Is GEP really necessary?

[2ppaamm]

Nebbermind:

Dnls_mum:

[quote=\"Nebbermind\"]
Thought that's what our gahmen is doing?

Hahaha!!!!
Later become CPIB case!

No lah, I meant getting the people to commit to huge mortgages and car loans n have to work like :siao:[/quote]Hm... never thought of it that way...

[buds]

Nebbermind:

2ppaamm:

:rotflmao: we used to joke that we must ask the sales people to buy big houses and big cars, so that they have a huge mortgage and a big car loan. With those obligations, they will work like :siao: . So mean :evil:

Thought that's what our gahmen is doing?

Wah lao! :rotflmao:

Yah hor! :idea:

[ruohoo97]

chamonix:

Hi ruohoo97,

It's so nice to meet another homeschooler (or ex-homeschooler). :snuggles: So, you placed your kids back to school only when they were in P3 (twins)?

For us, it was more of an 'unschooling' approach. Hence, I have a much easier time as in I just need to provide my kids with resources and have them tell me whatever they want. (We kept our hands off the Singapore syllabus except for Maths.)

But like you, I placed my kids back in schools hoping they will get to experience teamwork and enjoy the various activities they offer. My son is looking forward to joining badminton while my girl dancing. Hopefully, they will get their wishes come true soon. :xedfingers:

Hi, Chamonix, Oh, they are not twins. I homeschooled the first two kids out of five till DS1 P3 and DD2 P1. Now my eldest son is Sec 2 (time flies). He told me once, had I not homeschooled him, he would have played for S-league. :evil: DD is in swimming. They love school simply because of sports and friends there. I do have to work with them in various subjects because they learn so little at school. Normally, we finish one year's work in one of long holidays(Jun or Dec).

[ruohoo97]

chamonix:

2ppaamm:

Yes, there is definitely value in putting them in school. I found homeschooling the kids full-time and all the time not very good for the parent and the children. As a FTWM, I found it hard to cope and tiring, but kept pushing. It is good to have a chance to put them in school, especially if the school is not too demanding. I get some 'time-off', get recharged and then go again.

:goodpost: I really enjoy the 'time-off'. :please:
Before that, I only got to enjoy some really quiet moments way past midnight

2ppaamm:

My sons also now prefer going to school, and just two years ago, they were dying to be homeschooled. Change is also good for them. Who knows, when they get tired of school again, they might ask me to homeschool them, which I am perfectly fine as well. My daughter was dying to get out of school, so I homeschooled her last year. Starting this year, she has been so happy to go to uni. Now, she is like a bird everyday... happy to go to school for classes, happy to have friends even though they are much older, great study groups. I think the homeschool and school mix worked well for her. She went to school a total of 6 years, homeschooled 3 years, preschool for 4 years and her uni is a 4 years' course. I thought her learning journey has been great, and seeing her so happy is the best reward for me. She now owns a small biz, is also looking for a part-time job since she is now legally able to work (14) but mainly because her business is not paying her enough! :rotflmao: So there's no hard and fast rule, at least for me. I can still recall the angry, frustrated girl she was, and am so happy I answered her calls for help.

This is certainly encouraging. :rahrah: For the moment, my daughter enjoys and loves school. I can't say the same for my son but hopefully, in time to come, the pros will outweigh the cons for him. (Actually, what he dislikes most is homework.)

At age of 14, she goes to U and owns a business! :scared: Impressive!

[Chenonceau]

ruohoo97:

DD is in swimming. They love school simply because of sports and friends there. I do have to work with them in various subjects because they learn so little at school. Normally, we finish one year's work in one of long holidays(Jun or Dec).

This is what we do too.

[Nebbermind]

Chenonceau:

ruohoo97:

DD is in swimming. They love school simply because of sports and friends there. I do have to work with them in various subjects because they learn so little at school. Normally, we finish one year's work in one of long holidays(Jun or Dec).

This is what we do too.

I feel so complacent now!!

[Chenonceau]

Nebbermind:

Chenonceau:

[quote=\"ruohoo97\"]
DD is in swimming. They love school simply because of sports and friends there. I do have to work with them in various subjects because they learn so little at school. Normally, we finish one year's work in one of long holidays(Jun or Dec).

This is what we do too.

I feel so complacent now!![/quote]You dun have to. Yours is GEPper... small classes... dedicated materials from GEP branch. Just stay cool and be happy.

[ruohoo97]

Chenonceau:

This is what we do too.

