Why is Tuition Unnecessary?

[Imp75]

I don’t send my kids to tuition (ok , I sent my kids to Chinese writing class once a week) because:

- I am happy with her results, she may not be the top but because she did reasonably well enough (without much supervision), I am comfortable that she knows what is being taught and has no problem grasping the concepts
- I want her to have her childhood and explore other areas of interests. I’ll be happy if she’ll be interested to take an alternative route next time when she grows up (ie photographer, film maker, dancer etc)
- I want to be able to spend more time with her
- I want to train her to be independent and not dependent on rote learning or spoon feeding or be doing tons of worksheets etc. Bottom line, work smart, not hard!
- least of the list, save $ haha (though money should never be an equation here)

[cmm]

My reasons for not sending my kids to tuition:


1. I don’t see the need yet (my eldest in P5) as I coach my kids myself.

2. I believe that I can do a better job, coaching my kids on a day-to-day basis compared to a tutor who comes around just once a week for 1.5 hrs.

3. By coaching my own child, I know each child’s weak areas & can personalize the coaching sessions to work on those areas. I do not think a tutor (with their dozens of students) would be able to do so, unless u get a really committed one.

4. I learn together with my children so I’m hands on and can explain certain concepts they may have difficulty understanding right away instead for waiting till the tutor comes around.

5. Cost.

6. Time.

I am open, however, to sending my kids to tuition one day if I find that I’m unable to coach my kids adequately anymore and they need the extra help.

[ammonite]

I don’t send for a number of reasons. Not in order:

- I disagree with some aspects of our education system in the first place, hence have no desire to chase after MOE’s goals.
- I do not want to short change my child by focusing on the short term goals of perfection for high marks at the expense of the long term need for creative and independent thinking.
- I think it is important to have a broad knowledge base, not just textbook knowledge.
- Time and flexibility is forfeited with tuition. These are very important to me.
- I am able to guide him when he meets with difficulties in his schoolwork.


Actually I think most kids only need some targeted help. With the long hours in school plus ccas, and ploughing through homework, the rest of the time is better spent reading, resting, doing sports, and picking up life skills.

[Imp75]

And to add, it is rare to find a kid that’s real smart, Mine definitely is not, it is just that my expectations are adjusted. Being thru the route, do we really find happiness pursuing the well travelled road despite being financially fulfilling? I know my hubby is not because he is a product of the system so why subject our children to this? Having said this, I still hope that my kids can relatively do well in school so that they find time to do other things and not be bogged down with tons of extra lessons or schoolwork.

Jokingly-mine are all girls lah, just marry well next time and be tai tai haha

[kamom]

I don't send my children to tuition


1) My kids and I find means to solve the problems. Internet comes in useful here. I ask people around me for help..incl. those from this forum
2) I refused to have a herd mentality. (No offence)
3) The happiness of my child is more important. My children look forward to going home each day but I do know of kids who dislike going home because that means more work.
4) I want them to remember their childhood as a time where they have fun and not just about studying and getting top grades
5) I want my children to love what they are doing. My sec 1 boy has already decided that he will not go the JC way. He wants to do things that he really love.
6) I want them to see life beyond school and grades. I want their school life to be part of a learning journey.
7) I stressed on giving their best. It is ok if the best does not equate to top grades.

My motto for my kids is to love what they do so that they won't need to work a day in their life.

Many times, as parents, we blamed system and society of robbing us of our kids but in reality, we are also the accomplice. We placed our own fears on our kids. Sometimes, we send them for tuition to put ourselves at ease. We fail to see things from their perspective. I was at a PTC and on the table, these words were carved on it \"Life is tough\". These words coming from kids who have barely seen the real world. It is sad (at least to me).

We are so concerned with our kids getting top grades that we failed to see something much more important - their health. Kids are not having enough sleep, kids are not eating properly and eating well. (Common sight to see them eating their breakfast while walking to school). Feeding kids is not just about filling up their tummies, it is about building up bodies to last a life time. This may flip some of you. Some time back when we were at the zoo, we saw a kid, maybe about 7 or 8 yo - a stroke patient. You know how easy to spot one, the way they walk, the way their hand moves. It is not just the silver tsunami, it will be a lot more if we don't love our kids enough.

