Overseas Kids are better?

[jtoh]

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?

That's terrible. Indeed, why ask for their opinion when it won't be considered.

[corneyAmber]

kekeke…all these lack of academic freedom of thoughts is already very obvious in the science teachings and answering technique and sometimes comprehension too… I hope the GEP curriculum makes the difference otherwise there is really no true critical thinking that can be given a chance to be exercised…

[jedamum]

ksi:

kekeke...all these lack of academic freedom of thoughts is already very obvious in the science teachings and answering technique and sometimes comprehension too.... I hope the GEP curriculum makes the difference otherwise there is really no true critical thinking that can be given a chance to be exercised....

why only GEP curriculum? not MOE curriculum?

[2ppaamm]

jedamum:

ksi:

kekeke...all these lack of academic freedom of thoughts is already very obvious in the science teachings and answering technique and sometimes comprehension too.... I hope the GEP curriculum makes the difference otherwise there is really no true critical thinking that can be given a chance to be exercised....

why only GEP curriculum? not MOE curriculum?

Actually, I also don't know the difference between GEP and non. Can't really tell the difference... maybe I am expecting too much. The teaching style is the same, the things they do quite the same leh, I wish they would do a bit more exploring, and really stretching the kids without giving stress.

I was told GEP has changed over the years. The teachers used to be trained and coached by foreigners overseas. Now, they are no different from another MOE teacher. My friend, who is the first batch of GEP teacher, also noticed the difference. So, GEP now is just a group of high achievers, I guess. The curriculum is differentiated by the depth, not by the teaching style. GEP should be called HAP (High Achievers' Program), more suitable and reflective of what it really is.

From my observation, GEP teachers don't know how to handle giftedness, but great at handling high achievers. Gosh, they don't even understand LOG (level of giftedness). I thought that must be fundamental.

[2ppaamm]

ksi:

kekeke...all these lack of academic freedom of thoughts is already very obvious in the science teachings and answering technique and sometimes comprehension too.... I hope the GEP curriculum makes the difference otherwise there is really no true critical thinking that can be given a chance to be exercised....

kekeke.... your daughter going to GE next year is it?

[corneyAmber]

2ppaamm:

ksi:

kekeke...all these lack of academic freedom of thoughts is already very obvious in the science teachings and answering technique and sometimes comprehension too.... I hope the GEP curriculum makes the difference otherwise there is really no true critical thinking that can be given a chance to be exercised....

kekeke.... your daughter going to GE next year is it?

kekeke....I am making a general statement that hopefully the GEP is the saving grace of encouraging critical thinking in the MOE curriculum. Having gone through 3 years of standard exams with my child, I am inclined to think that quite a lot of lateral thinking has been \"murdered\" along the way to ease marking scheme.......but we adapt and adjust because I believe versatility is also one skill that can be learnt at a young age for her.

[corneyAmber]

jedamum:

ksi:

kekeke...all these lack of academic freedom of thoughts is already very obvious in the science teachings and answering technique and sometimes comprehension too.... I hope the GEP curriculum makes the difference otherwise there is really no true critical thinking that can be given a chance to be exercised....

why only GEP curriculum? not MOE curriculum?

GEP promises to apply more critical thinking skills whereas the MOE curriculum for the larger group which we have already experienced is not so much freedom.....alot of compliance in thinking required, which is not a bad thing if a child learns what is discernment and versatility in the process.

[2ppaamm]

ksi:

kekeke....I am making a general statement that hopefully the GEP is the saving grace of encouraging critical thinking in the MOE curriculum. Having gone through 3 years of standard exams with my child, I am inclined to think that quite a lot of lateral thinking has been \"murdered\" along the way to ease marking scheme.......but we adapt and adjust because I believe versatility is also one skill that can be learnt at a young age for her.

Hm... from my experience with GEP, I think they continue to 'murder' this lateral thinking. Though, I must say those that did GEP more than 10 years ago are quite a different batch. I have students and relatives and they are different. GEP has changed, and I feel it is more like an endorsement for intelligence for parents and children rather than an opportunity for children to have a different path for their education. Unfortunately, with the new teachers, I fail to see the differentiated teaching style. I sat in some classes myself, so I can attest to that. The thinking/arrangement of things do not encourage creativity. Everything seems 'doctored' to me - the usual Singaporean style. Or maybe, my thinking is just different.

