Rivervale Primary
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MdmGiveup:
They are doing this at mid-primary too. Can understand that with PSLE, parents would be more kan-cheong. Which subject?How would you feel if your child is in Primary 6 and his/her form teacher does not collect assignments for marking but merely go through the papers with them for self-corrections?
Will reveal more if any riverlite's parent is interested to know more. -
English & Science. For English, I am OK with the multiple choice sections but not on open comprehension. The teacher would need to check if alternative ways of presenting their answers are acceptable and highlight the common mistakes made by the pupils. P6 English is also based on Stellar. So for the past 2 terms, they are given 12 sets of practice papers. The teacher only marked the first 3 papers in term 1 and none of the subsequent papers.
For Science, besides the workbook, this teacher did not go through any of the 5 worksheets and 2 practice papers in term 2. (I gave up checking whether he did in term 1). He printed a set of model answers for the kids and their parents to digrest over the weekends before SA1. The practice papers were done around mid April, collected by the teacher and returned unmarked/untouched 22 days later. Same thing ever happened when he was teaching the same class last year. How do you find this? -
MdmGiveup:
Oh dear. Got chance to speak to him personally or email?English & Science. For English, I am OK with the multiple choice sections but not on open comprehension. The teacher would need to check if alternative ways of presenting their answers are acceptable and highlight the common mistakes made by the pupils. P6 English is also based on Stellar. So for the past 2 terms, they are given 12 sets of practice papers. The teacher only marked the first 3 papers in term 1 and none of the subsequent papers.
For Science, besides the workbook, this teacher did not go through any of the 5 worksheets and 2 practice papers in term 2. (I gave up checking whether he did in term 1). He printed a set of model answers for the kids and their parents to digrest over the weekends before SA1. The practice papers were done around mid April, collected by the teacher and returned unmarked/untouched 22 days later. Same thing ever happened when he was teaching the same class last year. How do you find this? -
No, don’t want my child to be penalised if clashed head-on with him. You’ll never know. From what I heard, some fellow parents went direct to the principal. But if something could be done, it would have been rectified last year. Then I won’t need to be so mean as to reveal such ‘scandal’ online. Just upset that nowadays, some principals are so obsessed in painting a beautiful picture of their school that they neglect the essence and value of teaching. And some teachers think that every pupil must have private tutors and kiasu parents to coach so they can relax and enjoy the fruit of other peoples’ labour. On a brighter note, the Math and HMT/MT teachers are committed and diligent. Kudos to them!
So everyone out there, please don’t suffer in silence but try to fight for your child’s right and for the benefit of the juniors. For me, I choose to ‘broadcast’ my experience to exert pressure on the school to do something for I’ve heard that some pupils were told to tell their parents not to write negatively in this forum. -
MdmGiveup:
No, don't want my child to be penalised if clashed head-on with him. You'll never know. From what I heard, some fellow parents went direct to the principal. But if something could be done, it would have been rectified last year. Then I won't need to be so mean as to reveal such 'scandal' online. Just upset that nowadays, some principals are so obsessed in painting a beautiful picture of their school that they neglect the essence and value of teaching. And some teachers think that every pupil must have private tutors and kiasu parents to coach so they can relax and enjoy the fruit of other peoples' labour. On a brighter note, the Math and HMT/MT teachers are committed and diligent. Kudos to them!
So everyone out there, please don't suffer in silence but try to fight for your child's right and for the benefit of the juniors. For me, I choose to 'broadcast' my experience to exert pressure on the school to do something for I've heard that some pupils were told to tell their parents not to write negatively in this forum.
I agree with you, esp. on the MT!! The MT teachers are commendable, although strict. Their drive help my otherwise laid-back DS to be more diligent.
As for Maths and Science, I find the questions these days rather cheem for the average kids. To get good results, the kids will definitely need help - whatever extra help they could have. School hours alone are insufficient for the average kid to grasp concepts and if without further assistance or parental coaching, quite unlikely that kids will do well in exams. (BTW, the Math dept had done a wonderful job in conducting workshops for parents. It helped me realize the kind of questions my kids would be expected to know in Upp Pri. That said, I do wonder how kids without parental help and tuitions cope...
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To expect an average kid to learn all these in a class of 40 during school hours alone I find is unrealistic. No wonder many parents pump up in tuitions. I don't really blame the school. I find it is the entire education system and the over-emphasis in tests and exams, and this isn't unique to this school.
The school has a feedback form on the website which you might want to consider writing in. All details like child's name, class and your name are optional if you prefer not to disclose. Constructive feedback will definitely help your child and make the learning environment a better one for all. -
The thing is if most of the teachers can fulfill their duties by trying their best to help our kids, why can’t this particular teacher?
