North Vista Primary
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I also read about the Science curriculum and worksheets. Since one parent came to verify that the curriculum is actually posted somewhere, perhaps, it's our own ignorance that led to our own unhappiness. So, the school did communicate and explained, but we were not aware. How come? I missed some briefing sessions, and perhaps, these were the ones I should not have missed at all. Did you attend? Or did you choose not to attend? Is covering every page of the book important anyway? Thee are questions I ask myself. :?
One of the parents in the school mentioned that she values the project work the school has given. There are often, short projects and longer term projects that the kids need to work on. These projects project a real world to the kids, that in life, they often need to work with others on a given task. Although these are not tested and examinable in PSLE, I applaud the school for its initiative. The real test in our kids' lives is not PSLE, but survival in a world which we might not even know of right now. When I was a kid, gaming was viewed as a hobby, never as an occupation. Internet was scarce and probably for the richer lot, but look at internet usage now. Look at how fast technology is changing. Look at the kinds of jobs created in the market today. Many of these do not even exist a decade ago. Our kids will be out in a decade's time. What will they be? What do we want them to be? Is it enough just to score A stars in PSLE and get into good sec schools? Will this guarantee them success in life? I think the norms are changing, at a very fast pace than we are willing to accept or face it. The process of learning is just as important as the product. If we parents don't change our mindset, MOE will continue to 'please' us and use the tested method - exams and paper chase. Is that, honestly, what we want? :idea:
I'm sorry for sounding so philosophical. I can't help feeling sad that I have to put my kids through a system which I despise.
I can't beat the system, but I know I have that little influence of what I can choose NOT to do to my kids. No enrichment, no tuition, no homework on weekends. Sometimes, I even tell my kids the homework can wait, not that it's not important, just not urgent. We will get it done, and we need to inform the teacher we need more time. I found a strand of white hair on my girl's head, and that freaked me out. Is she stressed? Is she coping well? I don't need my kids to go through what I did, studied and excelled in exams, and that stops just in schools and in exam papers. Kids need a childhood. I want my kids to have a childhood, explore different interests, swim, exercise, socialise. When they do something wrong, need something, they need to earn it, not ask for it. They need to learn to deal with tough situations, and sort them out themselves. When they quarrel with their friends, are isolated, when they meet with tough issues like long queues during recess time, they need to learn how to work around it, not depend on me to complain and get it all sorted out for them. I don't believe the schools are out to torture our kids, they must have rationalise it and have their own reasons for doing so. I might not agree with the decision made, but I won't make it public or speak ill of the school in front of my kid. Anyway, she worked it out herself, managed her own time during recess, and sorted out her own problems in class. What is important is that she tells me, that I am aware, that she is willing to share with me. I give her tips, but she is the one to decide how she should best solve it. That's education for me. 
I just feel that taking a different approach to giving feedback to the school will be more workable.
I don't go in to tell them what they should do or what they have done wrong. Instead, I choose to trust the school first. When they sense my sincerity, they are more receptive to what I say. I am one to \"complain\" to the teachers about the amount of homework given. I don't allow my kids to do homework after seven. And really, that does translate into a couple of hours left after school. But the teachers listened to me, and the Principal understood my rationale. I understand from him that there are some parents who complained that work is not enough, but that's really subjective, isn't it? What is important is that the school knows they can trust me and take my feedback constructively, that I mean well rather than to criticize. They will listen and moderate. We give and take, sometimes, they do give more homework and I will \"close both my eyes\". I just tell my kid - submit later.
By the way, school holidays is a no-homework for me. It's a time for my kids to stay over a Grandma's, have parties, attend a short workshop e.g. cooking, dancing, learn a new skill, work on her project, but never to complete worksheets. The value of those worksheets is more diminished during the holidays. I know many of you might defend the value of homework, afterall, we were brought up that way, and we turned out fine. But what is different now is the way kids view homework and the engagement level they have with it. We might just kill their joy of learning. I read this book and I think you should try - the Homework Myth. Google and you will find an article somewhere too. Interesting point of view about what homework is all about.
Last note, as a parent, I want to respect how my child learns and wants to learn. I will make sure she is not disadvantaged in any way, and I trust all the schools in Singapore are doing their very best for every child. Whether it's PSLE or character development, they are all doing their best. I support my child in her learning, but I won't interfere. That's important to her- she understands the importance of schools as a valuable place of learning, regardless of the aims they have. Perhaps, parents whose kids are already in North Vista can reconsider placing some trust in what the school is doing. Look beyond the person and at the bigger aims it has. :imcool: -
Changing our perspective is often the simplest and most sound solution to all our problems. What was a problem initially might turn out not to be a blessing in disguise. It’s a matter of perspective.
