Is GEP really necessary?

[2ppaamm]

Dnls_mum:

So frankly, we can make the best of the situation and it is up to us parents to decide how we want our child to grow up

:goodpost: of course! And I like the way you described NJC's enrichment, also like RI's, they teach everyone the same thing, and then if you are good, they are pulled out for deeper study of the subjects, and even have a chance to teach others.

I meant for the gifted to be taught this way, and hence no need for a selected group called G-E-P. Not put them apart and treat them like some aliens, or sometimes, like gods. GEP kids don't want to be gods, they want to be just a kid, and still get to learn. Mainstream kids also have the same access. When they are good, they also get access, whether they are gifted, or high ability, as long as they can cope, they get a chance. That's what I believe enrichment for the gifted or anyone should be. Equal opportunity for all.

The secondary schools were enlightened long ago, how long more are they going to cling on at primary level? What purpose is there?

[corneyAmber]

2ppaamm:

Dnls_mum:

So frankly, we can make the best of the situation and it is up to us parents to decide how we want our child to grow up

:goodpost: of course! And I like the way you described NJC's enrichment, also like RI's, they teach everyone the same thing, and then if you are good, they are pulled out for deeper study of the subjects, and even have a chance to teach others.

I meant for the gifted to be taught this way, and hence no need for a selected group called G-E-P. Not put them apart and treat them like some aliens, or sometimes, like gods. GEP kids don't want to be gods, they want to be just a kid, and still get to learn. Mainstream kids also have the same access. When they are good, they also get access, whether they are gifted, or high ability, as long as they can cope, they get a chance. That's what I believe enrichment for the gifted or anyone should be. Equal opportunity for all.

The secondary schools were enlightened long ago, how long more are they going to cling on at primary level? What purpose is there?

What if they cannot cope?

[2ppaamm]

ksi:

2ppaamm:

[quote=\"Dnls_mum\"]
So frankly, we can make the best of the situation and it is up to us parents to decide how we want our child to grow up

:goodpost: of course! And I like the way you described NJC's enrichment, also like RI's, they teach everyone the same thing, and then if you are good, they are pulled out for deeper study of the subjects, and even have a chance to teach others.

I meant for the gifted to be taught this way, and hence no need for a selected group called G-E-P. Not put them apart and treat them like some aliens, or sometimes, like gods. GEP kids don't want to be gods, they want to be just a kid, and still get to learn. Mainstream kids also have the same access. When they are good, they also get access, whether they are gifted, or high ability, as long as they can cope, they get a chance. That's what I believe enrichment for the gifted or anyone should be. Equal opportunity for all.

The secondary schools were enlightened long ago, how long more are they going to cling on at primary level? What purpose is there?

What if they cannot cope?[/quote]Who cannot cope? :?

[2ppaamm]

Dnls_mum:

He is doing well in school and his teacher did notice that he is very fast with maths and (or PSLE subjects) always had alternative solutions and so asked us and was not surprise when we confirmed he came from GEP (is gifted or high ability). He now does accelerated maths (enrichment subjects) which is good for him as he was already showing signs of being bored with the general math(PSLE) curriculum. His teacher has asked him the gifted childto be a peer tutor, and he has our blessings to share his knowledge with his classmates. (blending in) Again, his CCA now is Canoeing and not in some acedamically linked CCA, and he is enjoying it and mixing well with all regardless of academic strength.

So frankly, we can make the best of the situation and it is up to us parents to decide how we want our child to grow up

Those in bold are my paraphrase for primary level. Handle the PSLE first, then the enrichment. And then, everyone go for PSLE having been well prepared, entrance for secondary school all based upon the same criteria. All kids have opportunities for enrichment, whenever they show signs of 'waking up', late bloomers not left out. Class size reduce, even if we start with 35 and reduce slowly, we will get there.

[corneyAmber]

2ppaamm:

ksi:

[quote=\"2ppaamm\"]
:goodpost: of course! And I like the way you described NJC's enrichment, also like RI's, they teach everyone the same thing, and then if you are good, they are pulled out for deeper study of the subjects, and even have a chance to teach others.

I meant for the gifted to be taught this way, and hence no need for a selected group called G-E-P. Not put them apart and treat them like some aliens, or sometimes, like gods. GEP kids don't want to be gods, they want to be just a kid, and still get to learn. Mainstream kids also have the same access. When they are good, they also get access, whether they are gifted, or high ability, as long as they can cope, they get a chance. That's what I believe enrichment for the gifted or anyone should be. Equal opportunity for all.

The secondary schools were enlightened long ago, how long more are they going to cling on at primary level? What purpose is there?

What if they cannot cope?

Who cannot cope? :?[/quote]The programme for all.

[2ppaamm]

ksi:

The programme for all.

See above post. Everyone will be able to cope with everything if you read carefully. The base syllabus is PSLE, but with an opportunity for enrichment based upon continual observation and assessment of the child in his classroom.

[ponyo]

As someone (paiseh, this thread is too long that it’s too difficult to trace) pointed out, the GEP is just that 1% of the cohort, shouldn’t we spend some time discussing what to do with the 99% instead?


