Overseas Kids are better?

[2ppaamm]

Paddy Field:

I agree w 2ppaamm. My boy had his early education in USA, n I must say the priority if education is diff from Singapore. I wish I can send him away but what about NS? For girls, it is so much easier. Anyone knows what can be done in my situation? My boy was born in USA. Holding dual citizenship now. Anyway he can be exempted from NS?

Your child can hold the dual citizenship until 22. For your case, he can do anything he wants before that! Let him decide at 22 if he wants to denounce his Singaporean citizenship or do the NS. By then, he would have graduated from uni. You don't need exemption, it is yes or no. But you have the privilege of a buffer in the dual citizenship.

[2ppaamm]

Curious, don’t parents find the writing skills imparted to our kids terrible? Great grammar, nice cliches, fantastic sentence skills. But they don’t know what to write until you have to tell them exactly the # of words, what you expect, and what you thought. Huh? What about their own views? What about their own judgement of appropriate length? Don’t they teach them these at PSLE, O or A levels? So strange? No views? No opinions? No radical ideas? No questions on their minds? No uncertainly they want to address? No disagreement to my views? No challenge to the textbook? No new findings? No research into their own hypothesis? Just writing what they think I want. Why do I need students to write out my views and my answers? I can do that myself. I don’t need to read my views. I want to know theirs. Something is so wrong.

[aqeqiq]

Maybe our kids have no time to wonder, think and question with the kind of routine they have. Maybe our kids have no one to appreciate their views and reasonings with the standards we are all trying to meet. It is easier to follow instructions than to decide for oneself and have to answer for it.

[jedamum]

aqeqiq:

Maybe our kids have no time to wonder, think and question with the kind of routine they have. Maybe our kids have no one to appreciate their views and reasonings with the standards we are all trying to meet. It is easier to follow instructions than to decide for oneself and have to answer for it.

for kids to think out of the box, parents must first be willing to think out of the box. i when my boy jokingly tell me that him and a couple of friends wanting to form some group to rally against an unfairly set exam question. haha...everything already cast in stone yet want to fight for a lost cause. luckily his teacher was gamed enough and treat it as a joke. i knew he was joking...didn't want to get into trouble..this mummy very chicken.

[2ppaamm]

aqeqiq:

Maybe our kids have no time to wonder, think and question with the kind of routine they have. Maybe our kids have no one to appreciate their views and reasonings with the standards we are all trying to meet. It is easier to follow instructions than to decide for oneself and have to answer for it.

Maybe no time, but more likely not allowed. Tell you a little story.
My daughters went to Europe last year with the school CCA. Had a fabulous time, it was a group of about 50 and they went there for a competition which they won first prize. They also had sight seeing.

When they came back, they were told exactly what to say when people asked them how their trip was. I was curious why both girls say exactly the same thing when I asked them about the trip. Then my older daughter told me they were asked to memorize what to say when asked, so that the response was good and consistent, and that the CCA can go again in future. :shock:

They were also asked to pen their thoughts about the trip and give suggestions how to be better. Then the CCA leader was called up and given a terrible scolding in front of the rest of the girls, so bad that she cried. She had suggested that the trip be longer and that they should have more leisure time. Again, I was like :yikes: Why ask for feedback when you don't intend to listen? Why were the children not allowed to voice their opinions and views?

My girls did not write their views, or even thought about that again. I told them they can tell me what they think, I may not agree, but at least I will respect them. Yep, the problem is the lack of respect for our children's thoughts, beliefs and views from a young age. Consequently, our children and students begin to doubt themselves. What kind of academic freedom can we get out of such an environment?

[2ppaamm]

jedamum:

aqeqiq:

Maybe our kids have no time to wonder, think and question with the kind of routine they have. Maybe our kids have no one to appreciate their views and reasonings with the standards we are all trying to meet. It is easier to follow instructions than to decide for oneself and have to answer for it.

for kids to think out of the box, parents must first be willing to think out of the box. i when my boy jokingly tell me that him and a couple of friends wanting to form some group to rally against an unfairly set exam question. haha...everything already cast in stone yet want to fight for a lost cause. luckily his teacher was gamed enough and treat it as a joke. i knew he was joking...didn't want to get into trouble..this mummy very chicken.

