MP echoes calls for PSLE to be scrapped

[mgnvr]

I got a shock when my P1 dd came home with a list of recommended assessment books to buy from her FT. I emailed to ask the FT why? She says unless DD has some assessment books otherwise recommended to buy for home revision. Sigh! School textbooks are not sufficient do well in test.

[janet88]

mgnvr:

I got a shock when my P1 dd came home with a list of recommended assessment books to buy from her FT. I emailed to ask the FT why? She says unless DD has some assessment books otherwise recommended to buy for home revision. Sigh! School textbooks are not sufficient do well in test.

:yikes:
So the FT asked you to get assessment books for daughter instead of going for tuition? Something new...er what's next ?

A friend of mine told me this joke. She said schools are like polyclinics...teachers are like the doctors working in those polyclinics. If patients (students) want to get well faster, see specialists (tutors).

[mgnvr]

I am impressed with the FT. She’s trying to motivate her class to learn independently without tuition. However unless parents have work life balance or are sahp it’s difficult to implement with the tough curriculum. At PTM, she was honest to tell us that 30% of English test will not be covered in school. Have to read other books or daily interaction using the language.


The teach less and learn more should not be implemented in lower primary when basics are not even taught. That’s my opinion. At 7 years old how many can learn independently?

[janet88]

mgnvr:

The teach less and learn more should not be implemented in lower primary when basics are not even taught. That's my opinion. At 7 years old how many can learn independently?

'Teach less learn more' is here to stay.
Don't talk about independent learning at 7. Mine is 7+ (P2), still have to chase after her, check her bags and files...tiring to do that daily.
It was a nightmare when daughter was in P1 last year. FT was nice to inform me that P1 will not be honeymoon. So I was almost cut into 2 last year.

[mommylow]

verykiasumummy:

janet_lee88:

If teachers' performance depends on students grades, doesn't it make even MORE sense they teach? It's about the same logic as sales rep. Sales reps are given basic salary and in order to earn more, they have to be hardworking to sell more.


I do wonder whether school teachers know how to teach upper level primary Math for example. With the announcement of change of syllabus to PSLE English, will MOE send their teachers for thorough re-training?

yes it makes more sense for them to teach.. but..

maybe they know they cant do much, that's why encourage students to go for tuition... it has been so long, they wun change for the better unless the quality of teachers improve...

Firstly I don't think a teacher's performance depends on her students' grades. Not even parent's letter of commendation or appreciation will help improve her chance for promotion. My sister is a JC teacher and she told me that teachers who actively participate in CCA activities, contribute substantially in school projects and help earn recognition and honor for school are likely to be rewarded for their effort, not how knowlegeable and well they teach or how many excellent students they produce.

I guess the motivation to teach well for teachers are rather weak in some schools. According to my sister, most teachers are bad teachers and teach for the sake of teaching, there is not much incentive to work harder especially when there are internal politics with HODs and the P. They can be also overwhelmed with other school duties besides doing plain teaching. Personally I feel school teachers are badly paid by MOE especially primary
school teachers. I do pity them to a certain extent for their work is really not easy.

Not everybody is fit to teach. It takes passion, a burning desire to impart knowledge and the nobility to uphold knowledge and wisdom. It's a noble job and not many can deliver. That explains the many dissatisfaction from parents complaining about teachers in school not doing their jobs properly and being unprofessional. Perhaps MOE should be more stringent on selecting their teachers and keep morales high so they are willing to go that extra mile for students. Then we would not have to resort to too much external help from tutors and learning centres.

[janet88]

Don’t know how teachers are paid at primary levels, but it’s impossible students’ performance do not affect teachers.

[mgnvr]

10 years ago primary school teachers and secondary school teachers are paid the same when they join.


For one thing, I am hoping primary school teachers do not teacher 3 subjects. Each teacher should have her specialization like in secondary school.

My dd FT is very committed. There’s a compo test coming up. She asked the whole class to attend extra lesson in the morning. Almost the whole class turned up.

[BeContented]

mommylow:

Firstly I don't think a teacher's performance depends on her students' grades. Not even parent's letter of commendation or appreciation will help improve her chance for promotion. My sister is a JC teacher and she told me that teachers who actively participate in CCA activities, contribute substantially in school projects and help earn recognition and honor for school are likely to be rewarded for their effort, not how knowlegeable and well they teach or how many excellent students they produce.

I guess the motivation to teach well for teachers are rather weak in some schools. According to my sister, most teachers are bad teachers and teach for the sake of teaching, there is not much incentive to work harder especially when there are internal politics with HODs and the P. They can be also overwhelmed with other school duties besides doing plain teaching. Personally I feel school teachers are badly paid by MOE especially primary
school teachers. I do pity them to a certain extent for their work is really not easy.

Not everybody is fit to teach. It takes passion, a burning desire to impart knowledge and the nobility to uphold knowledge and wisdom. It's a noble job and not many can deliver. That explains the many dissatisfaction from parents complaining about teachers in school not doing their jobs properly and being unprofessional. Perhaps MOE should be more stringent on selecting their teachers and keep morales high so they are willing to go that extra mile for students. Then we would not have to resort to too much external help from tutors and learning centres.

Yes, it's a noble job which requires passion.
And passion will eventually die off if we just keep on complaining over everything trivial matter non-stop. Teachers are human too. There's so much talk about the need to support OUR kids, to praise them, not to scold or demoralize them etc etc, I believe we need to show similar compassion to OUR teachers too.

[janet88]

How will 2moro’s CL exam be ?


My friend was just talking to me last night…she is a teacher in a neighbourhood school. Math in today’s context is crazy. If students are not strong in English, they will be at a great disadvantage bcos they will not be able to understand what the question is asking for.
English language may be important…but why must Math & Science also involve the understanding of English PLUS Math strategies and Science concepts ?

[janet88]

Teaching is a VERY noble profession. Educators groom the future of our kids. It’s not easy to be a teacher in today’s society when parents are educated unlike before. As such, we will have higher expectations since most of us have 2, 3 or at most 4 kids.


I am not condemning all the teachers. There are still really passionate ones around, like going all the way out to make sure our kids understand and not ‘taiji’ the weak ones to tutors.

MOE should perhaps start the ball rolling by showing compassion to their staff of teachers. To get a teacher to teach 3 subjects is ridiculous…can a teacher possibly teach 3 subjects equally well ? If the employer and pay master shows that he/she cares, the employee will feel and appreciate.

There are unreasonable parents who expect a lot from teachers…but these unreasonable people expect a lot more from tutors.