Real reason behind Singapore’s obsession with tuition

[Funz]

There are all kinds of teachers out there. We just have to remember that their role is to teach, so there is nothing wrong with our kids asking them to explain and explain again. Sometimes we project our own reservations on them. The teachers do not find it irritating nor do they judge that easily. We think that they do and as such we do not press on with our questions.


There are all sorts of teachers. Those who are ever ready to answer the kids questions and those who think that their 45mins in class is all they need to give the kids.

DD and DS are in different schools. I can see the difference in the culture of communication in their schools. In DD’s school, communication is open. Teachers email us constantly of the things done in school. I have even received smses from DD’s teachers. Her Higher Chinese teacher even called me personally as she was concerned about DD’s reaction when she got her results for a test. When I had problems trying to get DD to understand certain concepts covered in school, I emailed her math teacher and the teacher went through the concepts again in class the following day and reverted with an email with pointers on how to guide dd on such questions. I did not feel any need to go for any PTCs with DD as information was prompt and we were kept up to date about stuff happening in school. With DS however, I felt the need to meet his teachers just to know how he is faring.

With DS’s teachers, the communication is usually initiated by me. And email no use, I gotta keep calling the school to try to get hold of his teacher. But are his teachers teaching? So far, yes. Does DS say stuff like teacher never teach? Yes also. But when I go through the stuff with him again, he will suddenly go oh yah, teacher did cover this. I forgot or I did not realise this was what was taught the other day.

Oh, another difference, DD has a different teacher for each different subject. Whereas DS form teacher, bao gao liao, English, Math, Art, Music and Misc.

So needless to say, if I were to benchmark DS’s teachers with DD’s teachers, DS’s teachers will fall short.

[LOLMum]

BeContented:

verykiasu2010:

I think your DD got it wrong. When teacher is in class, it is teacher's responsibility to control the class, not her duty to note who is talking etc etc ... her duty is to pay attention to what the teacher is teaching.

Sorry.....think I'm not clear enough.
DD not required to perform her 'chairman' role when teachers are around.....I'm just saying that she is soooooo kapo that instead of paying attention to the teacher in class, she watch her classmates skive...... :slapshead:
That's why she always kena from me instead when she dare complain too much :rotflmao:

your dd need this periscope ... :rotflmao:

http://i49.tinypic.com/v82z9c.jpg\">

[verykiasu2010]

Funz:

There are all kinds of teachers out there. We just have to remember that their role is to teach, so there is nothing wrong with our kids asking them to explain and explain again. Sometimes we project our own reservations on them. The teachers do not find it irritating nor do they judge that easily. We think that they do and as such we do not press on with our questions.


There are all sorts of teachers. Those who are ever ready to answer the kids questions and those who think that their 45mins in class is all they need to give the kids.

DD and DS are in different schools. I can see the difference in the culture of communication in their schools. In DD's school, communication is open. Teachers email us constantly of the things done in school. I have even received smses from DD's teachers. Her Higher Chinese teacher even called me personally as she was concerned about DD's reaction when she got her results for a test. When I had problems trying to get DD to understand certain concepts covered in school, I emailed her math teacher and the teacher went through the concepts again in class the following day and reverted with an email with pointers on how to guide dd on such questions. I did not feel any need to go for any PTCs with DD as information was prompt and we were kept up to date about stuff happening in school. With DS however, I felt the need to meet his teachers just to know how he is faring.

With DS's teachers, the communication is usually initiated by me. And email no use, I gotta keep calling the school to try to get hold of his teacher. But are his teachers teaching? So far, yes. Does DS say stuff like teacher never teach? Yes also. But when I go through the stuff with him again, he will suddenly go oh yah, teacher did cover this. I forgot or I did not realise this was what was taught the other day.

Oh, another difference, DD has a different teacher for each different subject. Whereas DS form teacher, bao gao liao, English, Math, Art, Music and Misc.

So needless to say, if I were to benchmark DS's teachers with DD's teachers, DS's teachers will fall short.

:goodpost: :goodpost:

save me the trouble of saying the same thing

[Funz]

janet_lee88:

BeContented:

Dunno never mind. Go home ask your tutor explain again. So cannot say teacher never teach, sometimes students also never bother to ask them to explain again.

My son tells me, 'When I do not understand what the teacher teaches, I ask my tutor.' he said the tutor gives a better explanation. I am worried when I hear that.

When he said that, has he given the teacher a chance to find a better way to explain to him? His tutor is coaching him 1-1 thus the tutor has the advantage of being able to guage your son's understanding and adjust his explanation accordingly.

And because your son knows he has this avenue, he may tune out the moment he is unable to grasp what the teacher is teaching.

I am sayin MAY hor, not that he definitely did.

