Review Underway of the Educational System

[jedamum]

jtoh:

jedamum:

at a point in time, i feel that the term 'holistic education' is just a nice phrase.

sometimes what kids need are not programmes after programmes in school. they want the free time at home to do stuff that they like.
i just hope that in implementing additional activities in the name of 'holistic education', schools should not shove down their activities down the throats of parents who do not share the same views.

Just wondering, is that happening a lot? Where schools shove activities down the throats of parents? Can parents opt not to go for these 'holistic' schools?

i was referring to preschools wrt 'holistic education' (they like to use this term a lot). i am hoping that such will not slowly creep into primary school system.
they should implement opt-in system instead.
of course can opt out, but kid has to agree too (got peer pressure, worry blacklist and what not). or course can choose to ignore but don't we all have times that we agree to stuff reluctantly due to whatever circumstances?

anyway, back to the topic....OT liao. :oops:

[sunset_dae]

scrape off school ranking, and GEP, segregate all the teachers teaching top notch school to neighbourhood sch.. so our children will not be so stressful!

Its hard to change parents mentality, everyone wants the best for their children. If there is no comparison then there wouldnt be any kiasu mentality.

EllaEmma:

Chenonceau:

EllaEmma, there is hope... see here... http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2011/09/reviewing-system-of-assessing-schools.html

We kiasu parents have a part in this scene too.. we formed the demand.. the schools became supply (being top school)

So long parents mentality do not change, there will be rank-chasing principals, not easy to change...
My 2 cents..

[kitty2]

Chenonceau:

Jennifer:

Every child is different. No one system will work for everyone. Hence, the Govt has been working towards providing diff avenues for diff segments.


We need to realise that there are more than one way. It is no use if the Govt puts in all efforts but we ignore the many other possibilities and then in the end, complain abt the obstacles of attaining academic success when in the 1st place, it is not meant for our child to undertake. Just my 2cts worth.

This is another way of saying that parents are kiasu because we want our kids to all be academically good. But I very much agree with you. Some people are not meant to take the academic path because their greater talents lie elsewhere.

However, this should not be a way for MOE to push away responsibility and be an excuse for the inadequate teaching (that arose because Teachers have been appreciated/rewarded/promoted for doing OD work... and teaching has become secondary). Such inadequate teaching takes place in many many schools across our nation... where Teachers test... but don't teach enough to meet test standards.

Students fail even when they DO have an aptitude for scholastic achievement. All I did was give my son 2 well chosen Math enrichment books, and his grades went from Fail to top. All I did was provide my son well-chosen material for Chinese Language and his compo grades went from 18/40 to 28/40 (under exam conditions) within 6 months. Clearly, my son has scholastic aptitude, but his school gave him neither the material nor the instruction required to cope with his exams.

That is currently what is happening. It is not the parents' fault. MOE must take responsibility for change. I am happy that it has chosen to free up Teacher's time from chasing awards that only PARTLY define what education is all about.

:goodpost: :udawoman:

[jtoh]

jedamum:

jtoh:

[quote=\"jedamum\"]at a point in time, i feel that the term 'holistic education' is just a nice phrase.

sometimes what kids need are not programmes after programmes in school. they want the free time at home to do stuff that they like.
i just hope that in implementing additional activities in the name of 'holistic education', schools should not shove down their activities down the throats of parents who do not share the same views.

Just wondering, is that happening a lot? Where schools shove activities down the throats of parents? Can parents opt not to go for these 'holistic' schools?

i was referring to preschools wrt 'holistic education' (they like to use this term a lot). i am hoping that such will not slowly creep into primary school system.
they should implement opt-in system instead.
of course can opt out, but kid has to agree too (got peer pressure, worry blacklist and what not). or course can choose to ignore but don't we all have times that we agree to stuff reluctantly due to whatever circumstances?

anyway, back to the topic....OT liao. :oops:[/quote]OIC. Yah OT.

[nani]

Yes - and about doing stuff they like. I noticed that when school talk about arts, they only emphasise on visual arts or performing arts. What about those who are talented towards crafts arts? or cooking art (master chef ) I for one who can't draw for nuts but love to explore other crafts like sewing; pottery; making cards; etc. My daughter always said she wish she could have more time to join me and explore more on crafting rather than studying.

