Branded Schools / Well-known Schools
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Since branded schools / well-known schools / hot, popular schools / are "created" as a result of the existence of having an alumni presence within the schools : then why don’t make it compulsory, or Moe to enforce that ALL primary schools in Sg, to form an Alumni association, within each and every single neighbourhood primary school ?
As it is, under Phase 2A1 Primary 1 Registration : the percentage (Or Number) of schools Not having 2A1 exceeded that of having 2A1. -
phtthp:
Short answer: alumni associations are not under the purview of MOE.Since branded schools / well-known schools / hot, popular schools / are \"created\" as a result of the existence of having an alumni presence within the schools : then why don't make it compulsory, or Moe to enforce that ALL primary schools in Sg, to form an Alumni association, within each and every single neighbourhood primary school ?
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Long answer: alumni associations are formal organizations registered under and governed by the Societies Act, ie they must fulfill and satisfy the requirements under the Act. Forming an association may be easy; managing and running it is hard work (hence, the option of P2A2 for schools / alumni that may not be prepared to do the work).
Besides, PSG are more important than the alumni associations. Anecdotal evidences suggest that popular schools PSG are very on-the-ball and play an active role in schools. They actively organize, participate and volunteer for events (a forumer shared that her PSG even baked cookies to show support and encourage the students during exams). Surely, that’s something that schools can emulate. If parents of existing students aren’t taking a serious interest in the school, it’s unlikely that old boys / girls can be called upon to do the lifting for them.
Thus, to address the thread starter’s comment that “parents who send to \"well known\" schools tend to be more focused on children's studies”, they are not necessary more focused on children’s studies but a lot of those parents are definitely more interested in the children’s well-being, or to quote KSP favorite code word: a “holistic” education. -
Yes, I agree with floppy. If I notice children spending excessively at the school bookshop, I'd bring it to the attention of the form. Likewise, if a child is distressed cos he does not know he has to learn his spelling, I'd tinkle the parent WhatsApp-group head.
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Thanks for your comments!
My kid isn’t in any enrichment classes except for swimming. We try to expose him to reading in Chinese and English by bringing him to the library.
Why I asked is because this is something that was told to me by a teacher friend and some parents who are already in the primary school system. That a lot of parents send to TLL and the kids are already taught prior to the lessons. The teachers find it harder to engage the kids in the lessons as almost 3/4 or more of the class already know the lessons, hence the kids get quite rowdy. The teachers end up catering to the masses that have already been taught and the minority students with no tuition tend to get left out during class time.
Its good that it doesn’t seem that way so far from the responses! -
Thanks for your comments!
My kid isn’t in any enrichment classes except for swimming. We try to expose him to reading in Chinese and English by bringing him to the library.
Why I asked is because this is something that was told to me by a teacher friend and some parents who are already in the primary school system. That a lot of parents send to TLL and the kids are already taught prior to the lessons. The teachers find it harder to engage the kids in the lessons as almost 3/4 or more of the class already know the lessons, hence the kids get quite rowdy. The teachers end up catering to the masses that have already been taught and the minority students with no tuition tend to get left out during class time.
Its good that it doesn’t seem that way so far from the responses! -
This is probably a blanket statement but I’m just sharing my limited observations.
I am really irritated with TLL and other enrichment centers which pre-teach several weeks ahead of the school syllabus. This sort of system may appeal to girls, especially girls who lack confidence unless they already know the material before the schoolteacher introduces each topic. And then when the school teaches it, they hardly cause any disruption because they can sit quietly and pretend to pay attention, without disrupting the lesson, even if bored.
This sort of pre-teach system simply does not work for my boy (or most boys). If he knows even a little bit about the topic, he will switch his mind off and display his boredom. Best case scenario: read his own storybook under the table. Worst case scenario: start talking to his neighbor and/or fold paper planes to throw, fidget with his stationery, look under the table to pick up imaginary dust, doodle on his clothes…other boys who may be ADHD would walk around the room or even dash out of the classroom.
That’s why I have pity on the teachers who have to deal with all these disruptive behaviour. At the very least, I try not to pre-teach my kid anything. I wait till the school teacher covers it in school, then I recap or reinforce at home. He has no issues with low self-confidence if he doesn’t know the material in advance.
Just let the teachers do their job and teach without making life even more difficult for them, for heavens’ sake! -
My other grouse about pre-teaching is that kids get used to not needing to pay attention in class. It breeds dependency on tutors (who presumably spoonfeed more directly than in a classroom), and inhibits self-learning. Then you get young adults who look at you blankly when you tell them to figure out something by themselves, and require to be "taught".
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Maybe schools should stream students into classes not by academic grades, but by which tuition centre they go! So children who attend tuition centres who pre-teach will be in one class, and children who don't will be in another class. That way, school teachers will know to teach more to children who don't go to these pre-teach tuition centres, and give free periods to children who go to these pre-teach tuition centres (since they already know the stuff) :evil:
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mommyNg:
Maybe schools should stream students into classes not by academic grades, but by which tuition centre they go! So children who attend tuition centres who pre-teach will be in one class, and children who don't will be in another class. That way, school teachers will know to teach more to children who don't go to these pre-teach tuition centres, and give free periods to children who go to these pre-teach tuition centres (since they already know the stuff) :evil:
Actually, I know of at least 3 primary schools that have stopped academic streaming & already have pull-out classes according to the kids’ learning pace. The slower learning pace ones get remedial/LSP/LSM depending on which subject they need more coaching. The medium learning pace ones get the regular textbook curriculum. And the “already know the textbooks” kids get to go another classroom to eg practise Chinese Xiang Sheng (crosstalk) so that they can represent the school and/or perform some entertainment for assembly. Shouldn’t give free period to those kids to do nothing lah - good for school to make use of their parents’ investment to squeeze sthg out of their extra knowledge lol. -
I also disagree with teaching the chapters several ahead of the school syllabus! Tuition is supposed to either boost the children by strengthening their foundation or enrich them by exploring the subject in-depth in an interesting way. Tutors are not supposed to rob the responsibility of the school teachers by using the same materials and teaching the exact same content. The school teachers do not function to cover areas that parents and tutors have not taught yet.
Pre-teaching has impacted many people in several aspects. I personally feel that it has affected the learning attitude of the children. Children feel that the tutors are teaching at a normal pace and the school teachers are slow. Children also find the lessons less important and prefer spending the time on activities they like but could not do usually. This is because they have seen the same content. However, most of the children have not internalised the concepts and/or able to apply them in their daily life or assessments. Furthermore, some tutors or parents even teach the wrong stuff and confuse the children.
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