Is GEP really necessary?

[ForumWriter]

2ppaamm:

I have taught thousands of high performing students who go on and head organizations, including GEPpers, and so my definition could be very different from others with different experiences.

This statement is not related to your argument in any way, except that it sounds like you are trying to assert your authority on the subject in a vague way. Logical fallacy detected: Appeal to anonymous authority.

2ppaamm:

You are DEAD WRONG about competition spurring excellence. WRONG.

A noble sentiment, but using all caps is plain rude in netiquette. And please tell me, if competition doesn't spur excellence, why do the Olympics exist? Aren't the Olympics known as the epitome of sporting excellence? Are you telling me Einstein never entered any scientific competition? Look at the Space Race - how many inventions did NASA create? Physically or mentally, the idea is the same. World records or scientific discoveries/inventions, they just demonstrate that there is still room for improvement if effort is put in.

2ppaamm:

Do a little check on homeschooled children. They fair well and better against school going children in many countries. Who do they compete with? THEMSELVES.

You do know that you are only looking at children from families which have resources to homeschool their children when you say this sentence right? Did you compare these children with their equivalent peers when you proclaimed this statement? How is comparing the top of one group with the average of another group fair? What about the homeschooled children of say, peasants? I bet they were conveniently forgotten.

2ppaamm:

I have a problem with this silly way to standardise, which is not present anywhere at a higher level. My 12 year old can tell you 30 in a school is enough to normalize, so this practice of bell-curving serves no purpose at all except to create a 'chasing the bell-curve' effect which is of no purpose to learning.

Your 12 year old mustn't have learnt statistics yet then. Because while you can theoretically normalise with even 1 person, the generally accepted rule is a minimum of 50. Oh wait, that's actually called the T-Test, not the Z-Test, because by definition, the sample size is too small. And may I know the reason why you are \"bell-curving\" with only 30 people? Which exam only has 30 people sitting for it and normalises with a \"bell-curve\"? Logical fallacy detected: Straw man argument.

Besides, you know as well as I do that the curve is never a bell. It is, more often than not, an exponential decrease curve with the mode centred at \"A\" and rarely, \"B\". Anyone who disagrees with this, please find me a cohort wide exam from PSLE up to A-levels where the mode grade is a \"C\" or below.

2ppaamm:

That's what I am laughing about. That there is a lack of empowerment to the teachers to decide when we are told they are the best. Consequently, we have a bunch of capable teacher incapacitated by a dysfunctional system/mentality.

I'd say you are expecting too much from teachers. Teaching is a profession.

You're laughing at teachers not understanding students' essays? I thought you were scolding your kid when he laughed at others who weren't as capable as him.

2ppaamm:

Definitely the case in Singapore but this is not right! The kids spend a minimum of 6 hours in school and if you add transportation and logistics, they would have spent more than half of their waking hours in school. If that's the case, they had better gotten the academic part straightened out. If parents are supposed to be 'more responsible' than the school, then the kids will end up in after school classes, which is the case in most families in Singapore. So sad, what happened to the family time, the lifeskills - learning to cook, visiting relatives, have some fun, and learn a special skill, pursuing a hobby or simply play time? Sadly, our kids are deprived of these as they grow up.

I realise you have not replied to this yet. From a person who does not truely appreciate a teacher's sacrifices and tries to shift the entire burden of academic education solely onto a teacher while neglecting his/her own intrinsic responsibility of a parent... Just why exactly are you so anti-teacher?

2ppaamm:

ALL (not just best) teachers must at least have the confidence that they can judge a student's work given by them, and ALL teachers must be able to offer consistent grading.

This is not true. If teachers were so good, they wouldn't be teachers already, unless they really had a burning passion for the job. May I remind you that most humanities teachers come from NUS FASS, which isn't exactly difficult to enter? I was definitely better than some teachers in certain areas even when I was still studying under them. But I'm still grateful to them for spending their time to educate me in other areas such as life experiences.

[2ppaamm]

Thank you for your time. Mine is too precious to engage in this. I see no purpose. It's like chicken and duck talk. I'm going to take a :snooze: Suffice to say your humanities teacher didn't do a good job with comprehension.

