Why students study more during school holidays
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Ggrrrrrrrrr let me say again, this is not about me, nor my child. It is not some personal grudge, nor am i fighting for my own personal cause. I’m not even fighting, i’m just speaking up & hoping for change. Whether there’s change or not, what do i really care, except think about the poor kids in future psles.
I wanted to talk about the danger of IP schools becoming a class divider between the “psle made it in / did not make it in”. Not my own perception; this perception is prevalent among many of the psle parents, who then pressure their offspring to try and make the cut (typically, AL8 which is the COP of the last IP school).
What then happens is, the ones who did make it in, think that they:
- Have made it for life (have heard stories about how the classmates in IP just sleep in class or watching YouTube on PLD during lesson, never study for exams, projects anyhow, EOY just do minimum to be promoted).
- are entitled to look down on non-IP kids (stories from the non-IP kids when they see old primary school friends; granted, some of it is typical boy ragging, if it’s not this topic then it’’ll be some other u pc of shit taunt)
- when they reach the higher levels and start to struggle, think they have imposter syndrome because “i’m smart, i got in because i was the top 10% but why can’t i pass this subject or why i’m not good at triple science, am i stupid?” Existential issues and anxiety crop up
- some may crash and burn out, mental health breaks down, have to exit IP (use Y4 results to enter poly, or go overseas). Some cases mentioned in the press
References for those who want to read:
https://www.reddit.com/r/SGExams/s/v56CX7uo8x
https://www.reddit.com/r/SGExams/s/QoLrAXvSGH
https://www.reddit.com/r/SGExams/s/FJsgvqwmJY
https://www.reddit.com/r/SGExams/s/WZfDdm1Ns5
Documentaries:
https://youtu.be/d5X8pJu2R0s?si=MtXB3F_4ThgLB4FM
https://youtu.be/E_lP2hQ7oZA?si=tQIadFAZS5Qzbjk5
https://youtu.be/eoelS0XIhSg?si=kknGKOBj6BsO9IXG
https://youtu.be/P8frwa5JdaQ?si=FkLKXUIsrsrqKT3R -
Nope, PM speech I shared this morning on redefining success, build a society that allows slow down, pause, side steps, outliers, is not on today’s newspaper. But I found it on YouTube
https://youtu.be/AnyFWfW9lDo?si=BiHmHNtSGxLATAXh -
bbbay\" post_id=\"2135436\" time=\"1719105149\" user_id=\"175278:
I applaud PM Wong’s bold vision which I agree with wholeheartedly. BUT given how the social and economic issues are tightly intertwined, a suite of measures would be required to realize the vision without resulting in social and economic upheavals.
Nope, PM speech I shared this morning on redefining success, build a society that allows slow down, pause, side steps, outliers, is not on today’s newspaper. But I found it on YouTube
https://youtu.be/AnyFWfW9lDo?si=BiHmHNtSGxLATAXh
Can Singaporeans stomach 50% drop in property prices? If we slow down by 30%, are we willing to cut salary by 30%?
Want to slow down, we will need to first restructure our economy. Given our highly trade-dependent and MNC-dependent open economy, how we slow down without impacting the livelihoods of millions of Singaporeans? Socially, want to slow down, we will have to do so together as a society, cannot just ask Singaporeans to slow down. Otherwise, there is a high risk that our children and grandchildren will just become PHV drivers and hawkers to serve FTs and the ultra-wealthy.
Can we ask PRC, South Asian and other foreign parents based here not to send their children for enrichment and tuition? Recently I passed by United Sq TLL registration counter and overheard one PRC grandmother posing many questions on the English and Math curriculum for her young grandson. I am quite shocked because Singapore grandmothers are unlikely to do that! -
They have wider perspectives and plans that we common people may not have. They are realist: can mean can , cannot mean cannot. We common people sometimes are bias, especially on matters we are emotionally attached to; over optimistic or over pessimistic. If we can reduce kiasuism say from 40% of the population to 10%, it is a success already. Not realistic to think we can reduce to 0%. One China grandma should not be the reason we have to follow suit. And PM says, it’s for those people who choose to slow down. He does not say whole Spore slow down. Well, let’s see….
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bbbay\" post_id=\"2135442\" time=\"1719109559\" user_id=\"175278:
Yes, these are govt’s policies and directions but as empowered citizens, we can assess and provide constructive feedback. After all, the government doesn’t have a monopoly over knowledge and wisdom. Singaporeans nowadays are highly educated and have seen the world.
They have wider perspectives and plans that we common people may not have. They are realist: can mean can , cannot mean cannot. We common people often are bias: over optimistic or over pessimistic. If we can reduce kiasuism say from 40% of the population to 10%, it is a success already. Not realistic to think we can reduce to 0%. One China grandma should not be the reason we have to follow suit. Well, let’s see….
I feel that Singaporeans generally want to slow down, cut work load by 30% yet Singaporeans do not want their salaries to be cut by 30% or suffer any loss in wealth or drop in living standards.
Regarding this PRC grandma being kiasu as a possible outlier, just need to look at the composition of R and H schools to know the answer. -
Noted.
