DSA Appeal 2011

[jtoh]

yamatomato:

Jtoh dun understand your analogy of the durian trees.

It's okay. Not everyone gets it.

[clayman]

jtoh:

I believe both RGS and NYGH have informed students with DSA COs of the new MOE directive and have turned them away. I think RGS has also clearly stated this on their website. RI is the one school I know which has asked parents to put in their appeals.

I know of one boy who accepted ACSI CO, scored 27* for PSLE but was turned away by RI when he appealed.

[wonderm]

jtoh:

Hhmm... So if my neighbour has this durian tree laden with the best fruits of the season leaves his gate open, it's okay for me to go over and help myself to the durians? After all he didn't tell me I couldn't right? It's his own fault for not locking the gate.

I like your analogy. To stretch it, if I am a thief breaking into someone's house, can I blame him for not using a better lock - making it so easy for me to break in?

It is so easy to put the blame on others rather than self reflection.

[jtoh]

clayman:

jtoh:

I believe both RGS and NYGH have informed students with DSA COs of the new MOE directive and have turned them away. I think RGS has also clearly stated this on their website. RI is the one school I know which has asked parents to put in their appeals.

I know of one boy who accepted ACSI CO, scored 27* for PSLE but was turned away by RI when he appealed.

This year? That's the first sign of RI's response to DSA COs. So far, we've only heard of those without COs being turned away. Guess they're done with the S1 Postings and moving through the COs now.

[pepper spice]

wonderm:

jtoh:

Hhmm... So if my neighbour has this durian tree laden with the best fruits of the season leaves his gate open, it's okay for me to go over and help myself to the durians? After all he didn't tell me I couldn't right? It's his own fault for not locking the gate.

I like your analogy. To stretch it, if I am a thief breaking into someone's house, can I blame him for not using a better lock - making it so easy for me to break in?

It is so easy to put the blame on others rather than self reflection.

每个人心里都有一把尺。。。
得饶人处且饶人。。。

[Alchemist]

wonderm:

jtoh:

Hhmm... So if my neighbour has this durian tree laden with the best fruits of the season leaves his gate open, it's okay for me to go over and help myself to the durians? After all he didn't tell me I couldn't right? It's his own fault for not locking the gate.

I like your analogy. To stretch it, if I am a thief breaking into someone's house, can I blame him for not using a better lock - making it so easy for me to break in?

It is so easy to put the blame on others rather than self reflection.

Well this analogy can be looked both ways. If you were to claim insurance for the loss of your goods - then you will not be paid. Since you are expected to take due care in securing your goods/durians (whatever). By leaving your door open - you are causing a moral hazard.

There is culpability on MOE's part as well. They did not even inform the schools well ahead. Why otherwise would SST which is only supposed to admit via DSA have post PSLE application process? By right all places should be taken and settled right? It shows they were expecting transfers. It just shows, MOE has not communicated clearly to the schools. The schools failed to communicate *effectively* to parents - ie explicitly state past year practice not to be relied on.

There is a moral issue here - no doubt. MOE made it possible for this to happen. Well - given they are the government they can do anything they want - but they cannot be absolved from perpetuating this situation.

[Chenonceau]

MOE made it possible for parents to be immoral because it didn't have an explicit rule for the situation? :? Why would you blame a government for treating you like an adult who can be trusted to know what is right and wrong?


We're always saying our government is paternalistic, and for once when there is some flexibility, people have gone ahead to game the system to such a large extent that it becomes acceptable to dishonor a commitment. It's almost like in some other countries, corruption is a way of life. This is not MOE's fault. It's because Singaporeans are such children that we must be told exactly what we should and should not do.

In yet other countries, newpapers were placed unlocked on a stand and people left money whenever they took a paper, because it was the right thing to do... and out of respect/trust for their clientele, vendors leave the papers out for easy access. It is not called \"allowing clients to be immoral\". It is called \"respecting and trusting clients\". I always tell my kids that if they don't set their own limits, I will step in to set them, and I sure never give any warning. This is exactly what MOE has done.

I am guessing that in line with the new drive to have MORE good schools, MOE wishes to distribute top talent amongst the various good schools. As such, the 4 top schools are not allowed to poach talent which has signed on to other schools. The upside for parents is that if you've a very high t-score, you'll be on that school's watch list, and have your pick of the developmental opportunities the school has to offer. A bit like being in the best class in P5 and P6. This can work out better for your kid than having to compete with the rest of the best for such opportunities? The school will probably pay extra attention to your child because your child is their shining beacon of hope for glory.

[tisha]

What abt the moral responsibility of the school who accept and process DSA CO appeal? What is the message that they are giving? Yes, we know there is such and such a rule, but who cares?


I tend to agree with Alchemist, it is the communication that is missing. If the parents had been warned and still they decided to take the risk, then of course they have to live with it and can't cry foul now. But if there was no such communication and they had previously seen it being done left and right then we really shouldn't be bashing them on moral grounds.

[carebear]

jtoh:

Hhmm... So if my neighbour has this durian tree laden with the best fruits of the season leaves his gate open, it's okay for me to go over and help myself to the durians? After all he didn't tell me I couldn't right? It's his own fault for not locking the gate.

That's different as trespassing is an offence.

However if my neighbour's tree extended into my compound and the durian fell into my garden, I think there is no harm eating it.

[Chenonceau]

tisha:

What abt the moral responsibility of the school who accept and process DSA CO appeal? What is the message that they are giving? Yes, we know there is such and such a rule, but who cares?

Tisha... welcome back. Congrats on your son's entry to SJI. It must have been hard on you this year.

Yup! The top 4 schools were greedy for talent. Now the top 4 have to learn to share. On the whole, I think that MOE is finally flexing its muscles after years of giving schools the autonomy to exactly what they want, especially the top 4. At the end of the day, MOE is accountable for schools' actions.

It is unseemly that schools compete so hard amongst themselves in everything... to the extent even of keeping teaching resources confidential. I see this as a first step of a more equitable distribution of talent and resources.

Parents should not worry. If your kid was good enough in CCA to DSA and got a high t-score, I doubt that either school or MOE will allow your child to languish given that our country has this deep fascination for grooming the best to be the best they can be.