Primary school maths: A vicious circle (from TODAY May 8)

[Chenonceau]

tutormum:

I support your suggestions. In fact, DS3 managed to view through 30+ of Youtube videos which are relevant to primary school science syllabus as revision for PSLE. It is better than reading tons of assessment books (forget about the textbook - we know how useless it is). I used the video as part of the programme during the science workshop that our tuition centre organised for the children. Sad to say, most of the children gave video viewing the lowest rating compared to the other components. :frustrated: Yet, the workshop received raving response esp for the science experiments. The children told me that their teachers either did only a few if not, none of the experiments in their workbooks and the reason given was the lack of time. If I'm not wrong, Science is only taught once or twice a week. From my experience, a topic can be taught in a 1.5 hr lesson. What I understand from most of my students is that a topic is covered over a 2 to 3 week period. For primary 3, e.g. the topics covered are Diversity, Materials and Magnets (correct me if I am wrong). I teach English, Maths and Science twice weekly 1.5hr each session. Yet, I cover much more than what was taught in school most of the time. My students were given so much reading materials and homework that they literally 'beg' me to give lesser. :nosebleed: Schools have OHP in every classrooms; libraries full of books and materials; funds to spend; etc Lack of resources and time? :scratchhead: If there's one thing that I would say to teachers who really want to help our children it will be \"Treat the students as if they are your own children.\"

:thankyou:

Yes... this was my experience too. The teaching is very very traditional and misapplies a syllabus that needs vastly more effective techniques. Again, tutormum's experience as a tutor demonstrates that it is MORE than ONE isolated school that teaches inefficiently and ineffectively... and uses HARD tests as a way to SCARE parents into co-opting an army of tutors to help the school meet KPIs.

[Chenonceau]

sunflower:

Guess now they've learnt their lessons? So they now need to take long long to decide before pushing out any changes.

It's ok to take time to consider. Meanwhile, communicate that this is happening. Do not communicate...
(1) We are world class
(2) All schools are good
(3) PSLE standards have not gone up over the years
(4) Textbooks are lousy because we have decentralized the curriculum
(5) Parents are to blame for the tuition phenomenon
(6) Parents expect more of MOE than it can deliver

It's ok to take time to consider. But do you know, from what they've been telling us that they're considering our feedback or are they just busy defending themselves and their past decisions?

[Chenonceau]

sunflower:

I’ve basically poured out my views on pg 41 regarding the education system in Singapore. I’m actually hoping for a complete overhaul to the whole education system, which includes teacher training and recruitment.


I’m not looking for measures for MOE to adopt so as to make the current education system works.

I’ve said my piece and would probably have no more time to engage in further discussions.

All the best to Chenonceau on your mission and I wish you well.

Cheers!

:celebrate:

You've written holistically and well. You've reminded me that I have perhaps overemphasized some aspects. I would heartily support you in your call for an overhaul even though I think it is too much to expect from an MOE in denial.

In the main, I agree with much of what you wrote on pg 41. :celebrate:

It takes a long time to train teachers and help them amass enough experience. Meanwhile, provide better textbooks (to help motivated students learn) and an online Teacher database (to support teachers). The following was documented in MOE's website...http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/press/2009/07/inaugural-international-educat.php

For good teachers to deliver quality teaching, they would need the support of a nurturing school environment, high-quality curricular materials, and access to community resources. Emphasis should be placed on continuous professional development, as in the case of Sweden and Australia (Victoria), and fostering a culture of learning and collaboration among educators, as seen in Japan. The fraternity of educators should evolve a consensus around good professional practice. Professionalising the teaching force and resourcing this well would build pride in the profession and enhance job satisfaction”

Our poor teachers have to write all their own teaching materials because the textbooks are so lousy. This is not access to high-quality curricular materials. Our poor Teachers evolve in a KPI-driven individual bonus culture that encourages competition. This is not a culture of learning and collaboration.

[oxyleo]

coast:

phtthp:

Straits Times, 24 May 2012

Policies must co-opt parents effectively

AS A parent and former teacher, I have noticed a widening gap between how children learn and how they are tested in schools.

School syllabuses appear to be increasingly introducing tough questions that may not be developmentally appropriate for the grade levels of the children.

The MOE's stand has been that the levels of difficulty have not increased over the years.

In other words, the MOE must listen to what parents have to say.

Parents, like teachers, are equally, if not more, important participants in the education process.

Pauline Ho (Ms)

http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_802296.html

I think MOE's stand is that the level of difficulty has not increased over the years for PSLE and NOT school exams.

Frankly, I do believe (until proven wrong) that PSLE standard is reasonable and the level of difficulty has not increased over the years. But MOE is NOT publishing the EXACT PSLE past years' papers to prove its stand.

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=35434

Hi Coast,

The question of PSLE standards is indeed a complex one to answer.

