PSLE leave: For or Against?
-
SAHM_TAN:
I read it as sexual education curriculum.[/quote]I suppose you could... but do you know that sex education takes place OUTSIDE curriculum time and schools have to ask parent permission to allow the kids to stay back for this. For me, that's not curriculum. But hey... your definition works as well.
I dunno... the word \"curriculum\" means 4 core subjects to me. The rest are all optional. You can take your child out of sexuality education... but not out of Math class. For me, that is curriculum... everything else is enrichment.Chenonceau:
[quote=\"SAHM_TAN\"]Chen,
Regards to the letter by Liew Wei Li. I thought the context was abt life skills and not abt subject content.
This is the infor on the portal helping to learn mother tongue.
http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/press/2012/08/new-imtl-portal-to-help-students.php
There's nothing abt parent's involvement specifically though. -
3Boys:
Sorry Chen, you always find a way to connect every dot back to 'The System'
Did I diss her for speaking up? No. I dissed her for her flaw in logic and her failure to account for the role of the WHOLE system. If you wanna speak up, make sure you get the full context and then weigh in. Especially if you're a Minister.Chenonceau:
[quote=\"3Boys\"]
If I were OCBC management this would be a 10 minute discussion with HR VP and corporate comms. There is nothing fair or unfair on OCBC, they are doing something unique and different, just be prepared to defend it. No biggie. I don't see what MOE got to do with this. Many US companies provide assistance for child care, should the state then be blamed for lack of child care facilities? It's a staff benefit, that's all.
Minister has a right to state her views. If she felt something strongly about something and held her tongue, I'd be much more worried about having some one like that in parliament.
Diss her view if you like, but don't diss her for speaking up.
Time is time. 10 minutes X 5 people = 50 minutes of corporate time that need not be spent if the Minister were more sensible.
That's the flaw in your logic.
She feels we should not obsess about PSLE. Her logic is not flawed.
I agree. I know you don't.[/quote]I also agree that that we should not obsess about PSLE. THAT logic is not flawed. Are you attributing to me that I think we SHOULD obsess about PSLE? The flaw in her logic is not here.
Again, you are attributing to me thoughts I do not think. -
This is a follow up post from Josephine Teo's FB -->
Thank you all for sharing your views.
We should take time out for any occasions we feel are significant in our families e.g. wife dealing with difficult pregnancy, husband on overseas course, grandparents on pilgrimage, kids preparing for major role in school play. And great if an employer supports such time-out.
Why single out PSLE though? The bank providing such leave suggests it should be the norm for parents to take leave for their children's PSLE. That is what I'm uncomfortable with. The bank’s other initiative e.g. sabbatical leave etc are very welcome as we all could use some regular time-out to re-charge.
Speaking as a parent, I can understand that many parents feel anxious. However, by focusing an inordinate amount of attention on PSLE (or any other exam), we stress ourselves and the kids excessively. Why do we do that? A rough count will tell us that the kids will sit for 200+ papers if they go the whole hog, and the PSLE accounts for fewer than five. Yes, it does determine the secondary school they go to but that itself is not the only thing that determines their future.
We have to be there for the children when they need us, and that may not be during PSLE at all. Don't miss out on all the other times when our presence matters.
I really find it hard to see any serious 'flaw' in her reasoning. She rejects the idea of objectifying 'PSLE' leave, ergo, don't obsess about it. Even if you don't personally subscribe to this philosophy, its still a fai view, is it not? -
3Boys:
There is no flaw here either... in this follow up post. Are you saying that the flaw in logic I pointed out is here? That is not so. Again.This is a follow up post from Josephine Teo's FB -->
Thank you all for sharing your views.
We should take time out for any occasions we feel are significant in our families e.g. wife dealing with difficult pregnancy, husband on overseas course, grandparents on pilgrimage, kids preparing for major role in school play. And great if an employer supports such time-out.
Why single out PSLE though? The bank providing such leave suggests it should be the norm for parents to take leave for their children's PSLE. That is what I'm uncomfortable with. The bank’s other initiative e.g. sabbatical leave etc are very welcome as we all could use some regular time-out to re-charge.
Speaking as a parent, I can understand that many parents feel anxious. However, by focusing an inordinate amount of attention on PSLE (or any other exam), we stress ourselves and the kids excessively. Why do we do that? A rough count will tell us that the kids will sit for 200+ papers if they go the whole hog, and the PSLE accounts for fewer than five. Yes, it does determine the secondary school they go to but that itself is not the only thing that determines their future.
We have to be there for the children when they need us, and that may not be during PSLE at all. Don't miss out on all the other times when our presence matters.
I really find it hard to see any serious 'flaw' in her reasoning.
This is, I point out, the follow up post.... and it is MUCH more nuanced... and more wise. -
The first post, I surmise -->
A few people have asked me what I thought of the PSLE Leave, a new scheme which a major bank in Singapore has introduced for its staff.
Actually, when I first heard of it on the radio (Capital 958 to be exact) on Monday, my immediate reaction was “over-the-top”.
Some of you know we’ve just had a pair of twins go through PSLE. What did we do? Not much actually. It has been very clear to us that this is their exam and only they can influence the outcome. My role as mum is to be supportive, encouraging and help them if they ask for it. My husband, who happens to be a good coach for Math, chipped in as well. Both of us made it a point to cut down on overseas travel nearer the exam dates to be physically present to give moral support (and a shoulder to cry on if needed). But it was otherwise work-as-usual and life-as-normal.
