Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

[autolycus]

I don't think there's any such thing as getting it 'naturally'. But some ways of education are more tedious than others, true.

[r2010]

autolycus:

ACS(I) had 28 perfect 45/45 scores, after fielding 441 candidates.

Thats very good. thanks for the info.

[laissezfaire]

autolycus:

laissezfaire:

To be honest, the practices in the school are so hypocritical, the senior management so into playing favourites and lording it over their own personal fiefdoms, the teachers so into all talk and no action....it's enough to drive people OFF Christianity rather than to it.


It's a glib, self-indulgent, hypocritical, arrogant Christianity they practice with so many \"roll your eyes\" moments it's not funny.....not at all like the real deal.....

I know so many students who are turned off, FAR more than those pulled to it. And those turned off include a large majority of those already Christians.

That's your personal opinion, and you have a right to it. I would also say that your opinion includes many sweeping statements. I think that you are actually stating an opinion that applies to about 20% of the staff or less. That's bad enough; no need to tar the rest with your over-broad brush.

Perhaps you need to be more critically honest with yourself.

And perhaps you need to actually experience the school before talking. 20% of the staff? Try talking to the students and what they think of their teachers. You'll quickly realise that the generalisations are worth their weight. I'm not talking about the PR that any school is good at, I'm talking about actual student feedback regarding said issue. How easy it is to say \"don't generalise\" when you don't know the specifics...

[laissezfaire]

autolycus:

laissezfaire:

No, they're not pushed into accepting anything, although chapels and services are mandatory.

Ah, this one contains an untruth. Chapel and services are not mandatory but they are the default. A parent may indeed write in and ask for exemption. It has been requested before, and the request granted. It's an odd thing for a client to do, but it is also the right thing to allow.

That's a caveat, friend, not a contradiction. As in exception to the general rule. It doesn't negate the fact that it IS mandatory in a general school attendance taking sense unless otherwise exempted, and even then only under exceptional circumstances. As in any mission school, it's called accepting the reality of your environment.

[autolycus]

laissezfaire:

And perhaps you need to actually experience the school before talking. 20% of the staff? Try talking to the students and what they think of their teachers. You'll quickly realise that the generalisations are worth their weight. I'm not talking about the PR that any school is good at, I'm talking about actual student feedback regarding said issue. How easy it is to say \"don't generalise\" when you don't know the specifics...

I have to say that my experience of the school is almost certainly greater than yours. It is one that now spans three decades, both good and bad.

Try talking to the students? Well, yes. I've talked to literally thousands of them, perhaps a couple of hundred at some depth and length.

Generalisations? I have the specifics. I can probably name the main offenders, having evaluated some myself in an official capacity. It is easier to say \"don't generalise\" when you -do- know the specifics.

For example, 20% of the staff is about 55 teachers. I very much doubt you can quote statements that target more than 50 specific teachers. If you analyse the statements, you'll realise they are directed (when specific) at a smaller group.

Statements like 'my teachers are crap' don't count because they can't be evaluated. If such statements are replicated, that increases reliability but not validity, so we can assume -some- teachers are crap but we still can't tell how many. A single teacher can teach up to 180 students (five classes, 36 students) or perhaps lecture a group of 500 or so. Such a sample can produce -ALL- the statements you've heard.

So, not talking about the PR (having both generated and debunked some of it), I am quite certain that you're presenting a less adequately researched picture than the one I have.

And ditto about the chapel thing. Religious services cannot be mandated, technically. If you accept 'the reality of your environment', then that's a different matter. MOE won't help you there.

[Zappie]

Hi Autolycus


On a lighter note… school told me that they do not accept students for the IB course based on SPERS result ( we r based oversea) so I am thinking of letting my DS go thru the PSLE & if assuming he managed to get a place for IB, how long will the LOA be valid for? Were there any such cases before?

TIA for yr help

[autolycus]

Hi Zappie,


I’m sorry, but what do you mean by ‘how long will the LOA be valid for’? The school can take in students by DSA, alternatively. But taking the PSLE might be a safer choice, if scoring 255 and above.

[Zappie]

Hi autolycus


thx for the quick reply. we are based overseas and thus have the choice to do PSLE or SPERS. However, ACS( I) do not admit students based on SPERS. We might be sending DS back for PSLE to secure a place at the IB program ( if he managed to enter thru PSLE) Will then apply for Letter of Absence from school as plans to be back are not confirmed. Thus, I would like to know how long can the school hold the place for DS and were there any such LOA cases in the past?

[autolycus]

The school can accept your LOA in theory for as long as it likes because it's an independent school. But it's best to ask for written confirmation and give specific dates.

[Zappie]

Hi autolycus


Thanks for yr advice. From your experience, do you know of any LOA cases for the IB program ?