There’s a lot of programs by MOE to improve the infrastructure of the school (new spanking facilities, IT programs, enrichment programs to hone the presentation skills of students). All fine and laudable.

But the time has come for them to re-look at the staffing and resources.
Apart from large class size (yes, DD1 is in a class of 37), there is the issue of insufficient teachers (DD1’s FT teaches everything except Chinese, Music and SS). And she is in a fairly good class this year. So I really cannot understand this. Back when I was a primary school kid, the class size was also around 38-40 and my FT had to teach us everything too. And that was more than 30 years ago. Why are there still not enough teachers? Is it a pay issue? Is it a KPI issue that makes the teachers burn out? What can we do to give teachers their due recognition? how do we make good learners out of our kids whether or not they are in GEP? What can we do to help the underprivileged that they do may have access to good teachers, good materials, role models and a skill for life. I like the anecdote shared by Ngiam Tong Dow 'When a Chinese boy goes home after school, his mother asks him: ‘What did you learn from your teacher today?’ But when a Jewish American boy goes home after school, his mother asks: ‘How many questions did you ask your teacher today?’

How do we get there? What can we do to get there?

All roads lead to Rome. To quote Malcolm Forbes, "The purpose of education is to replace an empty mind with an open one." Isn’t that so?

As for the GEP (sorry I am not in the learned league but that does not bother me), if the kids there are happy learning there. Let it be.

Just my teeny weeny contribution…

[sleepy]

ponyo:

As someone (paiseh, this thread is too long that it's too difficult to trace) pointed out, the GEP is just that 1% of the cohort, shouldn't we spend some time discussing what to do with the 99% instead?


There's a lot of programs by MOE to improve the infrastructure of the school (new spanking facilities, IT programs, enrichment programs to hone the presentation skills of students). All fine and laudable.

But the time has come for them to re-look at the staffing and resources.
Apart from large class size (yes, DD1 is in a class of 37), there is the issue of insufficient teachers (DD1's FT teaches everything except Chinese, Music and SS). And she is in a fairly good class this year. So I really cannot understand this. Back when I was a primary school kid, the class size was also around 38-40 and my FT had to teach us everything too. And that was more than 30 years ago. Why are there still not enough teachers? Is it a pay issue? Is it a KPI issue that makes the teachers burn out? What can we do to give teachers their due recognition? how do we make good learners out of our kids whether or not they are in GEP? What can we do to help the underprivileged that they do may have access to good teachers, good materials, role models and a skill for life. I like the anecdote shared by Ngiam Tong Dow 'When a Chinese boy goes home after school, his mother asks him: 'What did you learn from your teacher today?' But when a Jewish American boy goes home after school, his mother asks: 'How many questions did you ask your teacher today?'

How do we get there? What can we do to get there?

All roads lead to Rome. To quote Malcolm Forbes, \"The purpose of education is to replace an empty mind with an open one.\" Isn't that so?
As for the GEP (sorry I am not in the learned league but that does not bother me), if the kids there are happy learning there. Let it be.

Just my teeny weeny contribution...

:goodpost:

[Mychildren]

ponyo:

As someone (paiseh, this thread is too long that it's too difficult to trace) pointed out, the GEP is just that 1% of the cohort, shouldn't we spend some time discussing what to do with the 99% instead?


There's a lot of programs by MOE to improve the infrastructure of the school (new spanking facilities, IT programs, enrichment programs to hone the presentation skills of students). All fine and laudable.

But the time has come for them to re-look at the staffing and resources.
Apart from large class size (yes, DD1 is in a class of 37), there is the issue of insufficient teachers (DD1's FT teaches everything except Chinese, Music and SS). And she is in a fairly good class this year. So I really cannot understand this. Back when I was a primary school kid, the class size was also around 38-40 and my FT had to teach us everything too. And that was more than 30 years ago. Why are there still not enough teachers? Is it a pay issue? Is it a KPI issue that makes the teachers burn out? What can we do to give teachers their due recognition? how do we make good learners out of our kids whether or not they are in GEP? What can we do to help the underprivileged that they do may have access to good teachers, good materials, role models and a skill for life. I like the anecdote shared by Ngiam Tong Dow 'When a Chinese boy goes home after school, his mother asks him: 'What did you learn from your teacher today?' But when a Jewish American boy goes home after school, his mother asks: 'How many questions did you ask your teacher today?'

How do we get there? What can we do to get there?

All roads lead to Rome. To quote Malcolm Forbes, \"The purpose of education is to replace an empty mind with an open one.\" Isn't that so?

As for the GEP (sorry I am not in the learned league but that does not bother me), if the kids there are happy learning there. Let it be.

Just my teeny weeny contribution...

To those in blue above, if they can do it on the 1%. Why the 99% cannot be treated the same way??? How do we know whether there are 50% out of the 99% who also bored with their school lessons & need 1:20 kind of attention too? :evil:

[Mychildren]

I no attack on Gepers but asking for the benefits of the rest. MOE short of man power, short of resources, short of funds, maybe??? :?