Is GEP really necessary?
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jtoh:
:goodpost: toddles.
I agree. :goodpost: -
ksi:
![](\"http://photos1.fotosearch.com/bthumb/CSP/CSP990/k10169050.jpg\")
http://photos1.fotosearch.com/bthumb/CSP/CSP990/k10169050.jpg\">
Looks like time for some liang teh....![](\"http://www.myemoticons.com/images/super-smileys/jumbo/sports/sports-fan-1.gif\")
人家气我，我不气
我若生气，就中计
喝喝凉茶，消消气
明天睡醒，全身力
This message is for EVERYONE and NOT ANYONE.
deja vu....
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2ppaamm
I do emphatise how you feel especially in the light of the heated exchange with someone who has not yet proven in the working world not withstanding his stellar academic grades.
I am also into the financial markets. No matter how well-informed or well trained, i hve learnt all these years that the market is bigger than me and i need to listen to the price actions of a counter which i hve a position. Thinking that one is supreme in his area of expertise will spell disaster. There’s always something for me to learn from someone.
Incidentally, i like what you earlier mentioned about at the top one is actually competing against himself. This idea is actually applicable in the context of trading and investing. Actually, you had reminded me of the numerous mistakes which i had made in my earlier years. To give you an example, i had researched a counter thoroughly after the dot com bubbles. I took an initial position and added on progressively as the price advanced as long as i knew that the counter was grossly undervalued by the market and the financial datas that showed the counter was making headways in its expansion even heading for uncharterd waters. All in all, i had accumulated a meaninful position over a 2-yr period but was taken out of the trade after paying attention to some adverse news regarding the broad market. In short, i failed to understand myself that i actually had a major winning position on hand as the counter advanced in price admist against the overall trend of the market. I cashed out at a good profit even knowing that the counter was still way undervalued vs-a vs its record earnings and fresh positon taken by a new instituition investor. All in i had left a 'big sum of money on the table that i could had easily financed my two children to do their undergrad studies overseas.
Looking back, i realised how folly i was. -
If i may add my humblest of contribution to this most enlightening of discussions. The following flowchart shows why i feel that I would rather spend my time enhancing my academic knowledge or building my financial net worth than arguing online with strangers (whom we have absolutely no certain way of knowing if they are really who they claim to be).
![](\"http://poetmcgonagallsworld.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/so-if-youre-mad-about-something-on-the-internet.jpg?w=640&h=1460\")
Source : http://www.systemcomic.com/comics/2011-08-03-madaboutsomething.jpg
The above was posted as a form of comic relief, is directed at a general audience and does not in any way constitute a personal opinion on my part.
:siam: -
comfy:
Hi Comfy, you might want to do some research around the GEP thread to get this answer, I won't be able to give you a complete list at this time, because I have to go sleep.
Hi 2ppaamm, may I know what are the perks and privileges that GEP have besides smaller ratio of teacher to student and DSA?2ppaamm:
With all the perks and privileges, if GEP continues to fail to produce students BETTER than mainstream, there is going to be further discrimination against GEPpers.....
the unwarranted privileges given to GEPpers.....
Till next year, everyone, Bye bye! :imanisland: -
NickleBee Tutors:
You are right! It is a waste of my precious time. I should have spent more time on that mayonaise recipe and get the taste more burstful.If i may add my humblest of contribution to this most enlightening of discussions. The following flowchart shows why i feel that I would rather spend my time enhancing my academic knowledge or building my financial net worth than arguing online with strangers (whom we have absolutely no certain way of knowing if they are really who they claim to be).
Source : http://www.systemcomic.com/comics/2011-08-03-madaboutsomething.jpg
The above was posted as a form of comic relief, is directed at a general audience and does not in any way constitute a personal opinion on my part.
