Child Underperforms Because Tested Above Cognitive Level

[janet88]

concern2:

beanbear:

Each of us needs to take small actions of courage in a system that has been well-oiled to get compliance from not just students but parents as well. The word \"compulsory\" is already enough to trigger fears of even the smartest parent.

When we speak up or act to move against the tide, we are also standing up against our own fears.

:goodpost:

I find the whole supplementary thing at P5 a waste of time. As such, I decided to pull my son out of it this year. The word 'compulsory' is to instill fear in parents...if we bear the responsibility of our kids' PSLE preparation and coach them, I believe we can tell the school our decision.

[concern2]

janet_lee88:

concern2:

[quote=\"beanbear\"]
Each of us needs to take small actions of courage in a system that has been well-oiled to get compliance from not just students but parents as well. The word \"compulsory\" is already enough to trigger fears of even the smartest parent.

When we speak up or act to move against the tide, we are also standing up against our own fears.

:goodpost:

I find the whole supplementary thing at P5 a waste of time. As such, I decided to pull my son out of it this year. The word 'compulsory' is to instill fear in parents...if we bear the responsibility of our kids' PSLE preparation and coach them, I believe we can tell the school our decision.[/quote]Wow. I am visualizing the headlines when the PSLE results are out: \"Student withdrew from supplementary classes in school to do self-study Tops the cohort\"

Can imagine what all the rest of the parents will start doing. But then, it will never get past the editor (perhaps)

[Chenonceau]

It's amazing isn't it. Our MOE thinks it is world class when...

(1) its textbooks look like chick lit
(2) it makes each school write its own teaching resources
(3) it recruits sex fiends
(4) it drives our children to meet KPIs, and when a few of them make it in US varsities, it congratulates itself.

Wow... MOE's top civil servants have delusions of grandeur.

[janet88]

No need to top the whole cohort, but topping the kids in the top classes in the school is good enough.


MOE is blind to us. When kids of top guns do well (maybe some don't and get sent overseas), will they bother with our kids ? We still have to attend mainstream, not international schools. We pay money to tutors to teach our kids what the school teachers should be doing. When our kids do well, school gets the glory. Amazing :slapshead:

[Chenonceau]

janet_lee88:

No need to top the whole cohort, but topping the kids in the top classes in the school is good enough.


MOE is blind to us. When kids of top guns do well (maybe some don't and get sent overseas), will they bother with our kids ? We still have to attend mainstream, not international schools. We pay money to tutors to teach our kids what the school teachers should be doing. When our kids do well, school gets the glory. Amazing :slapshead:

Their delusions of grandeur are founded upon parents/tutors' success at enriching kids.

[PiggyLalala]

autumnbronze:

Chenonceau:

MOE is in a single country. It's Teachers don't share teaching resources. It's schools don't share teaching resources. [color=#800000][b]Why?
MOE has been sleeping all these years, and it still thinks it is world class. MOE management was busy getting Teachers to serve that it forgot that they need to serve the Teachers too.

Nice read :hugs:

I love the significance of the word 'empowerment'. I always use this word to motivate my pupils.

Chen,

Hope I am reading this correctly.

As to why teachers and schs are not sharing resources, it's due to
competition, insecurity of the people in question and KPIs. Thats what I observed during my time.

Whether KPIs are achieved or not, there has to be justification. And believe me, no one wants to produce a negative justification.

On a separate note, I came across in one of your postings where you questioned why teachers with passion are not being promoted. Well, its pretty obvious - they are not there to wayang and suck up to the 'right' people. Again, these are based on my personal observations. There was a teacher who always did the wayang during her lesson observations and presentations. She did well. So well that recently I heard that she has been posted to MOE. And these are the sort of people who will be spearheading MOE's policies .... Imagine that! *gasp*


I never said there weren't any bad apples in the teaching profession

Are we expecting too much from the teachers to ask them to share their resources? Teachers have many KPIs to achieve and one of it is likely to be the academic performance of their students in the national exam like PSLE and 'O' level. It is also not very fair for the teachers who have spent a lot of time and effort to come up with the right resources for her students and to share with schools and yet is not rewarded for her time and effort.

Teachers need to explain to their HODs why they fail to achieve certain KPIs and what are the followup actions ( which means more work). I think it is then quite normal for teachers who have come up with the correct resources to hope that her students would do well in the exam. (yes maybe to the extent of being selfish not to share the resources with other schools )

I think instead of faulting these diligent teachers and schools, we may want to question those schools that did not come up with their own resources to help their own students. I'm sure they are aware of the good resources that their neighbouring schools are using. Can't they also come up with a set of useful resources for their students. I think all schools should be assessed based on the resources ( not only the program ) that they have for their students.

I believed all schools will have some very experienced and senior teachers. These teachers in each level can be assigned to write suitable resource to help their pupils. These teachers with their extra duties will then given lesser teaching periods or no CCA.

Just my 2cents. Please do not :spank: me.

