Is GEP really necessary?
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tck:
:goodpost: :goodpost: :goodpost:Can't help but be reminded of the Crab Syndrome after reading this thread.
From Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crab_mentality
Crab mentality, sometimes referred to as crabs in the bucket, describes a way of thinking best described by the phrase \"if I can't have it, neither can you.\" The metaphor refers to a pot of crabs. Individually, the crabs could easily escape from the pot, but instead, they grab at each other in a useless \"king of the hill\" competition which prevents any from escaping and ensures their collective demise.[1][2] The analogy in human behavior is that of a group that will attempt to \"pull down\" (negate or diminish the importance of) any member who achieves success beyond the others, out of envy,[3] conspiracy or competitive feelings.
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I think we can all agree that Singapore mainstream schooling isn't ideal, large class size, (arguably) worse teachers, one-size-fits-all curriculum etc. The government has seen it fit to bestow upon a small group of students an enriched curriculum coupled with significantly smaller class size. I think we all agree that every student (not just GEP kids) will benefit from a differentiated (not necessarily enriched) curriculum and small class sizes.
However, the vitriol seen in this thread smacks of envy and sadly sometimes hearsay, misinformation and personal prejudices (from bad experience with GE branch). Instead of calling for these \"benefits\" to be taken away from this 1%, the discussion should instead be to fight for all kids to have, for example, small class sizes. Just because most think small class sizes will never come to mainstreamers, is it right then to pour so much scorn on GEP and call for them to lose these \"privileges\"?
Some forumers here keep harping on the fact that GEP kids aren't really gifted, ONLY High-Ability. Then so be it. If GEP is renamed HAEP, but all benefits remain intact, will the calls for its disbandment remain? I'm afraid the crab mentality will still be there, whatever you call the rose.
Another topic that keeps coming up is that GEP kids are trained and hot-housed and so aren't really gifted. Again, giftedness is wide-ranging. For a few forumers here with PG kids, only PG is considered gifted. To them, only PG kids require intervention. How many PG/EG kids can there be in Singapore each year? Be realistic. Stop bashing a programme just cos your kid can't fit in. Again, no Crab Mentality, just cos others can fit in, suddenly, they are robots and mindless worker ants that are only fit to be administrators for the Singapore government. Many kids have and are benefiting from GEP, as some parents have attested to in this thread.
I believe GEP has cast the net wider in recent years and now offer more places than before, perhaps to take into account the possibility of kids having been trained/hothoused (instead of 1%, it's now 1.5%? I may be wrong). So more kids are getting into the programme and this wider net also minimizes the chance of missing out a truly gifted child. And honestly, seriously, how many percent of the 500 GEP kids each year do detractors truly think has been hothoused? Do not paint the entire group with the same brush, as if every single one of these kids has been hothoused.
Asking for abolishment of DSA is definitely a step backwards. It is precisely because PSLE had its flaws (requires kids to be good in all subjects and to be academically strong) that DSA was conceived. Now kids can go to their preferred schools via sports, arts, language, math etc. And there are even specialised schools for kids who weren't identified earlier. Every kid has a chance at DSA. If a child doesn't have a niche that schools are looking for, then voila, there's still the PSLE route. Calls for using only PSLE results is just the type of envious Crab Mentality of those who don't have a niche. It's not that they think their kids will get into the preferred schools through PSLE, it's just that they don't want these other kids to get in through DSA. Sad.
There is a worse scenario you know. Imagine if at its conception, it was decided that GEP kids will be grouped in one academy. And it's through-train for all these kids. These kids do not even need to take PSLE. Would you guys prefer that? As it is now, GEP kids are taught in mainstream schools. And not everyone gets DSA. GEP kids need to take PSLE too. So please lah, can stop with the Crab Mentality? Discuss as much as possible on how to make Singapore education better for ALL, but stop trying to pull down this 1%. -
2ppaamm:
Your point being?
Really? Read carefully. This person created a KSP account just to write this.
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:evil: -
2ppaamm:
Aiyoh, GEPper mum, look closely what's the intention here... :skeptical: I'd rather get back to popcorn. :)[/quote]No idea, ex-GEP mum.
Your point being?jtoh:
[quote=\"2ppaamm\"]
Really? Read carefully. This person created a KSP account just to write this. -
2ppaamm:
Really? Read carefully. This person created a KSP account just to write this.
:goodpost: tck! You've expressed what a lot of us feel and have been trying to voice out over and over again on this forum, only perhaps less eloquently. Thank you.jtoh:
[quote=\"tck\"]Can't help but be reminded of the Crab Syndrome after reading this thread.
From Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crab_mentality
Crab mentality, sometimes referred to as crabs in the bucket, describes a way of thinking best described by the phrase \"if I can't have it, neither can you.\" The metaphor refers to a pot of crabs. Individually, the crabs could easily escape from the pot, but instead, they grab at each other in a useless \"king of the hill\" competition which prevents any from escaping and ensures their collective demise.[1][2] The analogy in human behavior is that of a group that will attempt to \"pull down\" (negate or diminish the importance of) any member who achieves success beyond the others, out of envy,[3] conspiracy or competitive feelings.
***************************
I think we can all agree that Singapore mainstream schooling isn't ideal, large class size, (arguably) worse teachers, one-size-fits-all curriculum etc. The government has seen it fit to bestow upon a small group of students an enriched curriculum coupled with significantly smaller class size. I think we all agree that every student (not just GEP kids) will benefit from a differentiated (not necessarily enriched) curriculum and small class sizes.
However, the vitriol seen in this thread smacks of envy and sadly sometimes hearsay, misinformation and personal prejudices (from bad experience with GE branch). Instead of calling for these \"benefits\" to be taken away from this 1%, the discussion should instead be to fight for all kids to have, for example, small class sizes. Just because most think small class sizes will never come to mainstreamers, is it right then to pour so much scorn on GEP and call for them to lose these \"privileges\"?
Some forumers here keep harping on the fact that GEP kids aren't really gifted, ONLY High-Ability. Then so be it. If GEP is renamed HAEP, but all benefits remain intact, will the calls for its disbandment remain? I'm afraid the crab mentality will still be there, whatever you call the rose.
Another topic that keeps coming up is that GEP kids are trained and hot-housed and so aren't really gifted. Again, giftedness is wide-ranging. For a few forumers here with PG kids, only PG is considered gifted. To them, only PG kids require intervention. How many PG/EG kids can there be in Singapore each year? Be realistic. Stop bashing a programme just cos your kid can't fit in. Again, no Crab Mentality, just cos others can fit in, suddenly, they are robots and mindless worker ants that are only fit to be administrators for the Singapore government. Many kids have and are benefiting from GEP, as some parents have attested to in this thread.
I believe GEP has cast the net wider in recent years and now offer more places than before, perhaps to take into account the possibility of kids having been trained/hothoused (instead of 1%, it's now 1.5%? I may be wrong). So more kids are getting into the programme and this wider net also minimizes the chance of missing out a truly gifted child. And honestly, seriously, how many percent of the 500 GEP kids each year do detractors truly think has been hothoused? Do not paint the entire group with the same brush, as if every single one of these kids has been hothoused.
Asking for abolishment of DSA is definitely a step backwards. It is precisely because PSLE had its flaws (requires kids to be good in all subjects and to be academically strong) that DSA was conceived. Now kids can go to their preferred schools via sports, arts, language, math etc. And there are even specialised schools for kids who weren't identified earlier. Every kid has a chance at DSA. If a child doesn't have a niche that schools are looking for, then voila, there's still the PSLE route. Calls for using only PSLE results is just the type of envious Crab Mentality of those who don't have a niche. It's not that they think their kids will get into the preferred schools through PSLE, it's just that they don't want these other kids to get in through DSA. Sad.
There is a worse scenario you know. Imagine if at its conception, it was decided that GEP kids will be grouped in one academy. And it's through-train for all these kids. These kids do not even need to take PSLE. Would you guys prefer that? As it is now, GEP kids are taught in mainstream schools. And not everyone gets DSA. GEP kids need to take PSLE too. So please lah, can stop with the Crab Mentality? Discuss as much as possible on how to make Singapore education better for ALL, but stop trying to pull down this 1%. :skeptical: I feel flattered - not withstanding the gross misrepresentation of the facts here. :roll: But I didn't get past this, and I am shy with strangers... kekekeke :oops:[/quote]Look at it this way, its a friend in disguise...
Like in a new avatar with a new name , thats all :evil: -
2ppaamm:
Aiyoh, GEPper mum, look closely what's the intention here... :skeptical: I'd rather get back to popcorn.
Your point being?jtoh:
[quote=\"2ppaamm\"]
Really? Read carefully. This person created a KSP account just to write this.
Can also check the IP address. [/quote]someone we know?
Doesn't matter...at least from this side of the fence, it seems rather reasonable. -
is the fence made of leaves…?
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Sun_2010:
Like that I understand lah. Welcome welcome tck.
Look at it this way, its a friend in disguise...
Like in a new avatar with a new name , thats all :evil:
-
Sun_2010:
Now, talking about avatar....
Look at it this way, its a friend in disguise...
Like in a new avatar with a new name , thats all :evil:
Aunties, pls stop staring!!! :oops: -
Nebbermind:
Nebbermind, your avatar looks like it's very happy. :yikes:
Now, talking about avatar....Sun_2010:
Look at it this way, its a friend in disguise...
Like in a new avatar with a new name , thats all :evil:
Aunties, pls stop staring!!! :oops:
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