Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

[autolycus]

CSN:

Haha, when I asked my boy recently what is it that he likes about the school, he told me that he likes it because his general feeling is that a lot of the students (he did not say teachers) are slackers like him and he simply loves it! On a serious note, I am really getting worried :oops: as I was hoping he could be surrounded by the more diligent ones to have some positive influence so I cannot place too much hope in that? Are the ones in the \"O\" level track a lot more \"slack\" than the IB track? That seems to be what I hear from other parents. Autolycus, would appreciate your sharing given your initmate knowledge of the school and its ethos. Thanks.

I suspect the ACSian culture is not overly given to hard work. That's not meant to be an euphemism for 'lazy', but it does mean that ACSians try to find intelligent ways toward achieving excellence. Grinding it out is the last resort (what the computing people call 'brute force methodology'). It's not that ACSians aren't diligent; given a task that is meaningful and to which they can contribute whole-heartedly, they will plunge whole-heartedly into it.

The problem is that some students don't see this intelligently. They see the 'low effort, high standard' outcome without seeing the 'thought very hard about how to reduce time and material expenditure' that came before the 'low effort, high standard'. So they slack and find themselves in trouble.

One way to think of it is that study is all about catching up on the process of digesting new learning, then constructing one's own knowledge-base. Do a summary of the week's work and link it to the previous week's work, every weekend. Keep proper files and re-read them, trimming and rewriting notes now and then so that they shrink in volume. By the time you need to revise for exams, you can slack at the 6-hours-per-day-for-five-days rate and emerge with flying colours. But that's because of the regular low-level work done.

The 'bad slack' culture can also arise from excessive machismo — the I'm-too-macho-to-study approach. It's infectious and dangerous, and that's why I end up with truly last-minute emergency cases all the time. Don't be afraid to reward consistent work which doesn't quite produce excellent results, or to punish lack of work. But whatever measures are taken, they must be seen to be fair.

If a student does very well without seemingly having done any work, then my approach is 'good lah, keep it up'. But I'm not effusive unless the product is outstanding or the effort is tremendous. After a while, you can calibrate your own approach. But whatever it is, show positive appreciation of positives and negative appreciation of negatives in fair measure.

I always think of Tharman Shanmugaratnam. His teachers said he could be slack too. But he knows when not to be slack.

[CSN]

Hi Autolycus, Many thanks for sharing and your advice. Was hoping I can take a more hands-off approach in sec sch but think will still have to remind and nudge a fair bit to ensure it does not deteriorate into a \"bad slack\". Once again, much appreciated. :thankyou:

[Blur Dad]

autolycus:

Blur Dad:

I understand there will be a GEP camp from 28th - 30th March. May I know what this camp is all about? Is it for GEP students only? Who in ACS(I) are GEP students? Base on class or GEP status from primary school? Who can attend this camp?


Hope someone can help.

Thank you

ACS(I) was one of the first secondary GEP centres and the last to carry an official GEP class. Currently it runs SBGEP (school-based GEP). The GEP camp has been a tradition for more than 20 years now, a short annual enrichment experience which teachers plan around a given theme. Each year's camp is meant to bring together the current ACS(I) GEP students from Year 1 to Year 4 for some time together, while also providing separate events for each year.

Hi autolycus

May I ask, you mentioned \"current ACS(I) GEP students from Year 1 to Year 4\", may I know those ACS(I) GEP students are those study in IP GEP class? Or those GEP students who still holding the GEP status from primary school?

[autolycus]

Blur Dad:

Hi autolycus


May I ask, you mentioned \"current ACS(I) GEP students from Year 1 to Year 4\", may I know those ACS(I) GEP students are those study in IP GEP class? Or those GEP students who still holding the GEP status from primary school?

GEP status doesn't continue over unless you're in a GEP or SBGEP class in secondary school. So it would be for those in any of the current GEP classes.

[Blur Dad]

autolycus:

Blur Dad:

Hi autolycus


May I ask, you mentioned \"current ACS(I) GEP students from Year 1 to Year 4\", may I know those ACS(I) GEP students are those study in IP GEP class? Or those GEP students who still holding the GEP status from primary school?

GEP status doesn't continue over unless you're in a GEP or SBGEP class in secondary school. So it would be for those in any of the current GEP classes.