:siam:
So now, I have :censored: all the posts that were misread. Now I know not everybody reads in details and in context. Better be more careful... :stupid: should have known earlier... wasted precious time. :wrongmove:
And, lots more recipes to work on this weekend, and lots of work till end of the year! Till a more interesting topic, everyone, :celebrate: :peekaboo: Bye bye! -
纪赟：新加坡小学教育的反思 Zaobao 17-8-2012
因为女儿逐渐接近上小学的年龄，最近我就与太太一起研究新加坡的小学制度。因为我俩都是在中国大陆接受从小学直到硕博士为止的全部教育，所以非常自然也会拿它与新加坡进行对比。在过去相当长的时间内，中国的教育颇为人诟病，而且往往会被贴上“应试教育”的不好标签。然而，我们在离开中国这个大环境后，反而得以以更加客观的态度，来看待过去被我们痛加贬斥的中国教育，甚至可以发现其中有大量被人们所忽视的优胜之处。
最近数年，欧美也开始认识到了中国式教育的巨大优势，比如奥巴马总统就曾经多次表达了对中国教育成功的赞叹，并以此来警告和鞭策美国的教育从业者。8月8日《联合早报》刊登薛涌教授的《美式教育理想为何越来越不着边际？》一文，也对美式教育提出了严厉的批评。如果说作为全世界技术革新尖兵的美国都在反思其教育体系，我们是不也应该反思一下新加坡的基础教育呢？
我们在了解了新加坡小学教育的体系之后，发现它存在比较严重的二元分裂。首先，可能由于新加坡主要还是受西方思想体系影响，更加强调小学孩童全面的发展，故而给他们留出了半天的空余时间，实际上却又实行甚至比中国小学更严苛的胜负排名与精英筛选机制，从小四开始就对学生不断分流，精英学校的选拔、快慢班的区别等等。这导致了虽然形式上小学生有半天的自由时间，却还是会被充斥全岛的各种家教或补习班征用，因为每一个学生都在这个无时不在运行的筛选机制的控制之下，很难让人获得喘息。这种学业压力甚至一直传导到整个家庭以及社会之中，并部分导致了“想赢怕输”社会人格的养成。
在这个意义上来看，新加坡小学教育机制比不上纯粹西方式的教育，可以给学生更多的快乐与自由时间支配，让他们获得其他方面的发展。很多家长就觉得新加坡的孩子压力非常大，当把他们转学到欧美时，感觉孩子就一下子放松下来了，变得快乐得多。新加坡小学教育机制也比不上中国大陆斯巴达式的全天教育，可以给学生一个从小开始的坚实教育基础。这种教育甚至从中国的幼稚园就已经全面展开。以我女儿为例，在来新加坡上幼稚园一年级之前，就已经会背上百首唐诗，二十以内加减法，能认一百多汉字，并且学过全部的英文字母。所以来到新加坡之后，除了英语口语不行外，就有着巨大的学习优势。这种情况我们也可从很多小学四、五年级从中国转学来新的孩子身上看到。
在学习上处于劣势，其实完全可以在今后的教育上得以弥补，而我更担心的一点却是，新加坡这样一种严格的小学精英筛选机制，会使一些开窍过晚的孩子由于分流过早，从而永远失去未来的机会。更有甚者，这种半天制再加上筛选的方式，还会加大社会分层。因为给孩子上各种补习班或请家教，会直接与父母的教育程度、收入情况、社会地位等相关，非常明显一些处在社会底层的人士，他们的子女很难获得更好的补充教育机会。
提出以上意见，不代表我否认新加坡教育的巨大优势。比起中国，本地英式教育更利于学生的国际化，并且非常透明的制度保障，也比中国要更为公平。我对自己女儿的教育并不担心，因为新加坡的教育总体而言更有利于培养精英，我和家人也有足够的精力与物质投入，可以保障她在未来的残酷竞争获得一席之地，然而我们是否能够指望每一个新加坡家庭，都能良好地面对并处理这样一种空前的压力呢？
一个成功的教育，并不仅仅只是层层筛选出以后管理我们这个社会的少数精英，而将其他众多人置于一旁去接受打过折扣的次一等教育——即使你给这个方式加上一个“因材施教”的堂皇招牌。教育应该是去尽量发挥每一个孩童最大的潜力，呵护改善并提高他们的能力与心智，并使他们成为真正能推动新加坡社会前进步伐的主人。 -
2ppaamm:
Hi Comfy, you might want to do some research around the GEP thread to get this answer, I won't be able to give you a complete list at this time, because I have to go sleep.
Hi 2ppaamm, may I know what are the perks and privileges that GEP have besides smaller ratio of teacher to student and DSA?comfy:
[quote=\"2ppaamm\"] With all the perks and privileges, if GEP continues to fail to produce students BETTER than mainstream, there is going to be further discrimination against GEPpers.....
the unwarranted privileges given to GEPpers.....
Till next year, everyone, Bye bye! :imanisland:[/quote]Hi Comfy
Do you agree that gep breeds overinflated ego within the children and that gep kids are given \"unwarranted privileges\" - meaning unjustified, not reasonable, not necessary?
I have a gep kid and I know the kids in her class. Her good friend meets up with her former classmates from a non-gep school frequently. My dd's HCL mainstream(intermingled class) often sms for help and my dd helps her. No, I do not see any overinflated egos in my dd or her classmates. They are just like any other kids. They work hard to produce good works. Sometimes, I find the amount of work they have to handle quite overwhelming. Not all kids can handle the demands. Besides class-size, what unwarranted privileges do they have? I am peeved when people make statements, do not justify them and then run away. Is it wrong to have special programmes for pull-out students who are capable of moving on to a higher level? Is it justiable to hold them back just to be fair to everyone else? No, gep is not an elitist programme. My dd is very fortunate to be in the programme. It is a good programme. -
RachelSmiley:
Hi Comfy
Hi Comfy, you might want to do some research around the GEP thread to get this answer, I won't be able to give you a complete list at this time, because I have to go sleep.2ppaamm:
[quote=\"comfy\"]quote=\"2ppaamm\" With all the perks and privileges, if GEP continues to fail to produce students BETTER than mainstream, there is going to be further discrimination against GEPpers.....
the unwarranted privileges given to GEPpers...../quote.
