Is GEP really necessary?
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Nebbermind:
Though its not the fault of the kids, I don't think it is ethical of me to name out anyone even though I know who they are. If they're already in the program, let them be. There are many doors out there in the world, so what's there to worry? Especially, when one believe in God. Sorry, not preaching here.
That fact is that it's his conclusion that the kid(s) was hothoused and got into GEP and so failed to 'deliver' at A level. But was he?
It's purely speculative!! ya?
BTW, I meant name n shame the parents...not the kids....not the kids' fault!!
Got to go now. Time to make lunch..... :celebrate: -
Nebbermind:
in conclusion, giftedness is all different shades of grey
I hope we can at least agree on that highlighted above.2ppaamm:
Er... but the original selection process was devised by experts invited by MOE along with training the original set of teachers. Along the way, they couldn't cope with the teaching so they changed the whole selection system. I don't think this is called 'robustized', I'd rather call this 'accustomized', with compromise.
To use vlim's terminology, they used to choose kids with surface area bigger, but any shape. However, since they find it hard to even find the surface area of these children, they decided the biggest they can find, with the criteria of being round, and does not matter if their surface area is smaller than those who are odd shaped and not round. 
In short, GEP has its own definition of giftedness. And it is ok. As long as they don't lead parents of gifted children in all directions and only to find out through their own admission months later.
Then again, if we do, there will be nothing much to talk about here.... -
atutor2001:
Hey I really mean it when I call you consultant. You make a lot of effort to read up and research on giftedness and that is commendable.Kana suan like siao, so this will be my last post on this issue just to share my view.
We have been talking about mental capability but forgotten another important factor which is the \"heart\" i.e. passion.
Natural passion is key to extraordinary results. LJ is definitely a very high level HA kid. More importantly, he is passionate about math & science. I guess his parents nurture and focus on his passion and grew it. So even though he did not have the gifted elephant memory for all subjects, the constant exposure to math and science will help retain and grow his data bank in that particular area. At the end, his knowledge in math and science will way surpass any truly gifted kids who do not have his kind of passion.
In my opinion, results, are the product of mental ability and passion.
(a) Non HA kids who have the passion to do good can only produce above average results at higher level but with lots of hard work.
(b) HA kids who are passionate in doing well will produce consistent good results.
(c) HA kids who are not passionate about their study but who chiong at the last minutes will produce surprises.
(d) HA kids who are not passionate about their study and who forget to wake up will disappear.
(e) HA kids who are very passionate in specific area and are given the encouragement and freedom to grow and explore will become LJ whose results are even better than a truly gifted one.
(f) A truly gifted kid will do well even if he has no passion for certain subject as long as he felt that there is an obligation to clear it.
My ideal for GEP is to groom (e). -
Sun_2010:
If my kids were all the same age, because all of them are different, then I will design a different curriculum for each kid (my #4 overrun #3 and #2 because he is faster with Math even though he is 3 and 4 years younger). Which is what GEP should do to some extent (not individually, but say groups strong in Math, Science, English etc). But today, the GEP does not do that. Everyone in GEP does the same thing.
I understand , but if all your kids were the same age would you design the curriculum to suit the lowest denominator without giving guidance, direction for the others who are stronger to move on ahead. The stronger need less hand holding more abstract help , imho. Especially when very young. -
Gep has started since 1984 ? And yet we have so little information like cost effective analysis from MOE.
I have met this person , at p1 he tried to discuss with me war strategies after reading tons of war books in K2. P3 got selected into GEP, PSLE top 5 in Spore, Sec 1 won individual awards in interschool sports competition , Upper sec top cohort in IP school for few subjects , spends his free time teaching friends who are weaker in studies. And in actual fact, he Didnt attend the GEP program because his parents opted him out . (the 501th kid must be thanking him for the spot) I have to read 2ppaamm posts to Finally understand where his parents are coming from. And like LJ, he doesn't need the program to flourish?
