PSLE leave: For or Against?
-
janet_lee88:
The one with less support but nevertheless made it, will have a resilient and tough body that is better capable of dealing with crisis or challenges later one.I hope I have not taken this out of context...so here goes.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1234155/1/.html
\"The interesting reply was yes, that is one aspect of it, but the other aspect is the running track is not a smooth running track, it has got bumps and stones and grass on it. That means the one with the thicker running shoe will automatically perform better because he or she is better equipped. That is the sense people are getting.\"
The problem are those who \"made it\" with the help of better support and readily available resources..
If they are put into fast track or groomed to be leaders..
can they perform \"on their own\"? -
kwcllf:
Please read the part in red.. IT has the effect of fueling FEAR.. That is probably what JT is talking about.. there's nothing wrong with the implementation to allow staff to take leave.. it is “人之常情“。。 But highlighting \"PSLE leave\" is like recognizing that parents should be present during those period such that special consideration is provided. The message is, \"parents should be present\", not negotiable.. hence a system in place and PSLE leave cannot be anyhow rejected.
As MP Indranee said (a few posts earlier), there is no level playing field. Why begrudge parents taking leave during PSLE to be with their children and begrudge an organisation merely \"formalising\" what is already widely happening??3Boys:
From WP member -->
http://yeejj.wordpress.com/2012/10/25/storm-over-psle/
Excerpts
My concern is why our system has come to a state where the competition level at 12 years old has become so excessive that a major bank has offered special leave consideration for it and saw it as important enough to have a press announcement to highlight this. Often, when I explain our education system to foreigners, they found it strange that we have high stake sorting done at age 12. What is there so much attention on a single year and on a single event in a child’s life? In that respect, I agree with Josephine Teo that we do not have to specially highlight PSLE leave to make already anxious parents wonder if they are doing enough to push their children at this exam. The bank intends well for its staff. It can implement this as an internal matter without any public announcement.
[/color][/i]
The key point of recognizing that \"parents should be present\" isn't it effectively fueling fear in a way? wouldn't it put pressure on those parents who cannot be with their child? They could be feeling guilty for not being able to be by their child's side when a major organization already acknowledged that parents presence IS IMPORTANT.
You can be telling these parents that \"there's no need to fear\".. \"It's ok to let the child be independent\" etc etc..
BUT a major organization like OCBC is NOT telling them THAT. Do you see the picture? -
For any companies which feel threatened by OCBC's PSLE Leave, perhaps they must look at their own \"shortcomings\". Why must it be \"feared\"?
If OCBC feels it can mangage the situation, then to each its own. We shouldn't blame OCBC for responding to the system that brought about it in the first place.
By the way, I don't think OCBC ANNOUNCED that \"parents must be around that period\". Also, as parents, to each his/her own. If they feel it is required to be around, so be it. If not, so be it as well. If I don't take leave during PSLE time and other parents take leave, I don't see the reason why I should feel \"bad\". As I have mentioned before, and I agree with JT on this point, that we should spend time with our children at other times as well besides PSLE time. But if there is a need to spend more time with the children during PSLE period, it is at the perogative of each parents. This may be for last minute coaching, provide moral support, etc......whatever it is, different people have different needs. -
kwcllf:
By endorsing PSLE as a valid and approved reason to take leave, is as good as recognizing the \"Need\" for parents to be around.For any companies which feel threatened by OCBC's PSLE Leave, perhaps they must look at their own \"shortcomings\". Why must it be \"feared\"?
If OCBC feels it can mangage the situation, then to each its own. We shouldn't blame OCBC for responding to the system that brought about it in the first place.
By the way, I don't think OCBC ANNOUNCED that \"parents must be around that period\". Also, as parents, to each his/her own. If they feel it is required to be around, so be it. If not, so be it as well. If I don't take leave during PSLE time and other parents take leave, I don't see the reason why I should feel \"bad\". As I have mentioned before, and I agree with JT on this point, that we should spend time with our children at other times as well besides PSLE time. But if there is a need to spend more time with the children during PSLE period, it is at the perogative of each parents. This may be for last minute coaching, provide moral support, etc......whatever it is, different people have different needs.
