, kids are much more pampered and self-centred. What message are we sending to them if we show favourism when they are still students? Yes, someone said they are encouraged to do social work aka service learning. But how many are actually doing it out of goodwill for the society if they aren't recorded in their report cards?

I was only responding to your question of whether older batches from RI was similarly \"pampered\", nothing else.

Why are you not complaining when the govt builds such grand and modern ITE colleges for the less academically inclined ? :scratchhead: Is that not \"favouritism\" as well ?

I am comparing EJC with the 8 JCs. Apple with apple.
Your DC in EJC, stetan?
As for ITE, you have to ask the government for the agenda...my guess is to attract more students and maybe to reduce social problems and youths who are at risk?

[Sieg]

ryanryan:

Sieg:

For what these noble people have contributed to our society, do we have to give priority and special treatment to our top students these days as they will be future leaders as well? Maybe yes. But are we doing them good by such partial treatment?
Maybe not.

Given the list of illustrious alumni that RI have produced that have benefitted Singapore immensely, why not ?

Ooops! But lucky the RI parents have already clarified themselves.

[stetan]

Sieg:

I am comparing EJC with the 8 JCs. Apple with apple.
Your DC in EJC, stetan?
As for ITE, you have to ask the government for the agenda...my guess is to attract more students and maybe to reduce social problems and youths who are at risk?

Your apple-to-apple analogy is irrevelant. Your contention is the govt was showing \"favouritsim\" to those students who are \"smarter\". My point to you is that is not true as the government is also building multimillion ITE colleges for those that are less academically inclined that could not even proceed to sec, JCs or polys.

Even if you want to compare EJC to the merged JCs, it is not an apple to apple comparison as EJC is an IP-college with already guaranteed cohort input from the 3 feeder schools unlike the merged JCs that have dwindling enrollment

BTW, do I need to have a DC in EJC then I am allowed to comment ?

[Sieg]

stetan:

Sieg:

I am comparing EJC with the 8 JCs. Apple with apple.
Your DC in EJC, stetan?
As for ITE, you have to ask the government for the agenda...my guess is to attract more students and maybe to reduce social problems and youths who are at risk?

Your apple-to-apple analogy is irrevelant. Your contention is the govt was showing \"favouritsim\" to those students who are \"smarter\". My point to you is that is not true as the government is also building multimillion ITE colleges for those that are less academically inclined that could not even proceed to sec, JCs or polys.

Even if you want to compare EJC to the merged JCs, it is not an apple to apple comparison as EJC is an IP-college with already guaranteed cohort input from the 3 feeder schools unlike the merged JCs that have dwindling enrollment

BTW, do I need to have a DC in EJC then I am allowed to comment ?

Why irrelevant? I am comparing JC issues happening in the same timeline.
The 4 absorbing JCs also have guaranteed cohort input.
What do you think of housing EJC students in the ex-SRJC premises come 2019?
I asked if your DC is in EJC, which I have already confirmed that, as I would like to know your opinion and to put yourself in the shoes of the affected alumni.

[mindays]

I wonder what is the maximum capacity of each merged JC, especially at the merged compound (MJC, AJC, YJC and PJC). From what I know, AJC, MJC and SRJC take in more than 600 students, consistently for the past 5 years or so.

[notredame]

ryanryan:

Sieg:

[


More like you reap your reward based on how well you are gifted in your studies as hard work alone is insufficient.
I am not sure but I think the swimming pool in ACJC was contributed by its alumni and its partnered religious group.
EJC is a new government JC without any history hence I mentioned.
I ain't jealous about EJC too as my DC is very fortunate to be offered IP route quite effortlessly.
I am speaking from a neutral stand about how I feel about the JCs merging issue and the reasons given by MOE spokepersons.

I don't think that way. IMO, PSLE is a leveler. You can be from a poor family but if you do well, whether through brains or hardwork, you are rewarded into an elite school.

Have you seen the campus of both RI and HCI? Both of them have swimming pools as well. In fact, RI have a swimming pool long back when it shifted to Grange road ( then as a govt school) . Did not hear anybody complain then ?

It's quite clear that MOE is nurturing EJC as a top college given the long illustrious history and performance from its 3 feeder schools. I understand that the reason it remain govt is because MOE wanted the school fees to be affordable to everybody ( compared to the independent institutions) .That's why I think MOE is building some nice facilities at EJC so that those that are \" less well off\" can enjoy similar facilities as those that are from independent JCs. Otherwise, I don't see the problem of the alumni of the 3 schools supporting EJC to be independent or govt-aided since SCGS is already independent and both Cat High and Sr Nicholas are govt-aided.

Even so, EJC does not have a swimming pool unless you consider the Bishan park stream next to the proposed site swimmable

This will be even more biased if it's really MOE's intention. :faint: It will be wiser to nurture DHS (IP), NYJC (popular among a diverse group) and the list goes on which have proven track record than to embark on a new JC with JAE COP similar to AJC. Don't take offense. Just stating facts.