In the same vein as 2ppaamm , as long as there is fairness across the board , many people will be very grateful. Most if not all parents will like their poor kids to be stimulated. , to have more attention from the school to max their potential . And many kids are bored too ( maybe teachers boring ....)
And yes I likeSheldon Tan!!
http://www.asiaone.com/News/Education/Story/A1Story20100214-198663.html -
verykiasu2010:
a child of a friend of mine did this : scoring 100% in every subject to \"shock and awe\" the classmates and teachers and to comply with mom, and the unspoken challenge :\"don't mess with me!\"...but got other \"giftedness\" - gluttony[/quote]Commercial break? :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:
In every cohort, we will find very nerdy GEPers working very hard 24/7 but produce only average results at A level. These are the ones that I am refering to.atutor2001:
[quote=\"Nebbermind\"]
If you know of someone in particular, please name and shame them. Pls donch group everyone else and kept insisting them been hot-housed.
It is not their fault lah. Some are simply born with super kiasu attitude, must do well type of mindset. Some have parents with that mindset and force it upon their kids. It is not a shameful thing. They are doing so because they thought it is good for their kids - though can be harmful.
Just sharing here, hoping that the selection process can be refined so that these groups can be blocked and will not be subjected to unnecessary pressure and suffering under the programme. -
2ppaamm
SAF is always looking for men/women of character and leadership. Education level is important but more critical is the ability to perform and make decisions under stressful conditions.
My guess is that humanities studies ie NUS arts and social studies is an area whereby a fair number of commanders come from. Of course NTU and SMU social sciences also produce a good number of commanders.
Totally no mention of gep. Don’t knw why. -
ksi:
just like marriage ?
You must be kidding to expect a 100% accuracy.Mychildren:
Hi, my DS's friend got in too because was prepared before hand. So I do somewhat agreed on the above in blue. I don't want to say so much cause his mum might be reading this.
:siam:
1. MOE can only try their best to be prudent in their processes to minimise but cannot eliminate. There is definitely a % of HA in there because between 1% and 1.1% any difference?
2. If that child is trained, the child already has the pre-requisite of innate ability. My personal experience is all those that I know who trained, DID NOT get in...and trained a few years...but academically doing above average in mainstream. -
ruohoo97:
Maybe he/she is late-bloomer.[/quote]
If what you said in blue is true, I wonder why he is not selected then??? :?Mychildren:
Basic traits of a truly gifted :
a) Speed reading
b) Great ability in understanding and analysis at high speed.
c) Elephant memory with unlimited storage capacity for all subjects
d) Ability to see links and patterns that others don't
Can a truly gifted, who is endowed with such natural talents not do well in exam because they are skewed? Their elephant memory will pull them through easily even if they don't like it.
HA kids usually have (a) and (b) and some also have (d). However, they don't have (c). It is \"elephant memory\" that allows the gifted to process new issues with cross reference to a much bigger data base at high speed and coming up with a solution. A HA kid needs to wake up and start storing all the info to do well. Those that failed to wake up will be lost in the crowd.
Hot-housed kids has only (a). At young age, their (b) appears good as they went through accelerated learning. As years go by, without the other factors, their results will suffer.
by the way, a well known test tube baby expert took O level exams twice and A level exams twice .... but then compared with parents who need IVF help, twice is considered as fast !
but for exams result ........... -
verykiasu2010:
Haha we may know the same boy! I know of one who also opted out of GEP program because his parents afraid he couldn't find recess kaki in new school ( i hope she is just kidding me) Top few in PSLE, now in the most elite school and ambition is to earn enough money to eat all the good food on earth.
a child of a friend of mine did this : scoring 100% in every subject to \"shock and awe\" the classmates and teachers and to comply with mom, and the unspoken challenge :\"don't mess with me!\"...but got other \"giftedness\" - gluttonyatutor2001:
Just sharing here, hoping that the selection process can be refined so that these groups can be blocked and will not be subjected to unnecessary pressure and suffering under the programme.
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