MOE to stop publishing names of top students?
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SAHM_TAN:
Then we will wait.........[/quote]Till its too late.....pirate:
[quote=\"SAHM_TAN\"]If MOE do dumb down the syllabus then I have made a wrong judgment abt them becos I dont think they would be so foolish.
I don't think MOE will consciously dumb down the syllabus. Dumbing down is seldom the intention. It is often the unintended consequence that sneaks in. -
SAHM_TAN:
No pity involved nor is it about unfairness to them.Was watching a jap cartoon. Suddenly I thought so strange of us adults to feel pity for the top scorers, their name not published this year. But what if the top scorers don't care :rotflmao: of course not knowing that they are the national top scorers, assuming no one investigate and then with absolute certainty told them that they are, they might not feel it's unfair to them that now MOE don't announce their name.
Heehee
Its not just about the topscorers. Just knowing the top scorers is a kind of boost to all Primary school kids. It tells the aspiring students - this is within you, strive for it , reach out for the stars , even if you dont quite reach them , you will definitely reach higher than where you are.
If we take the view that ultimately we do our best, what does it matter how good we are in comparison with others, then why olympics , why the nobel prize, why the oscars, why the grammys?
The best may not always be honoured, but these awards inspire millions and so even though only a handful receive them , the awards serve the purpose of pushing the the millions to go the extra mile.
So glorifying these few toppers is not about academics , its about (wo)man's quest for excellence, to rise above ourselves and shine. -
Brands chicken essence need to find new faces and angle to advertise and peddle their goods. I remember seeing top PSLE scorers used by some companies to advertise their goods and services.
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ChiefKiasu:
Exactly.Freesia:
... Academic prowess is nothing to be ashamed of but academic prowess is nothing to be proud of too. At the end of the chess game, be it the King, Queen, Knight or Pawn; it goes into the same box.
Why not? I would be lying if I say that I won't be proud of my son if he tops his class. I would be equally proud of my son if he tells me he shared his lunch with a less well-to-do classmate during recess time.
Academic excellence is definitely something to strive for. It is not 'the end all and be all', but it is of value.
Why do people give out Nobel prizes for scientific or literary achievement (amongst other things), if academic excellence is not meant to be celebrated?
The attitude that \"academic excellence is nothing to be proud of\", if it pervades our society, will be the end of our excellence and achievements as a country. -
If it is one’s own call to want to be the champion; why the need for external perks, recognition and honour to motivate?
Why expect to be recognized and honour when it is one’s call and desire to perfrom?
There is prize and recognition for top scorers. It comes in subsidized fees etc etc. It gives your choices to do 3rd language. Education gives you choices, is this not what education is all about? IT gives you access to better schools etc… are these reasons not good enough to encourage and motivate you to do well? ALso, there is leadership roles only available for those in top 10%. There is enough recognition and perks to motivate and individual to do well.
If one is rich is SOUL, he/she does not need honour and recognition from the public. -
Freesia:
The next time you or your spouse does a great job for your employer, tell them you don't need recognition in the form of a raise.If it is one's own call to want to be the champion; why the need for external perks, recognition and honour to motivate?
Why expect to be recognized and honour when it is one's call and desire to perfrom?
There is prize and recognition for top scorers. It comes in subsidized fees etc etc. It gives your choices to do 3rd language. Education gives you choices, is this not what education is all about? IT gives you access to better schools etc.. are these reasons not good enough to encourage and motivate you to do well? ALso, there is leadership roles only available for those in top 10%. There is enough recognition and perks to motivate and individual to do well.
If one is rich is SOUL, he/she does not need honour and recognition from the public.
When you watch a fabulous piano performance from a top concert pianist, please just leave the concert hall silently without applause, his soul is sufficiently enriched, his excellence needs no public recognition.