Thank you for your reply.

May I know which class in year one is GEP class? Is it Class 1.12 and Class 1.13?

Am I right to say that all students in those 2 classes will attend the GEP camp and other students in Class 1.14 - Class 1.17 are not invited to attend the camp even they are GEP students in Primary school?

[UncleLim]

CSN:

Haha, when I asked my boy recently what is it that he likes about the school, he told me that he likes it because his general feeling is that a lot of the students (he did not say teachers) are slackers like him and he simply loves it! On a serious note, I am really getting worried :oops: as I was hoping he could be surrounded by the more diligent ones to have some positive influence so I cannot place too much hope in that? Are the ones in the \"O\" level track a lot more \"slack\" than the IB track? That seems to be what I hear from other parents. Autolycus, would appreciate your sharing given your initmate knowledge of the school and its ethos. Thanks.

Slack ?? I am happy to hear that !! :imcool:

Finally there is time for them to have a real education other than just going through drills like in primary school ! :imdrowning:

[Blur Dad]

UncleLim:

CSN:

Haha, when I asked my boy recently what is it that he likes about the school, he told me that he likes it because his general feeling is that a lot of the students (he did not say teachers) are slackers like him and he simply loves it! On a serious note, I am really getting worried :oops: as I was hoping he could be surrounded by the more diligent ones to have some positive influence so I cannot place too much hope in that? Are the ones in the \"O\" level track a lot more \"slack\" than the IB track? That seems to be what I hear from other parents. Autolycus, would appreciate your sharing given your initmate knowledge of the school and its ethos. Thanks.

Slack ?? I am happy to hear that !! :imcool:

Finally there is time for them to have a real education other than just going through drills like in primary school ! :imdrowning:

Slack?? Maybe there were less homework for term one. No project work yet. Only some work sheets and class tests. However, DS come back home almost 7pm everyday besides Thu, he looks more tire then in primary school.

[autolycus]

Blur Dad:

May I know which class in year one is GEP class? Is it Class 1.12 and Class 1.13?

Am I right to say that all students in those 2 classes will attend the GEP camp and other students in Class 1.14 - Class 1.17 are not invited to attend the camp even they are GEP students in Primary school?

All current GEP students are invited to attend the GEP camp. Students who are not currently GEP students will not attend the camp.

Offhand I cannot remember which classes are Exp/GEP, IP/GEP, IP/non-GEP — but I know 1.12 and 1.13 are GEP classes and the IP extends to 1.17 this year, if I'm not wrong.

[ngbrdad]

autolycus:

Blur Dad:

May I know which class in year one is GEP class? Is it Class 1.12 and Class 1.13?

Am I right to say that all students in those 2 classes will attend the GEP camp and other students in Class 1.14 - Class 1.17 are not invited to attend the camp even they are GEP students in Primary school?

All current GEP students are invited to attend the GEP camp. Students who are not currently GEP students will not attend the camp.

Offhand I cannot remember which classes are Exp/GEP, IP/GEP, IP/non-GEP — but I know 1.12 and 1.13 are GEP classes and the IP extends to 1.17 this year, if I'm not wrong.

What about those in the O level track ? The students are scattered over many different classes but are all still on the MOE GEP grant.

I also find my son to be having a really good time right now but he has always been a slacker throughout his academic life so far anyway.
Maybe after the beginning of CCA he will have more things to do.

His St John Ambulance activities are on Friday but so far no news on debate club activities yet.

I guess skipping 3rd language all together and not doing HMT really give his quite a lot of extra free time.

[jtoh]

autolycus:

Blur Dad:

May I know which class in year one is GEP class? Is it Class 1.12 and Class 1.13?

Am I right to say that all students in those 2 classes will attend the GEP camp and other students in Class 1.14 - Class 1.17 are not invited to attend the camp even they are GEP students in Primary school?

All current GEP students are invited to attend the GEP camp. Students who are not currently GEP students will not attend the camp.

Offhand I cannot remember which classes are Exp/GEP, IP/GEP, IP/non-GEP — but I know 1.12 and 1.13 are GEP classes and the IP extends to 1.17 this year, if I'm not wrong.

I'm surprised that ACSI still holds such GEP-based programmes. Don't think that happens in other schools.