Raffles Institution (Year 1-4)

[mathsparks]

Any parents here to share their boys’ experiences about life in RI? Though we’re very sure of our decision, we’re interested to find out more…to be mentally prepared.


- Is life really so stressful?
- Are the kids ranked according to the class they’re in? Are their positions in class/standard disclosed at yearend?
- Are remedial/supp classes provided for weaker students?
- Do your kids reach home late (as in after 9pm) often?
- Are the boys rough (during orientation, do the seniors bully the juniors in ways that are demeaning/spiteful?)
- Is it true if you "hide" in guitar ensemble, you’ll have a less packed cca schedule? Anyway, son’s not keen to join guitar.
- Are your kids generally happy (look forward to school).
- Are they often dead-tired from school activities?
- Are they snobs who compare the brands of their shoes/mobiles/laptops/games/cars etc…or even the places they visit?
- Heard that there’re school buses that pick up the kids from east side. Any idea?
- Are parents allowed to drop off the kids within the school grounds(if it rains?)…Is there morning peak hour conjestion?
- Are they rebellious, rude and behave so high and mighty? Somehow I’ve the notion that sap school kids are more respectful and humble…so perhaps I’m looking more for assurances from parents.

Thanks much for any input.

[schellen]

mathsparks:

- Are they rebellious, rude and behave so high and mighty? Somehow I've the notion that sap school kids are more respectful and humble..so perhaps I'm looking more for assurances from parents..

Since I have no sons (and I dunwan also), I can only answer this from my POV of the man in my life.

My parents did not really like sashimi when they first met him, said he was high and mighty and had no respect. They were of course comparing him to my previous boyfriend who was from RV. However, I think the difference was not the sch since the RV guy and sashimi (RI guy) had very different family backgrounds and were brought up very differently. sashimi also had this rule about people having to earn respect first before it is given and I agree with it. Of course, when you look at our elders, they belong to the \"I am your elder so you must respect me no matter what\" generation, which I equate to utter BS if the elder does not deserve it. Now, my dad and sashimi get along fairly okay but not for my mom. However, knowing my mom, she has the habit of sticking to her first impressions (and ancient rules). This trait of hers is well-known among me, sashimi, my sis and even my dad so we tolerate it (unless it goes out of hand, then we will get my dad to take action).

sashimi did intro his friends from sch to me and we do notice the gap between them and us. I think it still boils down to society/income class more than sch though. (Sorry about the rambling but I hope I helped answer your query. :oops: )

[turquoise]

I have a couple of friends whose boys are in RI. The impression I get is that RI really isn’t that stressful at all. They both participate actively in sports and CCA. Mind you, both these boys were from GEP and didn’t stress much during their primary school days either. It probably is a combination of their personality and ability.

[kohjl]

mathsparks:

Any parents here to share their boys' experiences about life in RI?

Hi mathspark

I've shared some bits and pieces before. See earlier posts from the following link onwards:

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?p=31904&highlight=#31904

Sorry I am not able to answer in detail before the PSLE exams cos very short of time, but will try to give more insight after PSLE exams and after my eldest son's exams.... and after I \"interview\" him.

BTW sent you a PM too on a separate matter.

Regards.

[mathsparks]

Thank you schellen for sharing details..not rambling at all. high/mighty..no respect..compared with a sap guy. Is it just the elderly? why I also have that false/biased impression. paiseh :oops: ..I like so old myself. Gap between them and us..sadly this is true in our so called meritocratic society..there's still some kinda class system here..upper/middle/lower..


Turquoise, thanks for sharing. It's reassuring to know that some former gep kids are coping well. My son didn't get in thru sports but is very keen on running. He would like to try out for track and field and I'm worried it would be tough to get in...Plus he wears glasses and I wonder how he can even run in them..time for contact lenses? He's a very relaxed boy and that's why I'm worried if he can cope academically. Even now, with less than 4 days from PSLE, he's still doing his research on the internet..re-reading his storybooks. (I had to hide the lost symbol from him) :x

Hi kohjl, I can only hope that my son can cope as well as yours. I worry he might breakdown from all the stress. All I can do is support him..increase the intake of chicken ess to twice a week. And I shall be his driver both ways. Hope to hear more from yr son after you \"interview\" him. Will reply yr pm shortly.

Anyone else can share about orientation experiences? I've heard of something called taupok that was done on juniors...hopefully not on a sec1 kid. My son's so scrawny; doubt he can survive that.

Haiz, it's difficult to be a mum. If yr son does well and gets into a premier (don't slam me for this word...it's commonly used when they refer to that school in bishan) school, you worry if he can cope with the rigours. If yr child doesn't do well and goes to a neighbourhood school, you worry if he'll be influenced by his peers.

What I often say to my kids when they tell me not to worry..It's my job to worry and theirs' to study. Actually I prefer the job of worrying than studying. Life's much tougher as a student now compared to my days. And yes,..I do know that \"Worry is like a rocking chair--it gives you something to do but it doesn't get you anywhere\"

[Jennifer]

mathsparks:

Haiz, it's difficult to be a mum. If yr son does well and gets into a premier (don't slam me for this word...it's commonly used when they refer to that school in bishan) school, you worry if he can cope with the rigours. If yr child doesn't do well and goes to a neighbourhood school, you worry if he'll be influenced by his peers.