Accomplishment is enough, in and of itself...... -
Freesia:
Wait, are these kids seeking the recognition or is it given to them. Reporters are the ones seeking them out as these are news worthy information. People read the reports as they well like to know such things.If it is one's own call to want to be the champion; why the need for external perks, recognition and honour to motivate?
Why expect to be recognized and honour when it is one's call and desire to perfrom?
There is prize and recognition for top scorers. It comes in subsidized fees etc etc. It gives your choices to do 3rd language. Education gives you choices, is this not what education is all about? IT gives you access to better schools etc.. are these reasons not good enough to encourage and motivate you to do well? ALso, there is leadership roles only available for those in top 10%. There is enough recognition and perks to motivate and individual to do well.
If one is rich is SOUL, he/she does not need honour and recognition from the public.
I think it is very human to like some form of recognition for one's performance right? And recognition from the authorities is a definite boost. Even in the work place, do you not feel that extra motivation if the president of the company acknowledges your contribution and performance on top of the regular promotion, incentive trips and bonuses?
Not talking about getting these recognition at the expense of everything else but if one put in their heart and soul to reach where they are, this recognition is that icing on the cake. -
Being top scorers in national exam is not like a race where you can see your competitors. No one really knows where he stands until the results are out. There is the element of surprise, jubilation and celebration. Most of us want a glimpse of, and share in their joy.
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Freesia:
I beg to differ. Ask any child aspiring to be a doctor if his grades in Biology in Secondary 2 is important....
Technical excellence is not the determining paths our child will take as many do not end up pursuing a career related to their field of study. How many bankers are business grads? How many chemistry graduates actually went on to become a chemist?
[quote]Many at the top management may not excel academically when young. They are only those with average grades. If so, why the need to glorify the top scorer? [/quote]Good point. There are early and late bloomers. Success in PSLE is not equal to success in life. But the issue is about not just about glorifying the top scorer in PSLE. The question is whether publishing the names of the top scorers will add to the stress of parents. To me, publishing these names only serves to recognise an achievement, of being the top 10 scholars in Singapore, out of a cohort of 50K. It is a worthy accomplishment, no small feat. It will mean something if you put it in your resume
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Does that add to the stress of parents? No it doesn't. Instead, if the top scorers come from a not-so-well-to-do family, it will be an inspiration for us all.
[quote]Even if you want to compete for your country be it academic or sports; it is because of your passion not because you expect to be recognized and honour.
If one is humble and rich in soul, one does not need recognition and honour and your country to rejoice and celebrate your achievements,
just like you do charity out of your own goodwill; you do not need the recognition.[/quote]To first compete for your country whether it be academic or sports, one must first qualify to compete. One can be humble and rich in soul but one may not even qualify if one doesn't have the technical prowess. One must train and go through many trials and selections before one makes it to the top. We all know only the best get to go represent the country.
Yes, it takes passion and a burning competitive spirit to triumph. Sportsmen have to enjoy the sport for what it is before they can have this passion. But to say that they go for competitions only for the human spirit would be naive. Sportsmen compete because they want to prove to others that they are the best, and it is through competition that they hone their skills and become better. It is this competitive spirit that we celebrate and honor in sports. Even in ancient Greece, it is said that the winners of the Olympics are given a olive wreath as recognition of their accomplishment. It is not the value of the wreath that is important. It is the recognition of the fact that they are the best.
But I digress. To me, the issue is whether the act of giving recognition to top PSLE scorers really mean over-emphasing the importance of the PSLE? Let us argue on this point. -
SAHM_TAN:
Good question. I think 3Boys has already answered it for me in his first post regarding the slow dilution of our education system into mediocrity.ChiefKiasu:
I don't think the issue is whether it is fair or not fair for top scorers' names to be published. I am more concerned with the innuendo that MOE feels that publishing names of top scorers actually creates an \"over-emphasis on academic results\". If that is the case, then we should stop going for International academic competitions, Math Olympiads, etc because they promote unhealthy celebration of academic prowess amongst students.
Why are you concern abt that?
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