I feel so complacent now!![/quote]

You dun have to. Yours is GEPper... small classes... dedicated materials from GEP branch. Just stay cool and be happy.[/quote]
:rotflmao: :rotflmao:

[2ppaamm]

Chenonceau:

Nebbermind:

[quote=\"Chenonceau\"]

This is what we do too.

I feel so complacent now!!

You dun have to. Yours is GEPper... small classes... dedicated materials from GEP branch. Just stay cool and be happy.[/quote]Yep, already taken care of ma! So really, having said all that, the GEP program is far greater than the mainstream's, and I think the discrepancy is really not justifiable, but for those already in it, just enjoy it lah... and really don't have to worry about any changes. Policies are very seldom retrospective.

But it working for a small group does not mean it cannot be improved, and does not mean it is perfect. There is always a need to improve that system, open the way of teaching ie. inquiry-based, student-ratio should be opened to a much larger group and later to the whole country. Those who are in it, I will always say the same thing, make sure you perform, and we have already seen that the GEPpers are given more resources and are taught better, even for PSLE preparation. If we keep giving excuses for our children when they underperform when they are this young, how can we expect them to face the real world, which has no respect for your status as a GEPper?

So, I agree... you just enjoy it... and thank God for that!.. but remember your GEPper must do us proud in future, and I hope the child will inherit your empathy. GEP should never be a ticket to complacency or a journey to anywhere.

[2ppaamm]

ruohoo97:

chamonix:

[quote=\"2ppaamm\"]
Yes, there is definitely value in putting them in school. I found homeschooling the kids full-time and all the time not very good for the parent and the children. As a FTWM, I found it hard to cope and tiring, but kept pushing. It is good to have a chance to put them in school, especially if the school is not too demanding. I get some 'time-off', get recharged and then go again.

:goodpost: I really enjoy the 'time-off'. :please:
Before that, I only got to enjoy some really quiet moments way past midnight

2ppaamm:

My sons also now prefer going to school, and just two years ago, they were dying to be homeschooled. Change is also good for them. Who knows, when they get tired of school again, they might ask me to homeschool them, which I am perfectly fine as well. My daughter was dying to get out of school, so I homeschooled her last year. Starting this year, she has been so happy to go to uni. Now, she is like a bird everyday... happy to go to school for classes, happy to have friends even though they are much older, great study groups. I think the homeschool and school mix worked well for her. She went to school a total of 6 years, homeschooled 3 years, preschool for 4 years and her uni is a 4 years' course. I thought her learning journey has been great, and seeing her so happy is the best reward for me. She now owns a small biz, is also looking for a part-time job since she is now legally able to work (14) but mainly because her business is not paying her enough! :rotflmao: So there's no hard and fast rule, at least for me. I can still recall the angry, frustrated girl she was, and am so happy I answered her calls for help.

This is certainly encouraging. :rahrah: For the moment, my daughter enjoys and loves school. I can't say the same for my son but hopefully, in time to come, the pros will outweigh the cons for him. (Actually, what he dislikes most is homework.)

At age of 14, she goes to U and owns a business! :scared: Impressive![/quote]I think it is a matter of exposure. All her friends her age go to work somewhere, mostly part-time. They work in fast food restaurants, etc, earn small money (sometimes only $30 or $50 a week) and then use the money for something. Most are only 14. My daughters are a little more ambitious lah, they set up a business together, earning also nothing lah (like $50 a day) but we worked out MY costs are higher. Recently, she has worked out that her sister is paying her too little revenue sharing, and started out on her own. I have decided to slowly phase out as their angel investor (more like social entrepreneur). So, bo bian, now have to go and work, looking at using her piano certificate to teach small children piano at about $30/hour or go set up a sub-club for her coach to teach her sport to fund her biz and passion. Ultimately, it does not matter how much they learn or study, it is how to use their knowledge that counts. Application counts.

I guess all of us have different ways of teaching our children, some will do everything for the kids, some of us let them fly free by themselves. I like to let them fly free, and then tug the string once in a while as a check, and if I am fortunate enough, I can cut the strings earlier than most people. I don't want to have to feed my kids forever like the Hikkikomori. As pointed out, MBA may or may not be the best thing to have, and for some they only get you into the door and can't even survive. I believe in giving them a real-life MBA, and at the same time, give them a chance at their academic at an optimum rate. I am thankful for the opportunities we chanced upon, and thankful my girls are so easy to deal with... because I have to deal with the boys, who need a little more baby-sitting! :rotflmao: