Petition to Review the Singapore Education System

[meinteel]

I agree that the bell curve is wrong and that we should just allow the students to obtain the marks they obtain based on how they did for the paper. This I can support.


I would agree that classes are too large. Personally, I think it should be reduced by half. However, despite the Ministry’s efforts this is not possible. There just isn’t enough teachers in the first place. I noticed that many schools have a lack of manpower even as of now. Just so often I hear from my relatives of how young teachers would resign upon finishing their contract - many even break their bonds with MOE. Most complain about the stress (demanding parents to not enough family time).

As for the last point, I strongly disagree. Arranging students according to their grades is beneficial to many. I used to come from a school that did not do that. Ended up the teacher could not teach at all. For subjects like mathematics and history, the class has people scoring as low as 2% and others scoring as high as 98%. Basically, the teacher just ignore all the students who scored more than 70% and focused on the "slower learners". As such, my friends and I were not given the attention we deserved and could not improve at all. This is highly unfair since we paid the same amount of school fees and we had to depend on ourselves for our grades throughout secondary 3 and 4.

[Chenonceau]

Meinteel, I can feel the passion in your words, and thank you for writing your sincere thoughts even if it is to state a disagreement. Here are my thoughts on streaming developed further in an earlier post.

Chenonceau:

Here's my view. I think that streaming is a sham...

(1) because every child is different, and even if 2 kids score 280, they will have different strengths and weaknesses in different subjects. Streaming lulls parents and educators into thinking that they can pitch one lesson to a whole class when in reality that one lesson is inappropriate in some way or other to everyone in that class.

My son is in 2nd best class. He is taught as if he were 80+ in all four subjects. This is inappropriate for him because he is very good in 3 subjects and very poor in one. His friend is excellent in Chinese and Math but very poor in English and Science. Another is good at English and Math bbut poor in the other 2. In my son's words \"Everyone is good at different subjects and poor at different subjects, Mommy\". Even with streaming, you are still working with mixed ability students, except that teachers and schools FOOL themselves into thinking there is homogeneity. There isn't. There never is. The only homogeneity I see is that every child in the top 2 classes have very supportive mothers/fathers/tutors.

(2) because standards are so high now that individual strengths and weaknesses are even more salient. When you are teaching at low standards of mastery, you can pop similarly high/low IQ kids together, teach them together and being of same IQ, they'll follow. But when subjects become very specialized and skills levels are demanding, a child's innate strengths and weaknesses profile comes to the fore and needs to be addressed individually. When standards are high and skills specialized, the need for individualized coaching becomes heavier. That's why Olympic sportsmen have individualized coaching. That's why, traditionally, universities had tutorials - for individualized coaching in thinking skills.

Hence, I prefer a smaller 1:15 class ratio paired with mixed ability classes. This ensures that Teachers don't have the EXCUSE to think that they can make one lesson plan and be able to teach everyone well. They'll need to accept that each student needs attention. It also holds the following advantages
(a) better emotional follow through
(b) prevents elitism
(c) prevents parents from trying to help kids get into top schools because there ARE no academically top schools in a mixed ability teaching system.
(d) teaches social skills (because when the kids grow up, they will be working in mixed ability teams)

Streaming is a feel-good thing. It numbs teachers to the necessity for individualized coaching in a system where standards are super high (and thus individualized coaching is necessary). Streaming also introduces artificial social strata into the society over the long term. Streaming breeds elitism. Those who go to top classes/schools feel pride. Those who don't, have low self-esteem and a lot of bitterness. 20 years on, this bitterness will explode into social problems because too many will realize that they didn't make it only because their parents didn't have time to coach them.
It's a good thing that neither of my kids' schools streamed in P1 and P2. Both my kids were bottom of the heap then. If there was streaming then, they would gone into a class where they would have been taught below their ability... and being taught less, they will learn less, and today, my daughter wouldn't be where she is today. My son also wouldn't be in the 2nd best class.

The other thing about streaming-cum-bellcurve system is the competitive spirit it engenders. Everyone is in it for themseves. Do you wonder why the PAP MPs seem to be so self-interested and elitist? They are products of our education - the top of the top of the top from our educational system. I can already see it in my son. He used to be such a kind boy in preschool. Nobody wanted to play with a child who had just shitted in his pants. My boy spent the whole day by that child's side because he pitied his friend.

But guess what... yesterday my son jubilated when recounting to me his classmates' pain and discomfiture at not knowing how to solve 2 or 3 of the problem sums in the exam. You know, I didn't know what to say except that he should not be so mean. What he WILL learn however, is to be hypocritical. Be happy about others' failure, but not show it. What kind of values is the system teaching my son?

Nope... I can't agree with streaming. But it doesn't mean I am right. It's a viewpoint. Is all. I meant to add another perspective to the discussion. Dun mean to offend, especially when both of you have taken time to detail your perspective.

This said, I almost never think of anything in absolute terms. So I would not say I am completely against streaming. I wouldn't put a 15% math student with a 98%.

However, if we stream by putting students with average 90s together and students with average 80s together, it is too fine a distinction. An average 70s student could well have 90s potential except that in that year of streaming, his mother passed away. This happened to a boy I knew. Broadening the stream bands will still give us the benefits of mixed ability teaching without making it horribly difficult for the teacher ESPECIALLY if classes are capped at 15 students.

A robust system can work without streaming. Here is an example - http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2062419,00.html

This said, we can well agree to disagree. It still makes your perspective a precious and valuable one in the present discussion, as long as you have denigrated no one and put down no other parent. Which you haven't at all done.

[meinteel]

I agree with broad-based streaming rather than do away with streaming all together. I would also like to share what my aunt always tell the parents who would go to Meet the Teacher sessions. She has two young daughters (P1 & P3) and is a school teacher.


Those parents always compliment her for having smart and well-behaved children (Her elder daughter was the top 3 for her level in all subjects in P1 & P2). They are well-known in school for self-regulating their own play time and study time, would automatically stop eating ice-cream and fried food when falling sick. Sounds like great kids isn’t it?

She says that as parents you must provide them with environment to learn and you must spend time to sit down and explain to them about different things. You must also sacrifice many things and go down to their level as well as set time aside during the weekends to learn and play with them.

[Chenonceau]

meinteel:

I agree with broad-based streaming rather than do away with streaming all together. I would also like to share what my aunt always tell the parents who would go to Meet the Teacher sessions. She has two young daughters (P1 & P3) and is a school teacher.


Those parents always compliment her for having smart and well-behaved children (Her elder daughter was the top 3 for her level in all subjects in P1 & P2). They are well-known in school for self-regulating their own play time and study time, would automatically stop eating ice-cream and fried food when falling sick. Sounds like great kids isn't it?

She says that as parents you must provide them with environment to learn and you must spend time to sit down and explain to them about different things. You must also sacrifice many things and go down to their level as well as set time aside during the weekends to learn and play with them.

Hmmm... a bit off topic eh? Let's focus this thread on what the system can or can't do... not on what parents should or should not do. But thanks for sharing your Aunt's wisdom.

As an I/O Psychologist, my first reflex is to refine organisational system components to change human behavior en masse. Once you change a system component and do it properly, you will change human behavior immediately and the impact will be on thousands. Words alone here, telling parents how to parent... are ineffective in achieving lasting behavioral change. Individuals cannot fight the system no matter how much we lecture people what they should do.

Try and TELL someone to take off warm clothes in a cold room of 10 Deg C? Not gonna work. Change the thermostat to 25 Deg C and the clothes will come off, quickly... without nagging.

I have great kids too. People tell me that all the time. Daughter in top school (in top class). Son has been identified as top school potential. DS topped his class for Math Paper 1 and English Paper 2 in this round of exams. They are polite. They speak their mind, but civilly. They are sociable and collaborative. DS shocked his Chinese Tutor when he refused Cheezels and canned drinks, and asked for plain water. For 6 successive Mondays, he stared longingly at a bunch of Cornettos but did not yield.