[jedamum]

nani:

Yes - and about doing stuff they like. I noticed that when school talk about arts, they only emphasise on visual arts or performing arts. What about those who are talented towards crafts arts? or cooking art (master chef ) I for one who can't draw for nuts but love to explore other crafts like sewing; pottery; making cards; etc. My daughter always said she wish she could have more time to join me and explore more on crafting rather than studying.

hm..
for craftart, it should most likely be incorporated in weekly art class sessions (i find my son doing more craftwork than drawing during such lessons). cooking is something new. you should suggest it to the PERI commitee.
http://www.primaryeducation.sg/summary-of-peri-committee-recommendations/

[nani]

jedamum:

nani:

Yes - and about doing stuff they like. I noticed that when school talk about arts, they only emphasise on visual arts or performing arts. What about those who are talented towards crafts arts? or cooking art (master chef ) I for one who can't draw for nuts but love to explore other crafts like sewing; pottery; making cards; etc. My daughter always said she wish she could have more time to join me and explore more on crafting rather than studying.

hm..
for craftart, it should most likely be incorporated in weekly art class sessions (i find my son doing more craftwork than drawing during such lessons). cooking is something new. you should suggest it to the PERI commitee.
http://www.primaryeducation.sg/summary-of-peri-committee-recommendations/

Thanks for bringing me to the link

Btw, will this review of underway education system apply to secondary school as well or isn't just primary school :roll: . Will they implement all fairness immediately for all current batch of students or like their past practice only applicable for those in year 20?? or they starting year ?????. Eg. like the merging of cedar, IJ, scgs for those who are currently in P4..blah blah blah..

[Chenonceau]

Nebbermind:

Chenonceau:

I always opt out of stuff I dun agree with... including compulsory supplementary classes.

Must be a top tier school, ya? Coz my friend who transferred kid from neighbourhood school to premium BT Timah brand school complained that there's a lot more activities after school hours.

Fren... nowhere near Bukit Timah lah... neighbourhood school. DD went to elite school. I was not impressed. DS no. Neighbourhood or elite does not matter. It's the Principal and whether he/she had the moral fibre to EDUCATE despite the system. Or whether he/she was just out to get those awards and get promoted.

[Chenonceau]

sunset_dae:

scrape off school ranking, and GEP, segregate all the teachers teaching top notch school to neighbourhood sch.. so our children will not be so stressful!

Its hard to change parents mentality, everyone wants the best for their children. If there is no comparison then there wouldnt be any kiasu mentality.

EllaEmma:

[quote=\"Chenonceau\"]EllaEmma, there is hope... see here... http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2011/09/reviewing-system-of-assessing-schools.html

We kiasu parents have a part in this scene too.. we formed the demand.. the schools became supply (being top school)

So long parents mentality do not change, there will be rank-chasing principals, not easy to change...
My 2 cents..

[/quote]Agree.... except for GEP. Some kids need that program because they're made differently than others. I know it's not for my son and our family but some kids do need it or they'll get bored.

[Otah]

caroline3sg:

Otah:

I propose MOE to seriously consider full day school to allow more time for teaching, homework, sports, CCA and any other holistic activities for character development on a daily basis as part of school programme. Just like the Japanese schools system. Unlike currently many students go home and stay with maid to do homework or tuition if there is no CCA, or some just simply run around in school, kicking ball under no supervision and neglecting their homework.

Not all spent their afternoon \" stay with maid to do homework, run around in school, kicking ball without supervision and neglecting their homework if there is no CCA.\"

You are passing a general statement of \"full day school\" to primary students especially those lower to mid levels who still need afternoon nap given that they wake up before sun rises. At this tender age of 7-10 yrs, they still need 10 hours of sleep. Our children don't sleep at 8pm to have uninterrupted sleep; they need time to nap to recharge. Primary education is the start of 16 yr marathon.

For teachers, they need time to mark homework / tests. If school is stretched to full day, then marking is done at night. They have family too, they need time to relax and chill out.

Unless school can start at 10am (which is impossible), then the children wakes up at 9am, will it be reasonable to have full day school to end at 5pm.

S'pore is already hectic enough for us adults. I do not wish children are stressed further on top of the current twice a week spellings / multiple tests a quarter / 2 semestral exams to cope.

Hi caroline, I did not generalise the statement, noticed I mentioned some. Agree that full-day school is viable to start later so that helps the morning rush and traffic jam and the kids need not wake up before sun rise. Full day school need not be whole day class room teaching, of course the activities wont be like current. Sport and rotated CCA club will have more time to carry out in the afternoon so only the respective teachers are in-charge and the rest can do their marking. Moreover, the 5pm after school will be right for them to wait for parents to pick them up after work. That also help resolve after school care issue for working parents or make it viable for more mother to join the work force.