St Stephen's

[AgDearie]

Hi Hashroop,


Finally their exam over. Now your son is already P5, and there is half more year to go in P5 and 1 more year in P6. You should check with your son, if he is willing or prepared to change. Sometime is not up to us to decide as we are not in school.

Which is the better class for P5/6 for this year? I am also very nervous because my son will be in P5 next year.

In every school, there are alway different treatment between the better/top class and the normal class. Sometime, the child can depend o the teachers in school, it became stress to the parents and child, but tuition teacher and enrichement or tuitor centre laughing all the way earning your money.

For the very sure and SSS is not the only one. Most the schools alway focus on the top/better class, and really drill them in every single subject and for the normal classes, you will felt that the teachers are not doing much. I heard from one mother that the teacher commented that even they cannot cover the textbook on time, how to do more. Some kids cannot cope.

I have spoken to my son’s MT teacher, he also felt that they can do a lot more for the class, but they have to be fair to those that cannot cope, some of the students don’t hand up homework, etc, so the teacher was not able to go thru and that caused delayed.

I have come to the stage that I will talk to the teacher then to the Subject HOD to understand in detail. As the more you talk to the HOD, you will understand where their direction. The only thing I hate is they always like to set exam paper far beyond the child standard and yet those weak class, nearly half of the class fail. If they have class banding, then they should have exam banding to be fair. Sometime the future of the child can be killed over In-house examination.

P6 is already like revision of what he had learned in P3 to P5, if you switch school, then you will have another set of problem as not sure your son can cope, as that school is also revising their P3 and P5 in their school’s method. Each school has their whole style and culture even though at the ultimate end, all are taking the same PSLE.

I can just said we cannot depend on the school teacher, I rather spend more time coaching them myself and no time for shopping rather than leave to the teachers in school to teach my sons.

Since your son should have collected the Mid Year Result, you may want to talk to the subject teacher then the HOD to find out what is their directions for that level.

Wish you all the best.

[Drew]

hi


we are intending to send our son to st stephen’s primary. any comments?

[maisy]

[Moderator's note: Article edited & selected for http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/content/are-students-top-primary-56-classes-given-more-work]

hashroop:

My elder son was in ST Stephen's and is now Sec 1. My younger DS2 is in P5 this year. If there was anything that I regretted in my life, that would be putting both my sons in St Stephens. DS1 was not in the top two classes in p5 and p6, and that was the saddest part. Top 2 classes are always at an advantage. They are given lots and lots of practice papers to do. Better teachers are assigned to these two top classes to motivate and better prepare them for PSLE. More Past year exam papers from CBS (christian brother school) are given to students compared to lower classes. Homework are promptly marked, these are to name a few of what the top classes are \"entitled\" to. Many parents like myself, who have sons not in the top classes are losing out alot. Top classes parents ive spoken to complain too much homework given. When I ask my DS2 any homework?..\"no homework\" will be the reply.Not that he has completed the work in class, there is just no homework/practice papers given.P5 is a crucial year in preparation for P6, but the teachers dont see this in weaker classes. As what other parents say, \" some St Stephen teachers will just chuck aside the weaker classes and concentrate more on the better classes\". Last year when my DS1 was in P6 i had to literally pull him out of school at least for 2 weeks before psle because I felt he studies better at home and tuition. When I made this request to the form teacher if ok to do so, his answer was just \"OK\". No questions ask why etc etc, Now i am facing the same dilemna for my DS2. He will be sitting for his PSLE next year. Some parents have called the teachers to address this issue, but to no avail. Last weekend one parent called the form teacher and ask why the difference in focusing and emphasis more on top classes, his reply was \"Oh I just joined St Stephen's last year , so Im not too sure about this\"!! This is the kind of response we got from a P5 form teacher! one parent was thinking of calling the principal to raise this issue, but was told dont waste ur time. Im sure there must be parents of St Stephen boys in this forum, I would like to hear their views too and to see if my judgement on St Stephen is true..

Hi Hashroop
I can understand your frustrations. As parents, we all want to give our children the best support.