I for one, if I want to slow down, I would think it’s a great shift in society thinking. If I slow down by 30%, to follow my passion, it’s reasonable my pay will also cut by 30%. At least now society will accept me this group of people whose life pursue is different from main stream. It’s for people who choose to pause, slow down, u turn, experiment. The enabler could be AI. Maybe we don’t need so many man power now with AI. All these shift are possible now base on realism, not idealism. -
How to slow down and take alternative route when cost of living is so high. If I am contented to just earn $2000, with my partner’s $2000, total take home pay $3200, putting aside $1000 every month to finance the hdb for 20y, I can hardly afford a 4r or 5r BTO in far flung estate.
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zac's mum\" post_id=\"2135433\" time=\"1719101721\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2135433 time=1719101721 user_id=53606]
In every society, there will be those who think and behave like this and others who have more clarity and do not.
I wanted to talk about the danger of IP schools becoming a class divider between the “psle made it in / did not make it in”.
What then happens is, the ones who did make it in, think that they:
- Have made it for life (have heard stories about how the classmates in IP just sleep in class or watching YouTube on PLD during lesson, never study for exams, projects anyhow, EOY just do minimum to be promoted).
- are entitled to look down on non-IP kids (stories from the non-IP kids when they see old primary school friends; granted, some of it is typical boy ragging, if it’s not this topic then it’’ll be some other u pc of shit taunt)
- when they reach the higher levels and start to struggle, think they have imposter syndrome because “i’m smart, i got in because i was the top 10% but why can’t i pass this subject or why i’m not good at triple science, am i stupid?” Existential issues and anxiety crop up
- some may crash and burn out, mental health breaks down, have to exit IP (use Y4 results to enter poly, or go overseas). Some cases mentioned in the press
[/quote]
Even before IP was started, there was the Special Stream, the top schools that parents coveted, the Express vs Normal streams etc. The same problems also existed.
(1) Inattentive kids, (2) kids who despise others, (3) those with imposter syndromes and (4) those who burn out are NOT because they went to IP. They exist in every society. Upbringing, circle of people they mix with and individuals' personalities also play a big role.
Removing IP or giving non-IP kids access to programmes specially designed for IP students will not remove this mentality.
An analogy: Just to soothe the emotions of those who don't get Gold, Silver and Bronze in a competition, do we give a medal to everyone who participates and share the prizes of the winners? No, if they choose to race, they must understand there are winners and losers. Do we remove the competitions so that the previous Gold, Silver and Bronze winners do not have to feel the pressure to defend the titles the next year? No, it is up to individuals to realise and manage the stress and if they cannot defend their titles, it is what it is. Time to get off racing and accept that one is no longer at the peak or try again next time.
IF we see the academic journey as a race, then we see winners and losers and in this case, some may think getting into IP is a win and those whose don't are non IP as losers.
Let me clarify here that I do NOT see it this way and do NOT think that just because kids getting in IP, they have won or made it for life. This is so naive. It is always about choosing the path that suits each kid best, one that can allow kids to thrive and brings out the best in him/her. THIS is the real win.
If we teach our kids to VIEW their own journey as one that involves making a series of decisions that are BEST for themselves to thrive (so the goal is everyone wins), instead of a race against others and view it as zero-sum game, then our kids also will not be affected by others' views. We (our kids too) cannot change how others view the situation easily but our kids can remain steadfast and confident regardless of paths they choose/end up on. So change our narratives and teach our kids to change their narratives too.
Just my own 2 cents. -
bbbay\" post_id=\"2135436\" time=\"1719105149\" user_id=\"175278:
The CNA article is here:
Nope, PM speech I shared this morning on redefining success, build a society that allows slow down, pause, side steps, outliers, is not on today’s newspaper. But I found it on YouTube
https://youtu.be/AnyFWfW9lDo?si=BiHmHNtSGxLATAXh
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/pm-lawrence-wong-success-definition-4428761?cid=internal_sharetool_iphone_23062024_cna -
Imp75\" post_id=\"2135446\" time=\"1719117434\" user_id=\"2358:
This is my view:
How to slow down and take alternative route when cost of living is so high. If I am contented to just earn $2000, with my partner’s $2000, total take home pay $3200, putting aside $1000 every month to finance the hdb for 20y, I can hardly afford a 4r or 5r BTO in far flung estate.
Current: a couple have been doing well academically, graduated from prestigious courses, society will expect them to live up to their potentials. They will be frown upon by parents or feel peer pressures if they settle for less.
In PM’s new society: the same couple, upon gradations, can start to plan out their life with early retirement in mind without feeling society pressure :
- they will purchase a resale, 4 room flat near East Coast.
- they do without a car
- they work till 40, saving up with their high income.
- they semi retire- working 2 days a week when they reach 40.
- on days they are not working, he could strum his guitar with his high school pals, compose music, performing in pubs, and she could train for iron women triathlon.
When social norm change, our live decisions at every stage will change too.
For those less well off, I think there are still some room to be better than now. Maybe semi retire not at 40 but 55; 4 days work week instead of 2. Down grade from 5 rm to 3 rm flat, to start “living their passion” at age 55, bcos “is a norm for people to do that in spore”
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