Why screen kids in P1?
-
I think we should give MOE credit for hearing our concerns. We should demonstrate some measure of faith in its sincerity.
Don't mistake me... I am the last person to believe in blind faith nor blind trust... especially not after my last 3 years of experience with MOE's poor quality teaching. MOE is run by humans. Humans make mistakes. Humans are not perfect. Why trust MOE as if it really was perfect... trust that everything it does benefits our children? So no... I don't completely trust any human or any human run organization.
Trust and Perfection
One should not expect perfection from MOE. This is an expectation no one can fill. When we blindly trust, it means we expect it to be perfect. When it falls short, we can be very disappointed. That happened to me when I woke up in P5. I don't expect MOE to be perfect. This means I will continue to speak up where I think I should.
Conspiracy Theory & Perfection
However, when we accuse it of conspiracy theories, it also means that we expect it to be perfect and completely trustworthy. The fact is, we have an imperfect MOE... yet, it is the only MOE we have. And it is precious. I see no need to embarrass MOE with further accusations of conspiracy.
I just accept that it is not perfect... and that parents must play their part in ensuring that MOE understands us. I'm ok if MOE does not see fit to explain why an IQ test was given to kids in P1 without parental consent. If it had a good explanation for continuing the practice, I expect that it would have given it through the Straits Times. Since there is no good explanation, it has decided to stop the practice.
I am already happy with that.
Sometimes, at home, I know when my kids have fallen short but I don't have to confront them and embarrass them by dragging out a full confession. This encourages my kids to lie. It gives them no choice. It embarrasses them and is bad for our relationship. MOE is the only Ministry of Education we have. It is still a precious relationship. Let it preserve some face.
I am happy to just move on. I am happy that it has heard and taken some action. -
Psst Chen, I tot you're the one that started all these conspiracy theory thingy? :?
-
FQW:
Psst Chen, I tot you're the one that started all these conspiracy theory thingy? :?
No lah... Then I have been misunderstood. I highlighted the potential for IQ data to be used or misused. That is a fact. Based on this fact I asked that MOE tell us
- Who accesses the data?
- What the data is used for?
Please see post below written here - http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?p=845009#p845009Chenonceau:
Given the potential for teacher bias that goes along with the use of IQ data... and the well documented Pygmalion effect (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pygmalion_effect), the data will certainly be misused (possibly unconsciously) if every teacher gets to access it. I am keenly aware of that and saw it necessary to highlight the point.I am just throwing up questions that I think are important. And it's fine if others don't. I am not judging MOE at present. No one knows what the data will be used for and who will access it. There could be a perfectly good explanation. I am just asking both questions and waiting for an answer.
Of course, I do realize I have an attitude towards IQ testing that is not common. As a parent, I respect my own child's privacy enough to NOT test his/her IQ even though I can. I am naturally upset that schools see fit to test children's IQ instead of giving them the benefit of the doubt. But I do realize that this reaction is far from common. It comes from me working with such data all the time... psychological data misuse is quite common in Singapore because we lack legislation to protect the use of psychological data.
MOE doesn't have to make itself look perfect either... because we all know it isn't, and the more it styles itself perfect... the less people trust it because it is not believable. -
What if MOE make IQ test an optional for P1 kids to take?
This will cause a great stress again to the parents… thanks to Chen.
Parents will start to prepare their kids for such IQ test even as early as 4 yrs old and so on…sometimes no need to broadcast publicly.
If MOE make IQ test at P1 an optional, don’t you think you will opt to take the test for the fear this IQ test will be part of the selection critieria in future program. -
edtan:
Huh? Is it optional? Sorry... I must be very slow today. I don't understand your thought process. Would you be kind enough to explain?What if MOE make IQ test an optional for P1 kids to take?
This will cause a great stress again to the parents...... thanks to Chen.
Parents will start to prepare their kids for such IQ test even as early as 4 yrs old and so on.........sometimes no need to broadcast publicly.
If MOE make IQ test at P1 an optional, don't you think you will opt to take the test for the fear this IQ test will be part of the selection critieria in future program. -
Chenonceau:
Huh? Is it optional? Sorry... I must be very slow today. I don't understand your thought process. Would you be kind enough to explain?edtan:
What if MOE make IQ test an optional for P1 kids to take?
This will cause a great stress again to the parents...... thanks to Chen.
Parents will start to prepare their kids for such IQ test even as early as 4 yrs old and so on.........sometimes no need to broadcast publicly.
If MOE make IQ test at P1 an optional, don't you think you will opt to take the test for the fear this IQ test will be part of the selection critieria in future program.
WHAT IF...MOE make it optional after this.
If MOE really need the data, they will make the test an optional to take.
Sorry to confuse you..... -
edtan:
Huh? Is it optional? Sorry... I must be very slow today. I don't understand your thought process. Would you be kind enough to explain?Chenonceau:
[quote=\"edtan\"]What if MOE make IQ test an optional for P1 kids to take?
This will cause a great stress again to the parents...... thanks to Chen.
Parents will start to prepare their kids for such IQ test even as early as 4 yrs old and so on.........sometimes no need to broadcast publicly.
If MOE make IQ test at P1 an optional, don't you think you will opt to take the test for the fear this IQ test will be part of the selection critieria in future program.
WHAT IF...MOE make it optional after this.
If MOE really need the data, they will make the test an optional to take.
Sorry to confuse you.....[/quote]Why would parents be stressed? That's the part I'm not getting. -
Hmmm, right now GEP testing is optional. I know the reasons for testing. Kids who passed GEP goes to GEP, kids who pass 1st round but not second round are offered some enrichment programs.
I'm not stressed.
I'm looking for something in primary school education but doubt I will see the version that I want in my life time or even ever. My dh commented that I'm too idealistic.
-
SAHM_TAN:
As we know, even though made known, parents still have a lot of issues with the GEP testing, still a lot of foul play is being cried...Hmmm, right now GEP testing is optional. I know the reasons for testing. Kids who passed GEP goes to GEP, kids who pass 1st round but not second round are offered some enrichment programs.
I'm not stressed.
I'm looking for something in primary school education but doubt I will see the version that I want in my life time or even ever. My dh commented that I'm too idealistic.
-
ksi:
Yes there are stressed parents.
As we know, even though made known, parents still have a lot of issues with the GEP testing, still a lot of foul play is being cried...SAHM_TAN:
Hmmm, right now GEP testing is optional. I know the reasons for testing. Kids who passed GEP goes to GEP, kids who pass 1st round but not second round are offered some enrichment programs.
I'm not stressed.
I'm looking for something in primary school education but doubt I will see the version that I want in my life time or even ever. My dh commented that I'm too idealistic.
Still I like to raised my hands (both) and say that I'm not stressed by the GEP.
Pple can have the stressers of their choice. My choice of stress is not this
Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.
Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.
With your input, this post could be even better 💗
Register Login