When our kids grow up, scholars will be everywhere but true talent will be rare and that's what people will pay for.

One last thing why I don't sent my kids for tuition - why should I make someone a millionaire

[kamom]

Imp75:

And to add, it is rare to find a kid that's real smart, Mine definitely is not, it is just that my expectations are adjusted. Being thru the route, do we really find happiness pursuing the well travelled road despite being financially fulfilling? I know my hubby is not because he is a product of the system so why subject our children to this? Having said this, I still hope that my kids can relatively do well in school so that they find time to do other things and not be bogged down with tons of extra lessons or schoolwork.

Jokingly-mine are all girls lah, just marry well next time and be tai tai haha

Agree! My part-time helper and her husband (a truck driver) have 2 kids. I due for poly and the other a normal stream sec 1 boy. They are the happiest family I have ever met!

[J and J]

kamom:

I don't send my children to tuition


1) My kids and I find means to solve the problems. Internet comes in useful here. I ask people around me for help..incl. those from this forum
2) I refused to have a herd mentality. (No offence)
3) The happiness of my child is more important. My children look forward to going home each day but I do know of kids who dislike going home because that means more work.
4) I want them to remember their childhood as a time where they have fun and not just about studying and getting top grades
5) I want my children to love what they are doing. My sec 1 boy has already decided that he will not go the JC way. He wants to do things that he really love.
6) I want them to see life beyond school and grades. I want their school life to be part of a learning journey.
7) I stressed on giving their best. It is ok if the best does not equate to top grades.

My motto for my kids is to love what they do so that they won't need to work a day in their life.

Many times, as parents, we blamed system and society of robbing us of our kids but in reality, we are also the accomplice. We placed our own fears on our kids. Sometimes, we send them for tuition to put ourselves at ease. We fail to see things from their perspective. I was at a PTC and on the table, these words were carved on it \"Life is tough\". These words coming from kids who have barely seen the real world. It is sad (at least to me).

We are so concerned with our kids getting top grades that we failed to see something much more important - their health. Kids are not having enough sleep, kids are not eating properly and eating well. (Common sight to see them eating their breakfast while walking to school). Feeding kids is not just about filling up their tummies, it is about building up bodies to last a life time. This may flip some of you. Some time back when we were at the zoo, we saw a kid, maybe about 7 or 8 yo - a stroke patient. You know how easy to spot one, the way they walk, the way their hand moves. It is not just the silver tsunami, it will be a lot more if we don't love our kids enough.

When our kids grow up, scholars will be everywhere but true talent will be rare and that's what people will pay for.

One last thing why I don't sent my kids for tuition - why should I make someone a millionaire

Agreed. I do not send my DD to tuition too. Even my DD tells me that her classmates all are having tuition why she doesn't have... haha. I coach her myself and she can have luxuary afternoon nap nearly everyday except for one CCA day. And I explain to her if she has tuition, she'll have no nap time and with lots of homework. She chooses nap time. I can say she is much more healthier than her peers.

[rains]

The real reason I don't send my kid for tuition is because I want to save money on tuition

[smartmummy]

Thanks to all for your views and sharings. Early stage, my main concern money.Lazy to send and fetch-up.Coaching myself is a easy chore for me to compare with travelling to tuition.Then around P3 my son refused to go.Then P4 I tried myself to coach him and see improvement on his marks.Now in P5, my son 50:50 agree to go tuition.But now my main concern is time.If I send him he definitely spend another two or more hrs in the tuition a week.Then need to spend(depends on tuition centre) for doing homework.In this case I would fail to identify his specifc mistakes.Of course he can relax more time and be less stressful.


One parent told me she only sent her DD P6 onwards.She improved tremendously.Then she regreted didn’t start from P5 onwards.
Another parent told me,If she sent to tuition the her son scored above 260 cos he got 90+all the time.He only scored 240+.She regreted.She forced me to send.
If I coached then I would fail to make his full of potential in PSLE.

So far he grasped in school than me explaining.After he grasped its easy for me to give papers and mark.In this case we cannot depend on school,cos they finish the syllabus faster.

[J and J]

Yes Rains, I save the tuition money and time for her non-academic enrichment courses she enjoys.