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Oh, something about tuition... For those parents who have kids in tuition classes, please take things with a pinch of salt. The tuition teacher might not understand how the curriculum has been designed in North Vista, and when she makes a comment, we need to assess it before we escalate it. I used to be a tuition teacher in my early 20s, and really, it was easy to create a wedge between the parents and the schools, and have the parents on my side, believing in whatever I said / claimed. Often, I said them to make myself more important, more valuable and marketable, but in my heart, I know the schools, on the whole, are trying their best. It was really unethical then for me to say those things, but, come on, I was young and needed the cash :moneyflies: for my university fees honestly. Now that I have my own kids, I realise the importance of the relationship between the school and the parents. I like the environment in North Vista and many of the initiatives, quite different from what I had experienced. My kid is happy there :udawoman: , and is doing well. So I have no regrets so far. She's in P3 too. She is not doing well in Chinese, but I am really not concerned. This is just my view anyway. I know many will argue about the importance of Chinese to me. But I am not worried. My kid is not too. I just need her to pass it, and focus on what she likes to learn. I hope there won't be supplementary class in the upper primary, so that she will spend her afternoons more meaningfully. I don't like the idea of sending her to classes packed after school or in holidays.
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Your girl must be the happiest pupil in the school or in the world. You sound like you know the school very well. Are you a parent volunteer or something? You are such a ‘liberated’ mum. Surely everyone should be like you. If the teachers especially the school heads are like you and send their own kids to north vista, that will surely shut all these negative comments. But some of us parents know otherwise. Actions speak louder than words!
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I wish I had the time or energy to volunteer my services. I don’t know how the rest of the parents did it, those who could afford their time are probably rich people whose time is flexible. I’m a working parent, overworked in fact. I am sometimes a weekend parent, sad to say. Nevertheless, those thoughts are my own beliefs about education. I have had the opportunity to see several school systems, in Australia, USA, Europe n Asian countries n only ours is so exam n homework oriented. When I don’t agree with the school policies, I write in too to give my views. It’s up to them whether they take in my views. We see only limited perspectives of the school system, specifically based on the opportunities they have in interacting with us. So I am very careful in placing my judgement. In a company, many things have been considered n weighted before a decision is made. Not all decisions will please the staff or the customers but I’m sure they would have thought over it carefully. The accountability is theirs. I don’t know what goes on behind the facade in the school, do I don’t want to judge.
Liberated is not what I am. On the contrary, I’m a very traditional woman, meaning I believe in the roles n inequality of women n men on this planet. I just put myself in the shoes of my child, n reflect based on my own childhood. That gives me a guide to how I want to raise my kids n the kind of childhood they should have. I wish I could give them all I thought of, but time is not on my side.
I don’t know what experiences you had with the school, like I said, I trust what the school is doing, whether it’s north vista or otherwise. Based on the way our system is, no school would want to lose out. Maybe the methods are different. But who dares to oppose? Sometimes, what we see is not what the truth may be. Suspend judgement n seek to understand before we pass a sentence. It’s easy to claim n say the school is so n so. But a good relationship with the school will benefit our children too. At the end of the day, the choice is yours. -
tcs 2012:
Your girl must be the happiest pupil in the school or in the world. You sound like you know the school very well. Are you a parent volunteer or something? You are such a 'liberated' mum. Surely everyone should be like you. If the teachers especially the school heads are like you and send their own kids to north vista, that will surely shut all these negative comments. But some of us parents know otherwise. Actions speak louder than words!
:salute: :hi5: -
hihi!
Polarbear has brought up a good point about parents changing mindsets and pespectives.
I don't think she is in anyway a \"LIBERATED\" (err.... by the way, this word is used wrongly here. ) Mum. She is still keeping her eye on her DD's progress and performances. Her expectations may not be the same as others. So, do not judge her by what she said in her post.
Honestly speaking, how many teachers and heads do send their children to their own working place? by doing so, will that shut eveyone's mouth? Do many spouses work in the same office as well? perhaps in the same line but not in the same working office.
Before we blame any teachers(yes, I don't deny the fact that are rotten apples in the crates,ie, some lousy teachers in the services.), we really need to check our own attitudes as parents too. Different parents have different parenting styles. Who are we to judge? Yes, we can learn form one another BUT please be NICE and POLITE.
Your cup of mocca may not be my cup of tea. So why must you insist that I try your mocca?
Be nice.
Voice out if you must BUT
listen to other voices too .:)
Have a good day everyone!:)
p/s:
Sorry to point out this out...the word\"liberated\" is not used correctly in this context.
Please check dictionary. -
There’s a outbreak of Hand foot mouth disease in north vista pri sch!
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puppy80:
There's a outbreak of Hand foot mouth disease in north vista pri sch!
How many are affected? Usually affect pre-school mostly. Sound quite bad then. I have one student from there. -
david59:
puppy80:
There's a outbreak of Hand foot mouth disease in north vista pri sch!
How many are affected? Usually affect pre-school mostly. Sound quite bad then. I have one student from there.
there are 8 from P1 level. Not sure whether they are more.
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