[SAHM_TAN]

2ppaamm:

My thinking is that if you want to go, the sooner the better. The younger the child, the easier to integrate and soak up some good culture. More importantly, don't forget our upbringing as Singaporeans, remember not to learn the wrong things, specifically soft parenting. And, never allow the kids to slip into laziness. Work hard, but not for 'A's only, study, but more importantly learn. Work for results, but work more for passion. I think these are important.


I hear about Singapore students' deficiency on a daily basis, from the top of the university and they publicly laugh at the way our students write. Overseas universities and local universities puzzle at how 'narrow' our students are. What a shame. So what's the point of having straights 'A's on the 'A' level cert. Don't know why no matter how I tell and cautioin, few people can hear me. GO girl! Be different. You kids will be thankful. :rahrah:

Is it possible to study locally and not be narrow? Is it possible to strike the balance of getting good results and yet not fall into the trap of what you have posted?

I do not know if I have the wisdom to guide my children. How to let them learn to control their answers during exams and be free in their thinking outside of school curriculum? Frankly speaking, the only resource I have is books. There will be no overseas exposure for them, I'm afraid. Will see how it all turn out.

Thank you for your sharing.

[2ppaamm]

SAHM_TAN:

Is it possible to study locally and not be narrow? Is it possible to strike the balance of getting good results and yet not fall into the trap of what you have posted?

I do not know if I have the wisdom to guide my children. How to let them learn to control their answers during exams and be free in their thinking outside of school curriculum? Frankly speaking, the only resource I have is books. There will be no overseas exposure for them, I'm afraid. Will see how it all turn out.

Thank you for your sharing.

If you choose to be different in schools, then you will never really be the top in class (because you choose not to write what your teacher thinks examples given in previous post) or you will never be teachers' pet. If you have a view of your own, you are never given credits. I remember my JC Chinese teacher scored me highest in school for my first composition in her class, then she failed the rest of my compositions because my views were always radical and I always injected humor in my writing. She didn't like it. She wanted me to write like her! I rebelled of course lah.

Having said that, I have a few students who are really good, and recently, I met up with a few who recently graduated. They think out of the box, speak up and also develop great confidence. If they find the right mentor in the university, if they dare to break out from the mold they were set into for the last 18 years, then they will be different. These are minorities. However, there are so many of these 'molded' kids who survive well, at least in the past. They belong to the govt sectors, administration, and become teachers. They are fine... until our world globalizes and they are squeezed out. Singaporeans have traditionally worked out well in this system, but we've forgotten the world has shrunk, and this won't work anymore with the world competing and human resources become less and less borderless. The government seems to know, though, so they import talents. So Singaporeans, where should we go?

I remember my professor invited me to lunch 10 years ago. He asked me how to help his charges become creative. I told him I don't know, because for 18 years of our lives, we were told not to be too creative. I only became creative because I don't belong and didn't mind being punished year in year out. And that's the problem in the unis, we are given students who need so much guidance to think, to speak their minds and write their thoughts. These basic things are what overseas students do day in day out in their high schools. To be honest, overseas students are much better:
1. Vietnamese have fire in their bellies and technically sound.
2. Chinese are entrepreneurial and good engineers and mathematicians.
3. Filipinos can present and work really hard.
4. Indonesians have connections and rich parents with big businesses they can carry forward.
5. Malaysians have business skills and people skills and willing to study hard.
6. Australians have fantastic marketing skills and talk really well.
7. Americans are creative and can speak their thoughts to bluff everyone.
8. Myanmar students can take hardship and willing to do anything to achieve their goals.
9. Indians are technical gurus and talk/politics till the cows come home.
10. Singaporeans students, mostly too soft and do not have a view.

At least in our generation, when we went overseas, we were kings in maths, engineering and finance stuff. Now, the Indians and Chinese overtake us. Marketing/innovation wise, we cannot match the Ang mos....

We survived for so long, but how long will we survive with the world shrinking, everyone laugh at us, how come we don't know? Even when we know, how come we are not doing anything about it? Why do we just keep bragging we have the best education in the world, when we know deep inside it is not the education system, but tutors and parents who have fueled the artificially good pre-high school results. Why did no one question our high school students' abilities, or our universities' standing, or even why our own universities see better research students in overseas students? Or why do we not have nobel prize winners? Why do we not have great corporations? Why do we not have breakthrough inventions? Are we a society that has become contented with being mediocre?