Parents, not enrichment centres, are key to result

[2ppaamm]

Chenonceau:

2ppaamm, you have PM.

Thanks, just replied.

[Chenonceau]

concern2:

Chenonceau:

Other parents who want kids to do household chores, weed the garden, rot at home... can then choose to stay IN level and be normal. We cannot all be Einstein, nor do we want to.

You are so sarcastic!

Oh dear... I did not mean to be sarcastic. I meant myself. I want my kids to do household chores and weed the garden and play like siao with the neighbours making paper guns that look like the real thing.

I'm not sarcastic. I want that for my kids. I know if I push them and hothouse them, they'll be able to do well even if standards are high. In another country, they should even be able to skip levels (if I push them) but I dun wanna. The time you channel into academic development is taken away from OTHER areas of development that are not measurable but very important.

It's a choice. Now I have no choice but to hothouse or watch my son FAIL.

[concern2]

2ppaamm:

concern2:

[quote=\"2ppaamm\"]I got stoned for it before, so never ever going to bring this up to a minister ever again. :spank:

Can you elaborate on this? I mean - is there any minimum age that a child is allowed to take PSLE? If one can 'jump' grade, then I am sure there is more incentive for children to work so hard. If not, there'll just be mugging and wasting their childhood (in my opinion since grades alone doesn't motivate me). Many kids have the desire to learn, and they are naturally bright. If they could be given a chance to 'move on', imagine how much more they would accomplish - going straight to tertiary education, which is the more interesting part (JMHO)

I agree with you totally. By next month, 4 of my kids would have made it to uni, all by the age of 14. But like what Chen said, not everyone believes that's the right path for their kids, so choose yours wisely. I took at least 3 years to think through before sending my son to uni. I sort of regretted having sent him at 14, when he was ready at 11. Sometimes I wonder if things could have been better. Sometimes, I thought maybe I should have sent him at 17, then perhaps people will view him more 'normally', and stop treating him weird.

In essence, it is a decision a family has to make together, so do that, carefully. It is hard to be different in a society, and there is a price to pay for being different.

If you want to follow MOE's acceleration plan, and if your kid fit the system, here's a link to help you start. http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/programmes/gifted-education-programme/faq/exceptionally-gifted/

I think I OT already. :offtopic:[/quote]2ppaamm, you're cool! :udawoman: :udaman:

Seriously, I've never thought of doing that, cos my kids are just ordinary kids. I only know of too many parents who push their kids to the limits, trying to achieve that one or two more points.

It is true of what you say, and thanks for the link - so can parents who wish to accelerate your kids please move your kids up so we can have more room to have a life? :rotflmao:

[concern2]

Chenonceau:

concern2:

[quote=\"Chenonceau\"]
Other parents who want kids to do household chores, weed the garden, rot at home... can then choose to stay IN level and be normal. We cannot all be Einstein, nor do we want to.

You are so sarcastic!

Oh dear... I did not mean to be sarcastic. I meant myself. I want my kids to do household chores and weed the garden and play like siao with the neighbours making paper guns that look like the real thing.

I'm not sarcastic. I want that for my kids. I know if I push them and hothouse them, they'll be able to do well even if standards are high. In another country, they should even be able to skip levels (if I push them) but I dun wanna. The time you channel into academic development is taken away from OTHER areas of development that are not measurable but very important.

It's a choice. Now I have no choice but to hothouse or watch my son FAIL.[/quote]
Okie, looks like we're on the same boat... :evil:

[2ppaamm]

concern2:

Seriously, I've never thought of doing that, cos my kids are just ordinary kids. I only know of too many parents who push their kids to the limits, trying to achieve that one or two more points.

It is true of what you say, and thanks for the link - so can parents who wish to accelerate your kids please move your kids up so we can have more room to have a life? :rotflmao:

This is so funny! :rotflmao: Many want to, I believe, but MOE is very sticky. Hm... never thought of it this way...

Like I mentioned, sometimes I thought it might have been better if my kids stayed with their age peers... Accelerated/gifted kids are often ostracized. They are special needs, too. Many forget.

[Chenonceau]

2ppaamm:

concern2:

Seriously, I've never thought of doing that, cos my kids are just ordinary kids. I only know of too many parents who push their kids to the limits, trying to achieve that one or two more points.