This reminds me of my #4 boy. It was last year. The GEPers had finished exams earlier than the mainstreamers, but they had to go to school as usual and he was bored stiff. So he stood up and rally the boys to join him in asking the school to allow GEPers to have school holidays earlier. He was badly reprimanded and scolded and I was asked to school and there was a big complain. It turned out the teachers did not understand what he was doing, and just labeled it 'unruly behavior'.

When I managed to find out what happened, the exceptionally gifted branch folks told me that what he did was not incorrect, that's how people change the world and challenge status quo, we should have taught him how to do it properly. Thing is, the school was not willing to listen and teach, I was not there. It didn't matter, that was one reason why my son was 'not teachable'.

If we want to raise people who just accepts status quo and we refuse to listen to reasons, how do we expect our children to go beyond a bachelor degree? People who change the world are those who dare challenge status quo, otherwise, we will still be living in caves.

[PiggyLalala]

2ppaamm:

jedamum:

[quote=\"aqeqiq\"]Maybe our kids have no time to wonder, think and question with the kind of routine they have. Maybe our kids have no one to appreciate their views and reasonings with the standards we are all trying to meet. It is easier to follow instructions than to decide for oneself and have to answer for it.

for kids to think out of the box, parents must first be willing to think out of the box. i when my boy jokingly tell me that him and a couple of friends wanting to form some group to rally against an unfairly set exam question. haha...everything already cast in stone yet want to fight for a lost cause. luckily his teacher was gamed enough and treat it as a joke. i knew he was joking...didn't want to get into trouble..this mummy very chicken.

This reminds me of my #4 boy. It was last year. The GEPers had finished exams earlier than the mainstreamers, but they had to go to school as usual and he was bored stiff. So he stood up and rally the boys to join him in asking the school to allow GEPers to have school holidays earlier. He was badly reprimanded and scolded and I was asked to school and there was a big complain. It turned out the teachers did not understand what he was doing, and just labeled it 'unruly behavior'.

When I managed to find out what happened, the exceptionally gifted branch folks told me that what he did was not incorrect, that's how people change the world and challenge status quo, we should have taught him how to do it properly. Thing is, the school was not willing to listen and teach, I was not there. It didn't matter, that was one reason why my son was 'not teachable'.

If we want to raise people who just accepts status quo and we refuse to listen to reasons, how do we expect our children to go beyond a bachelor degree? People who change the world are those who dare challenge status quo, otherwise, we will still be living in caves.[/quote]Hi 2ppaamm,
hope you dont mind me being a kaypoh here. Why didnt you try to transfer your ds to another gep centre? Maybe things will work out better. Other more 'neighbourhood' GEP centres maybe more suitable for your ds, in the sense, lesser complaints from parents and hence the teachers can manage the situation better.

I am glad that things work out fine for yr ds now.
sorry for being off topic here.

[2ppaamm]

PiggyLalala:

Hi 2ppaamm,
hope you dont mind me being a kaypoh here. Why didnt you try to transfer your ds to another gep centre? Maybe things will work out better. Other more 'neighbourhood' GEP centres maybe more suitable for your ds, in the sense, lesser complaints from parents and hence the teachers can manage the situation better.

I am glad that things work out fine for yr ds now.
sorry for being off topic here.

Actually, it is because nobody gave me time to react or plan. My son was doing well academically, in fact topped the class in some subjects consistently. Then all of a sudden, the teacher fell ill, it was my son's fault. The students complain about him (with no proof) it was my son's fault, the teacher continues to fall ill, and no longer teaches my son's class, it was because my son weakened his health last year. Everything was his fault! The principal even claimed that my son was 'hurting' the teachers this way (too much work for them). So their solution was to banish him to an autism school. I had no time to react at all or look for another school.

At this stage, I am quite happy I pulled him out of the school system. Over the last few months, he has improved tremendously. His academic work progressed heaps as he finished 6.5 years' work in 6 months. He can now compete in his sport, and no longer in depression. The school caused his depression, and I was left to undo that. I am thankful for my own decisions, I just pity those in my situation but do not have my resources. We are happy to plan for his degree course for 2012. So excited to think about the prospect of having the first Ivy League graduate in our home, and he will only be 13 or 14 when he graduates!

All things work for good, I guess. I am just very sorry I could not help him be with quite a few of his classmates whom he loves so much. I also OT. So sorry.

[aqeqiq]

2ppaamm:

aqeqiq:

Maybe our kids have no time to wonder, think and question with the kind of routine they have. Maybe our kids have no one to appreciate their views and reasonings with the standards we are all trying to meet. It is easier to follow instructions than to decide for oneself and have to answer for it.

Maybe no time, but more likely not allowed. Tell you a little story.
My daughters went to Europe last year with the school CCA. Had a fabulous time, it was a group of about 50 and they went there for a competition which they won first prize. They also had sight seeing.

When they came back, they were told exactly what to say when people asked them how their trip was. I was curious why both girls say exactly the same thing when I asked them about the trip. Then my older daughter told me they were asked to memorize what to say when asked, so that the response was good and consistent, and that the CCA can go again in future. :shock:

They were also asked to pen their thoughts about the trip and give suggestions how to be better. Then the CCA leader was called up and given a terrible scolding in front of the rest of the girls, so bad that she cried. She had suggested that the trip be longer and that they should have more leisure time. Again, I was like :yikes: Why ask for feedback when you don't intend to listen? Why were the children not allowed to voice their opinions and views?

My girls did not write their views, or even thought about that again. I told them they can tell me what they think, I may not agree, but at least I will respect them. Yep, the problem is the lack of respect for our children's thoughts, beliefs and views from a young age. Consequently, our children and students begin to doubt themselves. What kind of academic freedom can we get out of such an environment?

I strongly agree with you here (in bold). I sent my dd to a wonderful preschool which though not very academically inclined, had my nod because of its teachers' respect for the children. Unfortunately, we don't have this luxury in pri school.

[aqeqiq]

2ppaamm:

jedamum:

[quote=\"aqeqiq\"]Maybe our kids have no time to wonder, think and question with the kind of routine they have. Maybe our kids have no one to appreciate their views and reasonings with the standards we are all trying to meet. It is easier to follow instructions than to decide for oneself and have to answer for it.

for kids to think out of the box, parents must first be willing to think out of the box. i when my boy jokingly tell me that him and a couple of friends wanting to form some group to rally against an unfairly set exam question. haha...everything already cast in stone yet want to fight for a lost cause. luckily his teacher was gamed enough and treat it as a joke. i knew he was joking...didn't want to get into trouble..this mummy very chicken.

This reminds me of my #4 boy. It was last year. The GEPers had finished exams earlier than the mainstreamers, but they had to go to school as usual and he was bored stiff. So he stood up and rally the boys to join him in asking the school to allow GEPers to have school holidays earlier. He was badly reprimanded and scolded and I was asked to school and there was a big complain. It turned out the teachers did not understand what he was doing, and just labeled it 'unruly behavior'.

When I managed to find out what happened, the exceptionally gifted branch folks told me that what he did was not incorrect, that's how people change the world and challenge status quo, we should have taught him how to do it properly. Thing is, the school was not willing to listen and teach, I was not there. It didn't matter, that was one reason why my son was 'not teachable'.

If we want to raise people who just accepts status quo and we refuse to listen to reasons, how do we expect our children to go beyond a bachelor degree? People who change the world are those who dare challenge status quo, otherwise, we will still be living in caves.[/quote]When those entrusted to execute don't do so correctly, the ones who are entrusted to them suffer. While your ds is fortunate that you extricated him out of that situation, how many others (gep or not) assume inaccurate things about themselves. If overseas kids are given an allowance to be themselves in a responsible manner, then I say \"overseas kids are better\".