Hi 2ppaamm, may I know what are the perks and privileges that GEP have besides smaller ratio of teacher to student and DSA?
Till next year, everyone, Bye bye! :imanisland:
Do you agree that gep breeds overinflated ego within the children and that gep kids are given \"unwarranted privileges\" - meaning unjustified, not reasonable, not necessary?
I have a gep kid and I know the kids in her class. Her good friend meets up with her former classmates from a non-gep school frequently. My dd's HCL mainstream(intermingled class) often sms for help and my dd helps her. No, I do not see any overinflated egos in my dd or her classmates. They are just like any other kids. They work hard to produce good works. Sometimes, I find the amount of work they have to handle quite overwhelming. Not all kids can handle the demands. Besides class-size, what unwarranted privileges do they have? I am peeved when people make statements, do not justify them and then run away. Is it wrong to have special programmes for pull-out students who are capable of moving on to a higher level? Is it justiable to hold them back just to be fair to everyone else? No, gep is not an elitist programme. My dd is very fortunate to be in the programme. It is a good programme.[/quote]Hi RachelSmiley,
I don't think so. That why I ask 2ppaamm that question. Perhaps she know more (from her comment) . Maybe there are kids with inflated egos but I believe they are in the minority. When my dd was in P4, her teacher told them (the class) that everyone is gifted in different ways, some are good in certain subjects and other might found it more challenging.
Yes, to me GEP is just a programme and a programme that my dd enjoyed.
I am puzzled when 2ppaamm, kept on mentioning 'perks and privileges that GEP have ', (besides DSA and smaller ratio), so what others if she can kindly point out. This is so that other parents can be enlighten as well. To 2ppaamm, I have been following the GEP thread, so far, these are the 'benefits' that frequently mentioned, so if you can and if you have the time (after a restful sleep, :snooze: :snooze: ), please share more. -
RachelSmiley:
I think you have to take issues with whoever said this to you, and if your kid has been targeted this way, GEP or not, then I think you should really stand up for your kid.
Do you agree that gep breeds overinflated ego within the children and that gep kids are given \"unwarranted privileges\" - meaning unjustified, not reasonable, not necessary?
As for what kind of privileges, I have noticed you participated in many pages since 2010 about this issues. I have taken for granted that people know about these. If not, as a GEP mum, you should really find out. Why don't you point Comfy to those pages? I am sure you are a good source of information, because I honestly did not participate in them.
One of my son's friend went to RI on the back of a GEP DSA, with an EEIS. His PSLE aggregate was 24x. He was in the RI GEP class. The RI cutoff that year was 26x. Because of the place he took up, a boy with 26x missed by 0.0xx and was deprived of it, so he probably went to a school of lower cutoff, say HCI that year (2007), a boy of 26x also did not make it to HCI because the cutoff raised by 0.0xx for HCI, and so he goes to let's say Dunman, cutoff say 25x, depriving another child of a place in Dunman, who would otherwise have made it to Dunman. Another child, who would have made to Dunman, missed by 0.00xx to Dunman and went to St Nicks, let's say, with a cutoff of 25x. Because of this, another girl at 25x cannot get in and has to go to say, Crescent Girls. Crescent's cutoff got raised as well, and now becomes 24x. This GEP boy, without the DSA should have gone to school with a cutoff of lower than 245, but he went to RI, depriving at least another 3 or 4 children of their rightful places in the school of their choices. So DSA privilege, while it seems small, is really huge in its effect, so let's not downplay that. One DSA place can affect the lives of 4 or 5, how many GEP DSA places do we have, and how many of them do not meet the COP? Much more than tens, I can tell you, which means up to hundreds of children will not get to their schools of choices because those tens were given unfair advantage on the back of their GEP selection tests.
The next privilege can be found here. http://www.moe.gov.sg/initiatives/edusave/funds-grants-awards/eesis/
There is nothing wrong with your child enjoying the GEP program, and you are entitled with your opinion that GEP is a good program, that's good for you! But that does not mean there is no unfairness in the system. Those are independent, and mutually exclusive issues.
BTW, I am spending time to explain things. If I detect any unwarranted or sarcastic remarks from anyone, I will leave the thread immediately. Just like everyone else, my time is precious, too, and I can choose not to answer anything I don't want to. This is a forum, so let's be polite if we need information from one another.
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