[Chenonceau]

PiggyLalala:

autumnbronze:

[quote=\"Chenonceau\"]
MOE is in a single country. It's Teachers don't share teaching resources. It's schools don't share teaching resources. [color=#800000][b]Why?
MOE has been sleeping all these years, and it still thinks it is world class. MOE management was busy getting Teachers to serve that it forgot that they need to serve the Teachers too.

Nice read :hugs:

I love the significance of the word 'empowerment'. I always use this word to motivate my pupils.

Chen,

Hope I am reading this correctly.

As to why teachers and schs are not sharing resources, it's due to
competition, insecurity of the people in question and KPIs. Thats what I observed during my time.

Whether KPIs are achieved or not, there has to be justification. And believe me, no one wants to produce a negative justification.

On a separate note, I came across in one of your postings where you questioned why teachers with passion are not being promoted. Well, its pretty obvious - they are not there to wayang and suck up to the 'right' people. Again, these are based on my personal observations. There was a teacher who always did the wayang during her lesson observations and presentations. She did well. So well that recently I heard that she has been posted to MOE. And these are the sort of people who will be spearheading MOE's policies .... Imagine that! *gasp*


I never said there weren't any bad apples in the teaching profession

Are we expecting too much from the teachers to ask them to share their resources? Teachers have many KPIs to achieve and one of it is likely to be the academic performance of their students in the national exam like PSLE and 'O' level. It is also not very fair for the teachers who have spent a lot of time and effort to come up with the right resources for her students and to share with schools and yet is not rewarded for her time and effort.

Teachers need to explain to their HODs why they fail to achieve certain KPIs and what are the followup actions ( which means more work). I think it is then quite normal for teachers who have come up with the correct resources to hope that her students would do well in the exam. (yes maybe to the extent of being selfish not to share the resources with other schools )

I think instead of faulting these diligent teachers and schools, we may want to question those schools that did not come up with their own resources to help their own students. I'm sure they are aware of the good resources that their neighbouring schools are using. Can't they also come up with a set of useful resources for their students. I think all schools should be assessed based on the resources ( not only the program ) that they have for their students.

I believed all schools will have some very experienced and senior teachers. These teachers in each level can be assigned to write suitable resource to help their pupils. These teachers with their extra duties will then given lesser teaching periods or no CCA.

Just my 2cents. Please do not :spank: me.[/quote]

Nobody is faulting teachers. You must have misread.

There is such a thing as efficient use of resources. If resources are scarce, and we are told they are, then sharing ensures that everyone can access good resources.

It is ridiculous to have schools compete, and in that competition, guard their resources jealously. How would Apple Computer survive if each subsidiary in each country refused to share and help others? Divided, the schools are each weak. It is the rare single school that has that one talent to write top notch resources. This talent can be used at MOE level to write for all schools.

I am really sorry but this is the first time I hear that sharing is bad when resources are scarce. The schools are here to educate the nation's children. They are not here to earn their own glory, and to that end, guard their resources jealously. They are not here to own their resources.

When I was a consultant, all that I developed was the intellectual property of the company. Whatever I did HAD to be shared. One had no choice. When I left the company, I couldn't even use what I developed. It was not mine, because I couldn't have developed it without the eco-system that was existent in the company. I had help. I had inspiration. I had data. I had cases. All from the company. If I was good enough for my work to be picked up by other countries and used, I would be known in the network and might one day make it to Practice Leader.

[Daddy D]

http://www.facebook.com/Singaporetalking?sk=wall&filter=2


\"Singapore Talking
Apple Co-founder Steve Wozniak states that uniformity and structure in our society makes it difficult for Singapore to produce artistic and sporting talents. How true do you think this is? And to what extent should Singapore promote alternative routes of education in sports and the arts. Tune in to Singapore Talking tomorrow (Sunday 19/2) at 1030pm on Channel 5 to find out.\"

FYI... :celebrate:

[PiggyLalala]

Chenonceau:

MOE has been sleeping all these years, and it still thinks it is world class. MOE management was busy getting Teachers to serve that it forgot that they need to serve the Teachers too.

Totally agree with you that MOE need to serve the TEACHERS too. These days, I have been hearing from my friends who are in the teaching profession that they need to go back to school in the evening for the night study program. I wondered what are the working hours for teachers NOW. Principals/MOE are expecting more and more. Teachers also have their kids and family to take care of. Their own kids need to take exam too.

[Chenonceau]

PiggyLalala:

Chenonceau:

MOE has been sleeping all these years, and it still thinks it is world class. MOE management was busy getting Teachers to serve that it forgot that they need to serve the Teachers too.

Totally agree with you that MOE need to serve the TEACHERS too. These days, I have been hearing from my friends who are in the teaching profession that they need to go back to school in the evening for the night study program. I wondered what are the working hours for teachers NOW. Principals/MOE are expecting more and more. Teachers also have their kids and family to take care of. Their own kids need to take exam too.

It's easy to squeeze teachers. They have no power.