And, the fear is not by other companies.. I guess you're mistaken on that. The \"fear\", is fear for PSLE. People are telling parents that PSLE needs not be fearful.. but OCBC's move at formalizing \"PSLE leave\" just does the opposite of it. -
limlim:
This is interesting.
The one with less support but nevertheless made it, will have a resilient and tough body that is better capable of dealing with crisis or challenges later one.janet_lee88:
\"The interesting reply was yes, that is one aspect of it, but the other aspect is the running track is not a smooth running track, it has got bumps and stones and grass on it. That means the one with the thicker running shoe will automatically perform better because he or she is better equipped. That is the sense people are getting.\"
The problem are those who \"made it\" with the help of better support and readily available resources..
If they are put into fast track or groomed to be leaders..
can they perform \"on their own\"?
Kids who are extensively groomed and do very well at PSLE can take the IP route...but at secondary 1, can these kids manage ? I had 2 friends whose kids did very well and took the IP route...realized that it is different from the tried-and-tested O level route and struggling now. -
limlim:
Just wondering why becos just ONE organisation implement the policy, parents feel compelled to be around during PSLE time. It is not as if OCBC has started a trend to do so. Perhaps, those who feel compelled to follow suit to take leave are succumbing to their own insecurity.
By endorsing PSLE as a valid and approved reason to take leave, is as good as recognizing the \"Need\" for parents to be around.kwcllf:
For any companies which feel threatened by OCBC's PSLE Leave, perhaps they must look at their own \"shortcomings\". Why must it be \"feared\"?
If OCBC feels it can mangage the situation, then to each its own. We shouldn't blame OCBC for responding to the system that brought about it in the first place.
By the way, I don't think OCBC ANNOUNCED that \"parents must be around that period\". Also, as parents, to each his/her own. If they feel it is required to be around, so be it. If not, so be it as well. If I don't take leave during PSLE time and other parents take leave, I don't see the reason why I should feel \"bad\". As I have mentioned before, and I agree with JT on this point, that we should spend time with our children at other times as well besides PSLE time. But if there is a need to spend more time with the children during PSLE period, it is at the perogative of each parents. This may be for last minute coaching, provide moral support, etc......whatever it is, different people have different needs.
And, the fear is not by other companies.. I guess you're mistaken on that. The \"fear\", is fear for PSLE. People are telling parents that PSLE needs not be fearful.. but OCBC's move at formalizing \"PSLE leave\" just does the opposite of it.
By the way, OCBC not only allowed PSLE Leave, but also Sabbaticals (with benefits retained) as it sees many of its employees requiring them. I think it should be applauded for giving its employees the fexibility to do so. Does one employee takes a Sabbatical and no-pay leave compelled others or put pressure on others to follow suit? I don't think so. Some may not be able to afford taking no-pay leave. So it is an indiviual decision.
In fact, if you read the ST forum (paper edition) today, some are so appreciative to have their parents around during PSLE and the sacrifices they undertake. Again, this is an individual choice. -
kwcllf:
Just wondering why becos just ONE organisation implement the policy, parents feel compelled to be around during PSLE time. It is not as if OCBC has started a trend to do so. Perhaps, those who feel compelled to follow suit to take leave are succumbing to their own insecurity.
By endorsing PSLE as a valid and approved reason to take leave, is as good as recognizing the \"Need\" for parents to be around.limlim:
[quote=\"kwcllf\"]For any companies which feel threatened by OCBC's PSLE Leave, perhaps they must look at their own \"shortcomings\". Why must it be \"feared\"?
If OCBC feels it can mangage the situation, then to each its own. We shouldn't blame OCBC for responding to the system that brought about it in the first place.