There are many occasions in our children’s lives when they need us to “be there” which we must make time for. It could be a bout of illness, a rough patch in school or a particularly exciting project that they help to carry out.
It might even be the PSLE for some. But I don’t think the default assumption should be that working parents need to take significant time off to help their children prepare for PSLE. We are quite mistaken to behave as if PSLE is THE defining moment in a child’s development. It does not warrant such special attention compared to other significant moments we parents ought to watch out for.
The bank may have been well-intentioned when introducing such leave. But they may not have realized that this feeds into fears of parents, and that they are somehow unusual if they don’t take leave during their children’s PSLE.
There are many things we hope to see employers doing for their staff. PSLE Leave should NOT be one.
Perhaps I am blinkered today. Yeah, the last 2 paragraphs, some people will take offence, but hard to see how they can be considered ill-thought. It's objectification of the PSLE exams. Suddenly, there's PSLE leave, oh my!
Leave is leave, people are free to move it around and use as they see fit. Many people take leave during exams, that's fine too. So OCBC decide to make a bit of a meal and score some HR points, and in lieu of actually increasing leave quantum for staff, actually seems to me now a bit of a cynical exercise.
Its her view, she took a small swipe at the bank for what she felt was an ill-conceived idea. No flaw in THAT logic either. -
3Boys:
Facts and too many people's personal experiences belie this facile assertion. Plenty of teachers ask kids to get tuition. Many schools test beyond what they teach. This assertion is not true for all schools nor classes. In too many instances (though not in all schools), children (hard working and intelligent ones) NEED external help to get by in school.
Some of you know we’ve just had a pair of twins go through PSLE. What did we do? Not much actually. It has been very clear to us that this is their exam and only they can influence the outcome.3Boys:
Nothing wrong with this. I took 2 weeks off before PSLE just to cook and cuddle.My role as mum is to be supportive, encouraging and help them if they ask for it. My husband, who happens to be a good coach for Math, chipped in as well. Both of us made it a point to cut down on overseas travel nearer the exam dates to be physically present to give moral support (and a shoulder to cry on if needed). But it was otherwise work-as-usual and life-as-normal.
There are many occasions in our children’s lives when they need us to “be there” which we must make time for. It could be a bout of illness, a rough patch in school or a particularly exciting project that they help to carry out.3Boys:
Parents take leave for SA1 and SA2 and CA1 and CA2 too. Does this mean they believe these exams are \"defining moments\" of their child's life? All our kids have 4 defining moments of their lives every year? The flaw in logic is here. Just because parents take PSLE leave... or companies GIVE PSLE leave is evidence that they believe that PSLE is a defining moment?It might even be the PSLE for some. But I don’t think the default assumption should be that working parents need to take significant time off to help their children prepare for PSLE. We are quite mistaken to behave as if PSLE is THE defining moment in a child’s development. It does not warrant such special attention compared to other significant moments we parents ought to watch out for.
3Boys:
The flaw in logic is here too. Companies give holiday leave. This feeds into employees' love for holidays? Her logic is on its head. It is because parents fear so much (thanks to systemic features) that OCBC decided to offer this. Offering this won't make other parents fear more or less, they'll just enjoy more moments with their kids at the first major exam the kids are taking. Like taking time off to enjoy kids' graduation. See it from the children's perspective too. For them, it is the first big thing and it's nice to have mom around to love and cherish... and just be there.The bank may have been well-intentioned when introducing such leave. But they may not have realized that this feeds into fears of parents, and that they are somehow unusual if they don’t take leave during their children’s PSLE.
-
Agree that OCBC trying to be too ‘creative’ to label their leave as PLSE leave and I believe that this will feed unnecessary fear in parents with ‘soft ears’ to doubt the level of their support in preparing their children for this seem-like ‘final moment’ and may take leave too just to be the ‘norm’; "keeping up with the Jones" mentality.
If children have been guided well since young to be independent in some way, the leave is not unnecessary at all but may be nice-to-have. If children are still not prepared when PSLE is drawing close, that 15 days or whatsoever leave that parents take with a hope to guide their children will be like a drop of water in the ocean as it may only help so little except maybe to make the parents feel better.
It’s just a small exam though important but does not necessitate the taking of leave and I support Joesophine Teo fully in her view.
Better for OCBC to concentrate their creativity in re-packaging their financial products. -
Thanks 3Boys for sharing her full posts here. I thought she seems quite balanced in her views…
-
Chenonceau:
Totally agree. This motherhood statement post is like Miss World contest 'We need world peace'. There can be no wrong. But what is does show is the concerns generated is recognised and hence this clarification. For me to churn out such a careful and well written passage, need at least 2 hrs. Higher calibre ppl need 2 min, at most.
There is no flaw here either... in this follow up post. Are you saying that the flaw in logic I pointed out is here? That is not so. Again.3Boys:
This is a follow up post from Josephine Teo's FB -->
I really find it hard to see any serious 'flaw' in her reasoning.
This is, I point out, the follow up post.... and it is MUCH more nuanced... and more wise. -
Chen,
so here is where I have a different reading of JT’s post. I don’t think she said that one should not take leave during PSLE or other exams. My read is that she basically says we shouldn’t give it a name and objectify it and ‘feed into fears’. People DO take leave during exams, it is accepted. But we don’t have to give it a name, and now the reverse effect is in force; i.e. what if I am a PSLE parent and DON’T take PSLE leave.
You see where she is coming from? She is against OCBC labelling as such.
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