This is really my guess only, until such time that we can ever get anything more detailed from MOE -
MOE's claim that PSLE standards has not risen is based on the output of the candidates i.e. the PSLE results. If results are consistent year after year, number of A*'s, A's, B's etc, they can say there is no conclusive evidence to show that standards have risen relative to the standards of the children taking the exam.

Think of PSLE akin to a beauty contest. 20 years ago, contestant of Miss Universe would mostly have strutted the stage in their mostly natural form. And judges would have judged them based on the same set of criteria. Poise, Vital statistics, How they answer questions etc.

Imagine it now today, same beauty contest, same criteria, same judgement on poise, vital statistics, How they answer questions etc. Only difference is now, the contestants are allowed to participate even if they have had cosmetic surgery (in a sense like what extra \"enrichment\" class seek to do) before. One can only imagine how standards of the contestants would have risen. If one is allowed to do it, again it is unlikely most, if not all will start to do it.

When we ask the pageant organizers if standards of judging have gone up, they will likely say No. Same criteria, same structure of contest, i.e. bikini round, evening gown round, question and answer round etc. There is still only one crowned Ms Universe, one 1st runner-up and one 2nd runner-up. Technically, they are not wrong to say No, but they forgot that they did \"allow\" the situation where cosmetic surgery is now allowed, thereby artificially increasing the standards overall for everyone.

[Chenonceau]

oxyleo:

This is really my guess only, until such time that we can ever get anything more detailed from MOE -
MOE's claim that PSLE standards has not risen is based on the output of the candidates i.e. the PSLE results. If results are consistent year after year, number of A*'s, A's, B's etc, they can say there is no conclusive evidence to show that standards have risen relative to the standards of the children taking the exam.

Think of PSLE akin to a beauty contest. 20 years ago, contestant of Miss Universe would mostly have strutted the stage in their mostly natural form. And judges would have judged them based on the same set of criteria. Poise, Vital statistics, How they answer questions etc.

Imagine it now today, same beauty contest, same criteria, same judgement on poise, vital statistics, How they answer questions etc. Only difference is now, the contestants are allowed to participate even if they have had cosmetic surgery (in a sense like what extra \"enrichment\" class seek to do) before. One can only imagine how standards of the contestants would have risen. If one is allowed to do it, again it is unlikely most, if not all will start to do it.

When we ask the pageant organizers if standards of judging have gone up, they will likely say No. Same criteria, same structure of contest, i.e. bikini round, evening gown round, question and answer round etc. Technically, they are not wrong to say No, but they forgot that they did \"allow\" the situation where cosmetic surgery is now allowed, thereby artificially increasing the standards overall for everyone.

You have a talent for insightful analogies. This is an amazing one.

[oxyleo]

sunflower:

Chenonceau:

[quote=\"sunflower\"]
I could have chosen any secondary school to my liking after PSLE, but decided on an ordinary one near home. Went to one of the top JC, and eventually cross path with classmates who chose to go elite secondary schools. (Err...but I must confess lah, I'll probably choose to go to one of the IP schools now because too lazy to take \"O\" levels. Ha, ha...) But even cannot get in so what? Even Pritam Singh who studied in JJC went to NUS, and also got scholarship to study overseas.

My issue with the system is not access to university. Or who gets into IP or top schools.

That's the impression I get from reading the many kiasu parents’ posts in the forum.[/quote]Hi Sunflower,

I do hope you will sign back on to this forum thread sometime, or at least, your friends or colleagues will. It is great to have this detailed level of discussion. I think it helps all of us refine our perspectives.

I think it will be impossible to expect parents or kids for that matter to spend a good 12 years of their lives, full-time (prior to Uni) slogging after academic paper excellence to say it doesn't really matter if they do not get into the better schools, IP, unis etc. Perhaps it is safe to say it will matter more to some and less to others. But it should matter. Otherwise they would have signed themselves out of the race, like I hear some have, by putting their children in International schools.

No doubt we have limited spaces in the best schools. It happens anywhere in the world. But the contention really is how these spaces are allocated. If they are allocated based on academic results that are in the first place reflective of one's true academic intelligence, I am pretty sure most would be accepting of the outcome. However, if many spaces are allocated based on academic results, that are to a very large extent supported by paid external classes or highly intelligent parents, I think the contention bears sufficient concern.

A lot of us probably know enough to expect and accept that \"guanxi\" and one's family background (wealth) plays a pivotal part in one's career path in life and in business. But I hope society keeps it at these parts of adult life, and not allow it to encroach into the public education space of mere primary school going children.

[oxyleo]

sunflower:

Chenonceau:

[quote=\"sunflower\"]
If one is willing to do 80 or more hours of volunteering just to get into phase 2B, or getting the child from one end of Singapore to the other end (where the school is located), or is willing to spend millions to get a property close to the school, and all these do not translate into more kiasu, I do not know what is.

It translates into wealth. These people have the time to spare volunteering... and the money to afford the properties.

Wealth forms only part of the equation...[/quote]Well, it forms a Heavily Weighted part of the equation at the moment...

[oxyleo]

Chenonceau:

oxyleo:

This is really my guess only, until such time that we can ever get anything more detailed from MOE -
MOE's claim that PSLE standards has not risen is based on the output of the candidates i.e. the PSLE results. If results are consistent year after year, number of A*'s, A's, B's etc, they can say there is no conclusive evidence to show that standards have risen relative to the standards of the children taking the exam.

Think of PSLE akin to a beauty contest. 20 years ago, contestant of Miss Universe would mostly have strutted the stage in their mostly natural form. And judges would have judged them based on the same set of criteria. Poise, Vital statistics, How they answer questions etc.

Imagine it now today, same beauty contest, same criteria, same judgement on poise, vital statistics, How they answer questions etc. Only difference is now, the contestants are allowed to participate even if they have had cosmetic surgery (in a sense like what extra \"enrichment\" class seek to do) before. One can only imagine how standards of the contestants would have risen. If one is allowed to do it, again it is unlikely most, if not all will start to do it.

When we ask the pageant organizers if standards of judging have gone up, they will likely say No. Same criteria, same structure of contest, i.e. bikini round, evening gown round, question and answer round etc. Technically, they are not wrong to say No, but they forgot that they did \"allow\" the situation where cosmetic surgery is now allowed, thereby artificially increasing the standards overall for everyone.

You have a talent for insightful analogies. This is an amazing one.

Hahaha! Thanks Chen. I hope that doesn't make me like Moses Lim aka Tan Ah Teck in that comedy where he always goes \"A long, long, time ago... in the Southern Province in China...\" and everyone tries to scamper away. :celebrate: :celebrate:

[oxyleo]

Chenonceau:

sunflower:

Guess now they've learnt their lessons? So they now need to take long long to decide before pushing out any changes.

It's ok to take time to consider. Meanwhile, communicate that this is happening. Do not communicate...
(1) We are world class We are only so because we not only attend school, but also extra lessons outside of school, through tuition and enrichment classes. So the \"We\" does not reflect just \"MOE\" alone, but rather \"MOE and its esteemed partners, the tuition and enrichment centers\"
(2) All schools are good Indeed, this one absolutely gets my goat. No doubt, a school is a school, only as a car is a car. But I wouldn't dare say a BMW is a CherryQ without risking stares of bewilderment! Ask any lady who loves handbags if a Hermes Birkin is an LV, or a Bonia bag. Seriously, they are all the same????
(3) PSLE standards have not gone up over the years Yes, only MOE knows the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, because it is highly guarded. We parents only see a small snapshot of it when our children take the PSLE exam.
(4) Textbooks are lousy because we have decentralized the curriculum We need regular reviews around this and the supporting worksheets that schools need as a result of this.
(5) Parents are to blame for the tuition phenomenon Parents have bought into the need for tuition. But they are not Masters of their own destiny. We are all interlinked in this system.
(6) Parents expect more of MOE than it can deliver

It's ok to take time to consider. But do you know, from what they've been telling us that they're considering our feedback or are they just busy defending themselves and their past decisions?

Indeed, I agree with Chen. Please see my add-ons in blue.

[oxyleo]

Whatever MOE eventually deems fit as a next step, I can only hope it does not result in shoving more work down the throats of teachers.


I wish to reiterate that from my experience with teachers, I am touched by many for their humility, energy and dedication. They are stuck between a rock and a hard place because they are the first point of contact with children and parents, and are also on the payroll of the MOE, making MOE their boss. Teachers therefore pretty much need to try to adapt to feedback from parents, children’s learning styles and problems, and react to new policies rolled out by the MOE. In other words, they implement and deliver, whatever someone up the food chain researches and gets approved. They need to go for professional training, monitor CCAs, mark daily work, attend meetings, conduct zonal workshops etc. Somewhere along the way, someone up the food chain has forgotten these teachers have families, have older folks and younger ones to take care of too at home, and that the amount of work they are asked to do assumes they have more than 12 work hours a day.

In the Corporate World, the attrition rate of staff typically boils down to several things: Pay, incentives, work culture etc. I believe MOE has tried to tweak salaries and offered better advancement for high performing teachers. That is good. But in the Corporate World, a team leader or boss is typically also assessed on how well he/ she can retain their staff. If members of a team are leaving at alarming rates, it does beg the question as to how well-aligned team leader and team member are in terms of what they are expected to deliver and how well they can deliver it.

I hope MOE can reflect upon this, and realize that if a teacher does not seem to deliver what you have asked him/her to do, the solution may not just be to keep sending him/ her for training. It may not even be something doable to begin with.

Revisiting the drawing board about its policies should not be viewed as a sign of weakness on the part of MOE. If anything, I see it as a sign of great strength and humility, which are important principles in Public Service. MOE will gain more supporters and respect during the course.