Well said.

[mathsparks]

Thanks jennifer. Now back to worrying and ..JC1 exams and PSLE..

[kuzco]

mathsparks:

Haiz, it's difficult to be a mum. If yr son does well and gets into a premier (don't slam me for this word...it's commonly used when they refer to that school in bishan) school, you worry if he can cope with the rigours. If yr child doesn't do well and goes to a neighbourhood school, you worry if he'll be influenced by his peers.

Whether a child finds a premier school stressful or not really depends on his ability. If a child is one who is able to score 270 and above, he may find it less stressful than one who scores, say, 250+ who may have to struggle to keep his head above the water.

As for being influenced by peers in a neighbourhood school, I think every school has some bad apples which, hopefully, doesn't spoil the rest of the barrel.

[kiasuson]

mathsparks:

Any parents here to share their boys' experiences about life in RI? Though we're very sure of our decision, we're interested to find out more...to be mentally prepared.


- Is life really so stressful?
- Are the kids ranked according to the class they're in? Are their positions in class/standard disclosed at yearend?
- Are remedial/supp classes provided for weaker students?
- Do your kids reach home late (as in after 9pm) often?
- Are the boys rough (during orientation, do the seniors bully the juniors in ways that are demeaning/spiteful?)
- Is it true if you \"hide\" in guitar ensemble, you'll have a less packed cca schedule? Anyway, son's not keen to join guitar.
- Are your kids generally happy (look forward to school).
- Are they often dead-tired from school activities?
- Are they snobs who compare the brands of their shoes/mobiles/laptops/games/cars etc..or even the places they visit?
- Heard that there're school buses that pick up the kids from east side. Any idea?
- Are parents allowed to drop off the kids within the school grounds(if it rains?)..Is there morning peak hour conjestion?
- Are they rebellious, rude and behave so high and mighty? Somehow I've the notion that sap school kids are more respectful and humble..so perhaps I'm looking more for assurances from parents.

Thanks much for any input.

My son is in the first year. I will like to share some of my observation during the past 9 months and try to answer your questions.

My son joined the sports CCA which requires him to train 3 times a week. The schedule is pretty tide but he since able to adjust to it. He used to sleep at 9pm sharp during primary school. In RI, he has to adjust to sleep at about 10.30pm to 11pm. I keep asking if the school is stressful but he keeps replying that he is enjoying it. I believe this is up to individual. He played another sports for the school and also in some of the committees to organise events.

As for results, they have CA reports in May and August but there are no ranking information. From the result slips, you can know his GPA and his individual subject results percentile in his cohorts. My son feedback that a few of the students that score very well in the PSLE is struggling. He analysed that those who has mugged and keep doing assesment during primary school to get good results suffers in RI. In RI, there are not much time for students to work on assesments. The test or EOY questions are very different from normal assesments you find in the bookshop or tutions centres. A lot of time is put in on projects, presentations, portfolios, etc. This is the area that my son enjoys and scored. In PSLE, you are not assess in this area. There are still about 50% of the marks assessed thru paper assesments and exams. Their exam or CA format is completely different from other normal schools.

BTW, my son's PSLE results is at the mid 260 and in the mainstream. He is admitted thru DSA.

The seniors are friendly so far. There will be some naughty students around. My son is from an SAP schools and my observation is that students from SAP schools still retain the teaching from their primary schools. My son still bows to the teachers/principals when he met them in school. My son has become more agumentative but I think this is the natural characteristic of teenagers. He is able to anaylse things with more detail and systematic way.

I stayed in the east too. In my block, there are about 3 RI students. In order to save the $90 monthly school bus fee for the single way transport to school, we have decided to car pool. The 3 parents will take turns to ferry our son to school. In one year, we have to drive about 12 weeks a year. It save us about S$1080 yearly. There are a few places that you can drop off your students. Like many other schools, it will always be congested. The trick to avoid this is to drop them in school before 7 am.

I hope my feedback helps. Feel free to PM me if you need any feedback.

[kiasuson]

kuzco:

mathsparks:

Haiz, it's difficult to be a mum. If yr son does well and gets into a premier (don't slam me for this word...it's commonly used when they refer to that school in bishan) school, you worry if he can cope with the rigours. If yr child doesn't do well and goes to a neighbourhood school, you worry if he'll be influenced by his peers.

Whether a child finds a premier school stressful or not really depends on his ability. If a child is one who is able to score 270 and above, he may find it less stressful than one who scores, say, 250+ who may have to struggle to keep his head above the water.

As for being influenced by peers in a neighbourhood school, I think every school has some bad apples which, hopefully, doesn't spoil the rest of the barrel.

I think the PSLE scores is not a good indication of whether the child will struggle in the premier schools. If the students mugged and keep doing assesment to get the 270+, I believe they will struggle in the premier schools as there are no time for the students to mug and keep working on assesments.