But so what if I have great kids?

It does not help other parents to parent better. I cannot teach/lecture other parents to parent, even if I myself have nice kids. Even if I did, would I know their situations? Maybe they have 2 jobs to make ends meet? So, no time to spend with kids? Maybe they end work at 9pm every night and are tired?

Let's improve the system, and trust that parents will try their best because they love their kids.

[meinteel]

What kind of changes do you suggest? Im very sure that our ministers, principals and teachers know of the inherent problem. It is more of finding a better method that our young learn at a pace suitable for them.


For example, in order to half the class Singapore will require twice the amount of teachers. How are we going to attract so many teachers - especially so many would leave the teaching force for greener pastures. Im very sure that this is not just about pay, but the responsibilities and pressures the teachers face on the ground.

[Chenonceau]

meinteel:

What kind of changes do you suggest? Im very sure that our ministers, principals and teachers know of the inherent problem. It is more of finding a better method that our young learn at a pace suitable for them.


For example, in order to half the class Singapore will require twice the amount of teachers. How are we going to attract so many teachers - especially so many would leave the teaching force for greener pastures. Im very sure that this is not just about pay, but the responsibilities and pressures the teachers face on the ground.

I made concrete suggestions in the petition. Do read it.

I am sure you are right too, about lack of teaching resources. When the automobile was first invented, somebody also said that it was silly because it needs roads to travel and there weren't many roads then, if at all. In 2011, every country is criss-crossed with roads. When I wanted to take on new business in my consulting team (many years ago), my staff told me that there weren't enough people. So, I downsize my business to fit my staff?

Sure! Every idea has constraints. And every naysayer is right. And every naysayer thinks himself/herself wise in having seen the impossibilities of any solution. I won't say you are wrong. I won't say you are unwise.

I say merely that the system is out of balance... over-extended and something needs to be done, and I have responsibly laid out the ideas in the petition. If you disagree, don't sign it. If you agree, then sign it. For further suggestions, do click on this link that I had already shared in a post earlier - http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2062419,00.html. It is a model to learn from.

Don't ask me questions that I have answered in the petition, and that I have indirectly answered in pointing you to a working example. You may also continue to point out the various defects of the suggestions in the petition. I am not a decision-maker so it's just my opinion against yours. However, your contrary opinion, as long as you stay within the topic of the thread is valuable and I will not counter you further. It will stay on record as a sincere point of view.

If you have suggestions do contribute them as well. The more diversity in opinion, the better for this thread. We can't expect to all agree, I don't think.

[meinteel]

Please do not feel offended, but I just trying to help you formulate something that will be easier to take form within the government.


Believe it or not, I actually read the entire petition before posting my very first comment. I do believe that you started this because you care about the young of Singapore and you feel responsible for the future of our nation.

However, the petition itself only lists the inherent problems which are backed by extensive examples and elaboration.

The following is the only solution I can find " Why can’t we pick a number of secondary schools and call them GOOD schools? Then distribute resources equally amongst these schools, without overly concentrating resources at only the top 4 schools. "

I would also like to highlight that schools are given S$300 per student on top of the school’s annual operating budget. Therefore, schools with the same amount of students should receive the same amount of money. There are only two exceptions.

First - needless to say - are special schools designed for the disadvantaged (Blind, handicapped etc).

Second, would be autonomous schools. Autonomous schools receive additional funding to pay for enrichment lessons, CCA fundings and camps. These schools (be it govt, govt-aided or independent) only when the school demonstrated a sustained ability to add value to their students’ all-round education. This means that the school would already have extensive programs funded by the school’s PSG, members of the board, alumni, or money raised through public fund raising.For example, my brother use to study in VS. It often had fund raising event so that it can later subsidise enrichment programs. There are 27 autonomous schools in Singapore.

I think it is important to ask ourselves why many "good" teachers requests to transfer to independent or "brand" schools despite receiving the same amount of money. Why do people quit the teaching force as soon as they complete their bond? What are the differences between Tao Nan and Ang Mo Kio Primary?