By the way, I don't think OCBC ANNOUNCED that \"parents must be around that period\". Also, as parents, to each his/her own. If they feel it is required to be around, so be it. If not, so be it as well. If I don't take leave during PSLE time and other parents take leave, I don't see the reason why I should feel \"bad\". As I have mentioned before, and I agree with JT on this point, that we should spend time with our children at other times as well besides PSLE time. But if there is a need to spend more time with the children during PSLE period, it is at the perogative of each parents. This may be for last minute coaching, provide moral support, etc......whatever it is, different people have different needs.
And, the fear is not by other companies.. I guess you're mistaken on that. The \"fear\", is fear for PSLE. People are telling parents that PSLE needs not be fearful.. but OCBC's move at formalizing \"PSLE leave\" just does the opposite of it.
By the way, OCBC not only allowed PSLE Leave, but also Sabbaticals (with benefits retained) as it sees many of its employees requiring them. I think it should be applauded for giving its employees the fexibility to do so. Does one employee takes a Sabbatical and no-pay leave compelled others or put pressure on others to follow suit? I don't think so. Some may not be able to afford taking no-pay leave. So it is an indiviual decision.
In fact, if you read the ST forum (paper edition) today, some are so appreciative to have their parents around during PSLE and the sacrifices they undertake. Again, this is an individual choice.[/quote] :udawoman: -
kwcllf:
As I have mentioned before, and I agree with JT on this point, that we should spend time with our children at other times as well besides PSLE time. But if there is a need to spend more time with the children during PSLE period, it is at the perogative of each parents. This may be for last minute coaching, provide moral support, etc......whatever it is, different people have different needs.
But it should not be formalised, or else, with all due respect to parents with PSLE kids, it is but one thing that people take leave for, so there a hundred other reasons why people feel their leave is important, including unmarried staff without children......
.....and labelling is the first step to formalisation. Leave during exam time IS important, I have already agreed to that so there is no need to keep beating a dead horse with forum letters, I have never had an issue with that concept. BUT, I have a big issue with granting PSLE leave special priority.
JT is therefore taking issue with the labelling, and semi-formalisation of it, and therefore OCBC seems targeted. No flaw in that logic.
Its heartening to see that in a KSP forum that even over a quarter of parents vote against the idea. Singapore society is not JUST about parents with school-going kids, any philosophies and principles we adopt must take into account and be fair to ALL stakeholders. You go to a different forum like HWZ and put up the same poll, I betcha you get a different result.
You ask why OCBC is targeted, it's because they represent a type of philosophy that, although expands the space for PSLE parents, narrows the space for other constituencies. You have to look at the totality of what it represents, and if you disagree with the principle (like JT), then you speak out and nail it straightaway.
limlim, you tell me, since you are getting more traction with your arguments, this make sense to you? -
kwcllf, I borrow your quote:
JT mentioned that she tries to schedule her work so that she don't need to travel around her children's PSLE period.........But Why? Isn't the answer obvious. This is just another form of support that they are providing their children
OCBC recognized that PSLE is a BIG thing in S'pore bcos parents wouldn't mind sitting for it if they can...by O/A levels, we know we are kinda out of bounds. -
janet_lee88:
Hi,kwcllf, I borrow your quote:
JT mentioned that she tries to schedule her work so that she don't need to travel around her children's PSLE period.........But Why? Isn't the answer obvious. This is just another form of support that they are providing their children
OCBC recognized that PSLE is a BIG thing in S'pore bcos parents wouldn't mind sitting for it if they can...by O/A levels, we know we are kinda out of bounds.
What you have said may be very True to some parents. But, ultimately, we have to let go eventually. PSLE is the First major national exam our kids are taking and if parents are there to provide whatever necessary support, why not?
I have a friend who graduated from NTU from Electrical Engineering donkey years ago and his DS took his \"O\" levels last year and did very well. He is based in China currently but when he is back in Singapore, he still coaches his DS in Science.
As parents, I think we will try to do whatever is best for our DC.........of course, there will be many different approaches to different situations.
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