[janet88]

Hi Funz,

When he asked for further explanation, teacher felt he didn’t listen and as such teacher had to repeat. My guess is, he had depended on tutor to pass his exams last year and up till now, his tutors are the still ones bringing him up to mark. So he is confident…but dependent on them. Again, I am not blaming his teachers but guess they are stressed and pressurized by other non-teaching. Come secondary school, he doesn’t have luxury of tutors. So I hope he will get teachers whom he can depend on.

[tutormum]

janet_lee88:

Hi Funz,

When he asked for further explanation, teacher felt he didn't listen and as such teacher had to repeat. My guess is, he had depended on tutor to pass his exams last year and up till now, his tutors are the still ones bringing him up to mark. So he is confident...but dependent on them. Again, I am not blaming his teachers but guess they are stressed and pressurized by other non-teaching. Come secondary school, he doesn't have luxury of tutors. So I hope he will get teachers whom he can depend on.

I've taught 1 to 1 and different class sizes up to <20 so far and to be fair to the teachers, there is a huge difference and it's near impossible to teach in a large class let alone ensure every student understands. For 1 to 1 tuition, the child has no choice but to pay full attention cos the tutor's eyes are fixed on him. Tutor caters the lessons to his ability and understanding having the leisure to enable that concepts are well taught. For students in a huge class, they know that they can :siam: teacher's eyes. The moment I turn my back, all except a few guai guai ones, will be up to their nonsense. Try getting the attention of a class of 40 while 35 of them are talking among themselves. :stupid: :slapshead: Usually I will be very exhausted after taking 2 noisy classes in a row. Half the time you have to maintain class discipline while the other half try to teach and ensure that they are able to hear you. I have many instances where a student sitting at the back of the class answering a question and the peer sitting in front of him claimed that he didn't hear it while the one sitting in front of class did -obvious case of not paying attention. Of course a teacher has to conjure various methods to engage the students and teach effectively. Having said that, it is also not good for a class to be too quiet. I've a class of students who don't even respond at all. They just guai guai listen and seem to agree 100% to what you say. Don't know whether they understand or not. :slapshead: Their results are fantastic which means they are actually very attentive and a dream class to teach. Their English teacher :frustrated: cos it's not good for them to be too quiet esp when learning languages. For the past 3 years, I've been trying to pry open their mouths to find out what's going on in their heads. :faint:

[J and J]

Funz:

There are all kinds of teachers out there. We just have to remember that their role is to teach, so there is nothing wrong with our kids asking them to explain and explain again. Sometimes we project our own reservations on them. The teachers do not find it irritating nor do they judge that easily. We think that they do and as such we do not press on with our questions.


There are all sorts of teachers. Those who are ever ready to answer the kids questions and those who think that their 45mins in class is all they need to give the kids.

DD and DS are in different schools. I can see the difference in the culture of communication in their schools. In DD's school, communication is open. Teachers email us constantly of the things done in school. I have even received smses from DD's teachers. Her Higher Chinese teacher even called me personally as she was concerned about DD's reaction when she got her results for a test. When I had problems trying to get DD to understand certain concepts covered in school, I emailed her math teacher and the teacher went through the concepts again in class the following day and reverted with an email with pointers on how to guide dd on such questions. I did not feel any need to go for any PTCs with DD as information was prompt and we were kept up to date about stuff happening in school. With DS however, I felt the need to meet his teachers just to know how he is faring.

With DS's teachers, the communication is usually initiated by me. And email no use, I gotta keep calling the school to try to get hold of his teacher. But are his teachers teaching? So far, yes. Does DS say stuff like teacher never teach? Yes also. But when I go through the stuff with him again, he will suddenly go oh yah, teacher did cover this. I forgot or I did not realise this was what was taught the other day.

Oh, another difference, DD has a different teacher for each different subject. Whereas DS form teacher, bao gao liao, English, Math, Art, Music and Misc.

So needless to say, if I were to benchmark DS's teachers with DD's teachers, DS's teachers will fall short.

Wonder if you can share which school your DD is studying and which level that her class has differenct teacher for each different subject?
I did propose to my child's school to have different teacher for each different subject. As his form teacher always absent from school with various reasons like training, MC, CCA competition, CCL... During his form teacher's absence, the class was given worksheets to do in the class by the relief teacher. No teaching at all for all subjects except the mother tongue. That's why I proposed different teacher for each different subject to the school so that the impact on the class can be minimised, not for all subjects, but the prinicpal told me that no school can afford to do this in sg. If your DD school can do that, why they can't....

[verykiasu2010]

J and J:

but the prinicpal told me that no school can afford to do this in sg. If your DD school can do that, why they can't....

the principal really know how to tell lies

may I suggest you keep up the pressure on the P

[buds]

verykiasu2010:

Funz:

There are all kinds of teachers out there. We just have to remember that their role is to teach, so there is nothing wrong with our kids asking them to explain and explain again. Sometimes we project our own reservations on them. The teachers do not find it irritating nor do they judge that easily. We think that they do and as such we do not press on with our questions.


There are all sorts of teachers. Those who are ever ready to answer the kids questions and those who think that their 45mins in class is all they need to give the kids.