[Chenonceau]

meinteel:

Please do not feel offended, but I just trying to help you formulate something that will be easier to take form within the government.

You mean to reformulate the petition so that it is better?

[meinteel]

No. If you reformulate the petition, you will have to get everyone to sign it again which is too much of a hassle.


What you can do is to create a second document which would contain a suggestions of possible solutions and their expect impact on our society.

When there is a satisfactory number of signatures for the petition, print them out and send it to your area’s MP as well as Minister for Education. I would also suggest leaving your contact behind so that they can make further clarifications and let you know what have been done about your petition and suggestions.

I volunteer with grassroots. There was once we did something like this. We had a forum regarding our society. We listed problems, make suggestions and provided the expected outcome (merits & demerits) of each solution. Everything was then complied and signed off before handing the entire document to the ministers.

[Chenonceau]

meinteel:

I volunteer with grassroots. There was once we did something like this. We had a forum regarding our society. We listed problems, make suggestions and provided the expected outcome (merits & demerits) of each solution. Everything was then complied and signed off before handing the entire document to the ministers.

Thank you. I don't think I will do that. The petition contains 3 suggestions.
(1) review bell curve (don't use the bell curve to the extreme)
(2) have small classes (classes are too large)
(3) with mixed ability teaching (don't pigeonhole students)
If they are clearly implied and not explicitly stated, then I am sorry, the fault is in the writing... it is too late to change the petition now.

It takes more than ONE or TWO documents (written by a single person with a single life experience) to draft policy and hand over to Ministers something that is palatable for implementation. It also requires a lot of dialogue with a lot of people... and a whole team working together. I have been part of policy panels in companies. Even at such a restrained scope, it took a long time and a lot of study to get out the document. To be taken seriously, it is not a document that can be an opinion piece. It needs to be produced using rigorous research methodology.

To do up that document properly, you would need focus groups, surveys and resources to study the Finns in-depth. It can't be just a superficial think through stating obvious truths such as teacher turnover and lack of teaching resources. Indeed, teachers themselves have written in this thread to enrich the pool of suggestions with their own. Some teachers' posts have shed much light on the issue.

Let the MOE do that study eh? It is too much for me.

The most I am prepared to do is to take part in this thread and let the thread speak suggestions for itself and for the community. It reflects many different viewpoints, and the pros and cons of some suggestions. Haphazard, but it is there.

As previously, I encourage you to put down your own suggestions, and it will go on record. As previously, I encourage you to state your sincere viewpoint here and place your own suggestions here. As long as you stay to topic and do not begin to suggest ways in which parents need to parent better, your viewpoint is precious. There are other threads in which you can exhort parents to provide a learning environment and all that.

Many forummers have made suggestions here already. I may not agree entirely with them but I recognise that we all have different viewpoints. To help...
(1) You could add to these suggestions yourself?
(2) If you are motivated to and have had experience doing so in you grassroots work, YOU can help by looking through the whole thread and collating the suggestions herein, and then list out merits and demerits. Then you can write up the document and collect signatures when you are done, and hand the implementation proposal to the Ministers.
(3) You can publicise the petition to generate public momentum for a review.

It was not my intent to draft something that can easier take form within the govt. You can do that if you want to. If you produce the document then I will come help by giving my 2 cents.

If you do happen to be from MOE, Meinteel, then know that we elected a government and expect it to serve. If jobs are lacking, or healthcare is too expensive, you expect the electorate to write implementation proposals for you to fix the problem? Then why are we paying govt officials from tax money? Why did we elect the Minister? It is not for me to produce a document to make life easier for the govt. The govt is very well paid to make life easier for me. Should the govt decide to engage my professional services to conduct the review study; and provides the necessary access to informants and data, then I can do something. But these would be paid professional services. It is not a document that can be written as an opinion piece.

For others... do help to publicise this petition - http://www.petitiononline.com/SgEd2011/petition.html. Share on Facebook. Email to friends. Link to the petition in the various forum posts you are part of.