It is true of what you say, and thanks for the link - so can parents who wish to accelerate your kids please move your kids up so we can have more room to have a life? :rotflmao:

This is so funny! :rotflmao: Many want to, I believe, but MOE is very sticky. Hm... never thought of it this way...

Like I mentioned, sometimes I thought it might have been better if my kids stayed with their age peers... Accelerated/gifted kids are often ostracized. They are special needs, too. Many forget.

Mine are normal kids with an abnormal childhood.

[corneyAmber]

concern2:

2ppaamm:

I got stoned for it before, so never ever going to bring this up to a minister ever again. :spank:

Can you elaborate on this? I mean - is there any minimum age that a child is allowed to take PSLE? If one can 'jump' grade, then I am sure there is more incentive for children to work so hard. If not, there'll just be mugging and wasting their childhood (in my opinion since grades alone doesn't motivate me). Many kids have the desire to learn, and they are naturally bright. If they could be given a chance to 'move on', imagine how much more they would accomplish - going straight to tertiary education, which is the more interesting part (JMHO)

Why can't we use their childhood to do other things instead of academic pursuit? Even if they graduate early, can they be employed or employed by parents who are rich? Children should enjoy learning as it is, not be given incentive to jump grades to enjoy learning. This is parents' incentive for motivation(see their children 'grow' faster), definitely not children. Children are contented as long as learning is fun. Accomplishment is not measured by academic progress alone....... If ONE most important thing to get a child to latch on immediately using the free time they have is to learn the values to bring one from Good to Great. We have too many 'Good's amongst us, in advanced learning and academic pursuit, but 'Great' is rarer than the extinct dodo. :sad:

[corneyAmber]

Chenonceau:

concern2:

[quote=\"Chenonceau\"]
Other parents who want kids to do household chores, weed the garden, rot at home... can then choose to stay IN level and be normal. We cannot all be Einstein, nor do we want to.

You are so sarcastic!

Oh dear... I did not mean to be sarcastic. I meant myself. I want my kids to do household chores and weed the garden and play like siao with the neighbours making paper guns that look like the real thing.

I'm not sarcastic. I want that for my kids. I know if I push them and hothouse them, they'll be able to do well even if standards are high. In another country, they should even be able to skip levels (if I push them) but I dun wanna. The time you channel into academic development is taken away from OTHER areas of development that are not measurable but very important.

It's a choice. Now I have no choice but to hothouse or watch my son FAIL.[/quote]I am certain she is not sarcastic, she is consistent with her views.
As for the line in bold, I sincerely feel that accelerated kids are trading away many other things in life and the sad part is, in most case, parents decide for them. 2ppaamm's case is more exceptional than norm.

[jedamum]

concern2:

Chenonceau:

[quote=\"concern2\"]If P1 students can do P3, P4, or even higher level work, even passing these exams, why aren't they in that level? Why can't they be allowed to graduate earlier, and pursue other things in life?

There are really really bright kids. There really are. There are also parents who WANT this kind of academic acceleration. These kids should be allowed to go up to whatever level they wanna shoot for and can handle... instead of bringing up the standards at every level to chase after these kids.

Yes, this is along my train of thoughts.

Even those kids who might not be of einstein substance, if their parents are able to propel them to handle higher level work (which many are doing), what is the reason to stop them? Go to the higher level, learn with the older students who may know as much as you do, and cope at that level.[/quote]i don't quite follow the discussion, but something caught my attention (the part on allowing able kids to go up to whatever level they wanna shoot for and can handle)....ie if MOE decides to let all GEPpers join sec sch without waiting for them to turn 13 or letting them take PSLE cos they cleared GEP's min. set criteria, how many parents will make noise?

hope i didn't take the statement out of context...

[DesertWind]

janet_lee88:

It is absolutely crazy that school teachers are not able to help kids pass exams...I am stupid where math is concerned...son flunked maths last year for CA1 and SA1...(p5)...hubby doesn't know how to coach him...if not for my neighbor who recommended math tutor, he would have failed SA2 as well. I just cannot understand why education system has become like this :stompfeet: all the algebra we were once taught can be returned to the teacher since it cannot be used to teach our own kids anymore.

Hi janet,

Have you been dealt with the P5 blow dished out by the school? I read from other forumners that apparently schools are now scaring the wits out of the kids/parents during P5 to make them \"wake up\" and prep. for PSLE!

As for algebra, I thought last time we only learn from secondary school onwards? I like algebra, very useful until this day!

Good that your boy has found the right help and is alright now!