[2ppaamm]

ksi:

Melodies:

:skeptical: hmmm.............:siam:

[quote=\"ksi\"]2ppaamm, if the time is right and if there is a chance one day I will explain it to you. Suffice to say now, the good reason I talk about for keeping mum in general is a noble one...so go along the line of positive thinking. You have hit on quite a number of valid points, just have not put the whole picture together to see the rationale.

Why? You have more insights to share?[/quote]I guess when the time comes, I also want to kaypoh kaypoh about this. :evil:

[ForumWriter]

2ppaamm:

Thank you for your time. Mine is too precious to engage in this. I see no purpose. It's like chicken and duck talk. I'm going to take a :snooze: Suffice to say your humanities teacher didn't do a good job with comprehension.

And here comes the classic \"I can't answer, so let's ignore all valid points and proceed to attack the poster\" statement. Translation of above quote: You suck, you are narrow minded, you can't understand what I'm saying, no point furthering this discussion. Logical fallacy detected: Argumentum ad hominem.

Finally met your match? Learn how to discuss the issues in an intellectual manner, not make personal attacks.

I'm sorry, but seeing as I had essays published in KS Bull, I believe my humanities standard can't be that bad.

There needs to be more people like me on the forums, who actually has an idea of what GEP is like and rebutt you on each and every point.

I must admit ignorance on one part though: I'm still wondering why you are so anti-teacher. Please enlighten me on that one.

[2ppaamm]

:censored:

[ForumWriter]

Snow Crystal:

ForumWriter:

Point proven. 2ppaamm is definitely not from the GEP.

:rotflmao:
Forum Writer, you obviously have no clue who 2ppaamm is to pass this remark......*hint* - go search in this forum a bit of her background and you will be :yikes: :oops: for passing such remark... :spank:
2ppaamm is probably one of the cleverest persons you will ever 'meet' in this forum...no need to be from GEP... She old era one lah no GEP yet :evil: :rotflmao:

I don't see how a person's intellectual background matters actually. And what makes you think that I'm not up to standard?

You misunderstand me when I said that 2ppaamm is not from GEP. I meant that he/she has not experienced and does not understand the culture there firsthand, not that he/she is lacking in the intellectual department.

A student in the \"A\" class, no matter how smart he/she is, will still be more ignorant when compared with a student in the \"Z\" class when discussing on \"Z\" class matters - unless the \"Z\" class student is not paying attention to experiences/surroundings.

At least, I know that I have a personal experience, which will always be more accurate when compared to \"experiences of DS/DD\".

[Snow Crystal]

ForumWriter:

And what makes you think that I'm not up to standard.

:rotflmao: I never doubt that...certified, registered and approved by MOE :evil: :evil: relax lah... Ohm... :imcool:

[atutor2001]

Hi ForumWriter, just curios, are you in London now?

[ForumWriter]

2ppaamm:

ForumWriter:

I must admit ignorance on one part though: I'm still wondering why you are so anti-teacher. Please enlighten me on that one.

Because I am one. You really need to read with comprehension. I really feel very bad telling you this. It is not because you are a match that I choose to ignore you, but it is because you remind me of the many first year undergrads that I teach, and I feel bad putting you down. Educators don't put people down like that.

So, instead of arguing with you, I choose to ignore you, hoping that one day, you will come to your senses yourself. Now is not the time, you are too far away from where I am, young man.

Go re-read everything you post. You misread almost every single thing, and choose to interpret everything as you deem fit. Respect is something we should give each other. I don't detect it, I don't need to respond. I am already giving face typing this out patiently.

I have never attacked you directly and you have never bothered to explain what I have interpreted wrongly.

This post is effectively saying \"You're not fit to post here, get lost and grow up\". I thought you were strongly against your son for being arrogant?

This is a forum, a place to discuss issues in an intellectual manner. Not to attack people and dismiss others' points of view without explanation.

Also, being a teacher is not a reason for one to be anti-teacher. In fact, I would have thought that a person should be proud of his/her profession and defend it - or if there is something lacking, he/she would take affirmative action so that he/she can be proud of the profession. Not simply criticise it.

[Mychildren]

ForumWriter,

Actually, I hate to see these unkind words.
We are here to learn from each other. I do understand that there are reasons for one to write something here. Each of us go through different stages in life and view things from a different angle. We cannot force anyone to accept what we have written or said here.
I know I'll get shooting for writing these. :rant:
But still feel a need to speak up.
I'll not comment anymore in this topic unless it is necessary. :sad: