"branded" sch vs neighbourhood sch

[radiantmum]

My DS is in a neighbourhood school - did well enough in P1 to be accepted on waitlist from the 'branded' school but I eventually turned it down. At times I have the struggle too whether I am 'shortchanging' him. He is a happy kid, loves learning very much (confident & speaks well) and I do not see the teachers as \"less committed\" in his school at least. The main stark contrast I do agree btw the \"branded vs neighbourhood\" school is the parents. Family influence plays a major role in primary school kids. I believe DS will turn out well, no different from 'branded' kids (if there is any difference in the first place - & if there is, more due to family upbringing rather than the school's impact?). All things else aside, perhaps humility is a virtue to start off with as well. Not sure if I place too much faith in myself or my kid

[janet88]

radiantmum:

The main stark contrast I do agree btw the \"branded vs neighbourhood\" school is the parents. Family influence plays a major role in primary school kids. I believe DS will turn out well, no different from 'branded' kids (if there is any difference in the first place - & if there is, more due to family upbringing rather than the school's impact?). All things else aside, perhaps humility is a virtue to start off with as well. Not sure if I place too much faith in myself or my kid

For my son who is first-born, we didn't know anything about schools until we realized there is a school within walking distance...we decided to register him not knowing it is a HOT school. Then we got desperate.

I strongly believe in working hand in hand with the school to bring out the best in our kids. Regardless of whether school is branded or not, we still have to do our part and not expect principal and teachers to educate our kids.

[teh_oh]

I am for branded.

Branded schools has more resources/contacts to offer a wide variety of CCAs. (Most) Neighbourhood schools’ choices of CCAs are limited and the more interesting CCAs are only offered to a selected group of students.

[BeContented]

Yes, must work hand-in-hand. But sometimes, you simply cannot deny that kids will listen to the teachers more....guess probably gotta do with my staying-home and nagging them


We can repeatedly say something but it does not register at all. But the same stuff from the teacher has a different impact. Sigh.....as long as it gets registered, nevermind then.

Dunno if I'm being biased, but my experience with my 2 kids in 2 different schools really changed my mindset (my younger kid is just in a better school, I won't consider it branded). From resources, administration, teachers' committment, discipline, standard, up to parents etc.... the gap is there. Of course there are also good and better neighbourhood schools around.....

So, just make the decision that best fit your situation. I'm not sure how far is that branded school, but it will take a certain toll on the child. To be fair, mine is only an extra 10-15 mins further by car, so impact not that great.

[enne]

radiantmum, janet_lee88, teh_oh: thanks for the advices!!


radiantmum: i'm also worry abt 'shortchanging' her which is the cause of my delimma

cwc: distance is around 15 mins drive or faster if not much traffic
is just that in the event there's changes in schedule then i'm afraid might need to take school bus

but based on the advices i think more or less i already know what i shld do
once again really thanks a lot for all the advices
i will take note of all ur valuable advices

[Way2GO]

MP Sin Boon Ann plea in Budget 2011 debate:

FOR some children in Tampines Central constituency, the best hope in educational achievement is to do well enough to get into a polytechnic.

But for a child studying in a top school in Bukit Timah, this very outcome would probably be seen more as a failure than a success.

To Mr Sin Boon Ann, who is MP of the Tampines Central ward in Tampines GRC, this mismatch in aspiration is a worrying sign of social stratification starting to settle in.

Some children start off disadvantaged, he said in Parliament on Tuesday, and whether it's the quality of tuition their parents can afford, or the resources their neighbourhood primary school has, these differences follow them through life.

Mr Sin, who delivered an impassioned plea for more attention to be paid to the disparity between top schools and heartland schools, was one of three MPs during the second day of the Budget debate to flag social mobility as a concern.

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_640164.html

Kudos to MP Sin for highlighting dis in parliament.
ALL children shd start from a level playing field, regardless of background.

[janet88]

It’s so sad that kids staying in diff parts of Singapore have different yardsticks of success. This social stratification is scary and ministers who serve a poorer ward as compared to another who is serving high end constituency have different ways of serving the community.

[verykiasu2010]

Way2GO:

MP Sin Boon Ann plea in Budget 2011 debate:

FOR some children in Tampines Central constituency, the best hope in educational achievement is to do well enough to get into a polytechnic.

But for a child studying in a top school in Bukit Timah, this very outcome would probably be seen more as a failure than a success.

To Mr Sin Boon Ann, who is MP of the Tampines Central ward in Tampines GRC, this mismatch in aspiration is a worrying sign of social stratification starting to settle in.

Some children start off disadvantaged, he said in Parliament on Tuesday, and whether it's the quality of tuition their parents can afford, or the resources their neighbourhood primary school has, these differences follow them through life.

Mr Sin, who delivered an impassioned plea for more attention to be paid to the disparity between top schools and heartland schools, was one of three MPs during the second day of the Budget debate to flag social mobility as a concern.

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_640164.html

Kudos to MP Sin for highlighting dis in parliament.
ALL children shd start from a level playing field, regardless of background.

the good MP should have quoted this ksp website as a source of info for anyone ks enough to find out more of what is hwere

[verykiasu2010]

Way2GO:

MP Sin Boon Ann plea in Budget 2011 debate:

FOR some children in Tampines Central constituency, the best hope in educational achievement is to do well enough to get into a polytechnic.

But for a child studying in a top school in Bukit Timah, this very outcome would probably be seen more as a failure than a success.

To Mr Sin Boon Ann, who is MP of the Tampines Central ward in Tampines GRC, this mismatch in aspiration is a worrying sign of social stratification starting to settle in.

Some children start off disadvantaged, he said in Parliament on Tuesday, and whether it's the quality of tuition their parents can afford, or the resources their neighbourhood primary school has, these differences follow them through life.

Mr Sin, who delivered an impassioned plea for more attention to be paid to the disparity between top schools and heartland schools, was one of three MPs during the second day of the Budget debate to flag social mobility as a concern.

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_640164.html

Kudos to MP Sin for highlighting dis in parliament.
ALL children shd start from a level playing field, regardless of background.

the good MP should have quoted this ksp website as a source of info for anyone ks enough to find out more of what is hwere

[janet88]

I am definitely for ‘branded’ school. My son is in a school where teachers and parents work together to bring out the best in the students.

The environment of a ‘branded’ school is different…maybe the kiasuism can be stressful but teachers do believe in teaching to their best and not assume their students have enrichment…so just blah blah blah.