The amount of time our kids spent in school is substantial compared to the 2hrs per week tuition. Much can be taught and learned in school, especially when this class has the bri…pupils. I think school teachers should play the main role to teach while others, the supporting roles. I agree that our education system doesn’t allow this to happen sometimes but a responsible teacher should at least deliver his minimum task given by subject HOD or school. Furthermore, the Math and HMT teachers are able to teach beyond those stipulated by the school.
Regarding the feedback, I doubt its usefulness. Just checked with my friend, when this case was brought to school’s attention last year, the reply was that statistics proved that this batch of pupils did just as well as the previous years’, so nothing is amissed. Nothing wrong by being irresponsible and sluggish?
I read the earlier posts and noticed that some parents said that we should not ‘vent our frustration by talking bad about the school in this forum’ or ‘change school if you are so unhappy’. You will know how I feel if one day your child get such a teacher and your child is already in mid P5 when you realise it.
I think it is perfectly alright to share our joy and grievances we experienced with this school so that others get informed. There are good memories too, of course. -
MdmGiveup:
It sounds to me that the same teacher is teaching the same level year after year, and possibly similarly good classes? How to tell then, if the teacher is really effective? :? How do schools allocate teachers to the respective classes anyway? If the same teacher is that good, does it mean that he will be able to help the less academically strong ones? Or he cannot be trusted to teach them or they will be worse off (due to his known sluggishness
Regarding the feedback, I doubt its usefulness. Just checked with my friend, when this case was brought to school's attention last year, the reply was that statistics proved that this batch of pupils did just as well as the previous years', so nothing is amissed. Nothing wrong by being irresponsible and sluggish?
?) :siam:
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For the past 2 years, there were no change in classes for pupils from P3 to P4, i.e. pupils from e.g. P3A would automatically be promoted to P4A disregarding their results but the teachers taking P3 & P4 would be different.
Then pupils would be promoted, based on their P4 results, to different classes in P5. From P5 to P6, there wouldn't be any change of classes for pupils and the teachers would remain the same, except for HMT/MT.
That teacher has no prior experience but not new... :censored: I think it's a risk (for our kids) and that he should put in more effort to brush up on his knowledge (eg skill in composition) and teach well.
But then again, all teachers have multiple portfolios and perhaps his priority is not in teaching. Anyway, his charges will still perform well without needing much of his help, BUT their tutors and parents have to slog like mad after a hard day's work to coach. We pay taxes :moneyflies: for teachers' training and salaries but at the end of the day, we still have to assume the main role of teachers. What an irony! :stupid:
(By the way, that phrase from my previous post 'statistic shows that the results ... same as previous years' means the results of this class are comparable to previous P5 classes of same ranking taught by other teachers, so no drop in standard thus teacher is competent). :razz: -
MdmGiveup:
Hmm... This sounds more to me that the students' good results are independent of the teacher's performance - and possibly proof that students' good results are determined largely by OTHER factors, yes? Well, what can I say? I totally agree with you that most kids who are scoring well are the result of parental help and tuitions. I am getting my reality bite of this phenomenon.
(By the way, that phrase from my previous post 'statistic shows that the results ... same as previous years' means the results of this class are comparable to previous P5 classes of same ranking taught by other teachers, so no drop in standard thus teacher is competent). :razz:
To help you, and hoping that I can be of help, I find the most critical thing you have brought up is this:
Why isn't the teacher marking on opened comprehension questions (and possibly other similar kind of question format in other subjects) when he should be? And it seems you haven't gotten this clarified.
My view is that parents generally do not want to cause trouble. Usually we give teachers time and assess the situation first. However, we eventually start noticing the same teacher falling short of our expectations and one problem lapse onto another and emotions start to pent up. What's more, with the pressure building up to PSLE, all other issues start to collide (including problem which may not unique to this teacher and school).
To provide constructive feedback, it helps if parents can be very specific, like what issue and what circumstances, dealing with it in on a one-to-one with the teacher first - showing the questions to him/her and clarify, clear the air and try and work something out with the teacher so that at the end of the day, the kids can focus on achieving their grades.
I see you've named yourself 'momgiveup' and my heart goes out to you. Please don't lose heart, and don't give up. It is times like these that our kids need us most (although they may appear to be otherwise) and learn from us. I wish you and your child all the best in the coming PSLE! :hugs: -
I am thinking of applying for Parent volunteer in Rivervale Primary. I saw on their website that the registration open on 1 July. Would like to ask the fellow parents here who have been through the process on what I should prepare? The application form will be given on the spot? And what kind of PV activity they are more keen to have?
Thanks for the help. If not convenience to share here can PM me. Thanks!
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