But after speaking to a few parents, please do not be surprised that this is a practice shared by most primary schools , if not all primary schools, in Singapore. So, it is not only in St Stephen's that the top 2 classes get the \"most attention\"

I have a friend who used to teach in rather popular school. She has since retired. She offers a different perspective. She explained that usually the top 2 or 3 classes in the school are deemed as \"students who are better positioned to undergo stress-testing\" ie like u mentioned, where the top 2 classes are given more practice papers. My friend said she has not seen the practice papers of SSS so she will not comment but from what she understood , these practice papers do sometimes \"add stress\" as certain questions appear to be a little more complex which is why it is often given to the top classes where the students can handle the paper and yet not feel \"atrociously pressurized by the sheer volume of additional work nor the complexities of such papers\".

Give the same to the \"supposedly academically less-inclined\" students, and they may feel daunted by the task and it is not healthy to \"dampen their esteem/ morale\" in these crucial years. What is important for the \"non-top 2 classes\" is revision & revision to ensure consistency after consistency so that they walk into the exam hall feeling prepared and with confidence. As the saying goes, confidence is half the battle won. So, simply giving them more practice papers than they can cope may work against them, dampening their confidence-level/ morale.

This further explains why classes are often grouped according to the abilities of the students so that the group learn at their \"supposedly similar pace\" . Put a child who is not as bright in a GEP class, I am sure the child will suffer not only academically but may even bring about detrimental effects on the child's overall developmental milestones in life.

Speaking to my sis with has a primary school going kid, she shared that her child's school also has this unspoken practice of giving the top classes \"more work\" or as you had described \"more attention\" as the school probably feels that this group of students can cope and will not feel adversely affected by the additional workload.

So before you switch school, I agree with AgDearie to speak to your child and ask him if this is what he wants , given that he will be in his final year soon and given that this will also be the practice in the next school.

Take care and all the best to your son ... I am sure he will do fine

[RRMummy]

Hi Drew,


You might want to check this thread out instead of starting a new topic:

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4377&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Mods, you might want to merge.

[jdgm7]

Hi kiasu mums out there. My son is taking his p1 this year at STSS. Recently i let him join new chinese programme and i’m very happy that the school is implementing new strategies to improve CL of the boys.

[r2010]

I am considering either St stephen or temasek. Can any St stephen parents give me any advise.

[hashroop]

Hi All


Thank you for the great advise. Sorry that I havent been too active in the ST STEPHEN forum blog. Just happen to update and read whats latest in Kiasuparents forum that I chance upon the wonderful replies/advise I received.

and yes DS is still in St Stephen

[hashroop]

I am considering either St stephen or temasek. Can any St stephen parents give me any advise.


HiR2010

Did you enrol your DS in St Stephen or Temasek?

[WonderWoman]

Hi all


My child goes to P1 next year at SSS. How’s the afterschool care there? What are the other options for afterschool care in the area.

Thanks!

[psychoatom]

hashroop:

Hi All


Thank you for the great advise. Sorry that I havent been too active in the ST STEPHEN forum blog. Just happen to update and read whats latest in Kiasuparents forum that I chance upon the wonderful replies/advise I received.

and yes DS is still in St Stephen

Hey hashroop ... don't fret ... 2 of my boys are also in SSS. Older one just got PSLE results today. Younger one in P5 next year - sadly going to one of the lesser classes.

The thing about the top classes is it happens at most primary schools - I doubt any school can have all \"top classes\" ... it's just the nature of life -- Darwinian if you may.

Your younger boy still has a year left to prepare for PSLE ... don't waste it. Do not depend on the teacher to give him homework or extra assessments. He has to take the initiative to do it himself, starting now.

Presumably he has his weaker subjects - you will need a good tutor for this who can help him to improve (rather than just push more assessments to him - anyone can do that).

Very important thing is also for him to read more too - if he is not into reading already. It's just the nature of our education system here.

Lastly - take note of the friend's he mixes with -- they play a big part in your son's perspective on studies and life in general.

Good luck in P6!