DD and DS are in different schools. I can see the difference in the culture of communication in their schools. In DD's school, communication is open. Teachers email us constantly of the things done in school. I have even received smses from DD's teachers. Her Higher Chinese teacher even called me personally as she was concerned about DD's reaction when she got her results for a test. When I had problems trying to get DD to understand certain concepts covered in school, I emailed her math teacher and the teacher went through the concepts again in class the following day and reverted with an email with pointers on how to guide dd on such questions. I did not feel any need to go for any PTCs with DD as information was prompt and we were kept up to date about stuff happening in school. With DS however, I felt the need to meet his teachers just to know how he is faring.

With DS's teachers, the communication is usually initiated by me. And email no use, I gotta keep calling the school to try to get hold of his teacher. But are his teachers teaching? So far, yes. Does DS say stuff like teacher never teach? Yes also. But when I go through the stuff with him again, he will suddenly go oh yah, teacher did cover this. I forgot or I did not realise this was what was taught the other day.

Oh, another difference, DD has a different teacher for each different subject. Whereas DS form teacher, bao gao liao, English, Math, Art, Music and Misc.

So needless to say, if I were to benchmark DS's teachers with DD's teachers, DS's teachers will fall short.

:goodpost: :goodpost:

save me the trouble of saying the same thing

Agree. On all points too! :celebrate:
VERY VERY :goodpost: Funz.

In our case we don't have to even go as far as to narrow it down to two different schools.. Teachers in both my DD's levels are already different. Especially last year. I have both the form teachers' mobile numbers, email address and we also communicate via pupil diary. DD1's teacher can call me anytime to inform or update me any anything and she does so consistently.

DD2's teachers will only do likewise if I were the one who initiated first. However all the teachers reply very promptly and in detail. As to doubts on school assignments or subject concepts, teachers recap all the time every day before any new lessons are taught and yes, they readily repeat previous concepts that some children may need help in or if she receives feedback on parents that the children need certain concepts to be covered again.

This, done with over 40 in both DDs classes.

They have different teachers for every subject. We enjoy good open communication with all of them. They are generous with extra notes they've personally done up & compiled or extras from other resources they own and to date they have never turned down requests from us (parents) or our children anytime we/they require clarifications.

They give exam preps in advance down to even show n tell, listening compre and even compo. Show n tell is practiced by rotation and with different topics for different groups of children each week to expose them to more topics. Listening compre done with teachers reading n personalized wksheets, their listening compre books and agn extras from their own resources. As for compo, teacher will teach children how to edit their writings effectively, give tips on what it takes to score better and children are given a host of creative writing phrases plus individual and group compo practices.

Tuition especially 1-1 sessions are effective for children as the need to focus is there, not many opportunities to daydream. Tuition caters to children of differing needs. There is actually no one-reason for tuition. I've had students who come for individual coaching due to varying needs. From a hyper-active child who has a great teacher but he just has short attention span and really requires repeat telecasts from school.. To children with mild autism and downs syndrome who need help to boost their language skills to help them integrate better with mainstream education and children.. To just the typical kiasu children or parents. Yup, I have kids who just say they wanna be better than so n so or wanna top the class/school so they request for extras from their parents and down also to overly kiasu parents who want their kids to top everything even though they're already doing very well.. in which case every single mark/score matters greatly.

Due to the reality that nothing can be one-way to fix-all, the abolishment of tuition or even proposals to cease it are of short-sighted vision. Cutting the rope entirely will not solve the issue. Whether or not ppl agree to tuition, the obsession or not doesn't just stem from the blanket sweep of under-performing teachers because while there will always be teachers who CMI (cannot make it) there are many dedicated and passionate teachers too; and many/at times their work is under-appreciated.

Please lah.. there are black sheeps everywhere in every other industry. It's not exclusive to the people in the teaching profession. Quality variance is inevitable. But if there are genuine cases of CMI teachers, they should be brought to task... A case by case situation to look into.. ie. the respective teacher ...and not pin the fault entirely to the school in itself or MOE (as a whole).

[Chenonceau]

Funz:

janet_lee88:

[quote=\"BeContented\"]
Dunno never mind. Go home ask your tutor explain again. So cannot say teacher never teach, sometimes students also never bother to ask them to explain again.

My son tells me, 'When I do not understand what the teacher teaches, I ask my tutor.' he said the tutor gives a better explanation. I am worried when I hear that.

When he said that, has he given the teacher a chance to find a better way to explain to him? His tutor is coaching him 1-1 thus the tutor has the advantage of being able to guage your son's understanding and adjust his explanation accordingly.

And because your son knows he has this avenue, he may tune out the moment he is unable to grasp what the teacher is teaching.

I am sayin MAY hor, not that he definitely did.[/quote]I think Janet held out for very long last year in P5 before giving her son a Tutor this year in P6. He would have had all of P5 to try and connect with his Teacher.