Secondary School CCA
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My son also told me about the boy. He is a top PSLE student in his primary school. Agree with Fairy…Do not push your kids too much on CCAs… The most important thing is that he/she enjoys it.
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Fairy:
...I am very sad to learn that one of the Sec1 students in a top school had collapsed and passed away over the weekend while undergoing his private sports training. Who knows, he may be pushing himself to train hard for his CCA trial.
...
It does appear that in our eagerness to ensure our children is prepared for the future, we may have put too much emphasis on instant measurable results rather than fundamental long-term character building and appreciation of life. We want our children to be highly efficient problem-solvers without them really understanding why they have to solve the problems. We demand that they strive for excellence without understanding its potential impact on their lives. Without an anchor, even the best ships will flounder under the smallest storms. Perhaps we should teach our children why life is worth living and fighting for, instead of just living to fight for life. -
ChiefKiasu:
It does appear that in our eagerness to ensure our children is prepared for the future, we may have put too much emphasis on instant measurable results rather than fundamental long-term character building and appreciation of life.
Chief, agree with you totally. I know of kids who have achieved Gold Star awards in swimming by primary three but have never ventured beyond the rectangular swimming pool into the deep blue seas....
Or as in the case of my friend's daughter who after attaining her grade 8 piano (at quite an early age), closed the piano and told the mum, \" I've done whatever you asked me to.... no more piano practice from now on..\"
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I think that parents, besides not choosing their children's CCAs for them, should also model commitment to the voluntarily-chosen CCAs. Cos some children have the \"3-minute-hot\" attitude towards CCAs (and other things in life). They need to keep at what they have chosen and stay committed. (Life lessons blah blah, you know.)
For example, parents can talk about their (glorious) CCA days and show off trophies, medals, badges, photos (if any). Some CCAs become lifelong interests like continuing to play music for leisure purposes, going back to former school to help out, etc.
My DH and I met at a musical CCA at university. We still listen to music regularly and I try to play the keyboard from time to time. It's difficult for us to play our original instruments now (unless I have lots of space and money) but we still keep in touch with music. That may partially explain why DD is still enthusiastic about piano lessons despite the difficulties she encounters everyday while practising.
Also, without commitment to CCAs, Mommy would never have met Daddy in the first place! :love: -
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kiasuson:
I can understand the parents' grief. Just days ago, they should be one of the hundreds of parents, hearts filled with pride, who packed the school's hall to attend the ceremony to officially recognise the boys as one of the school's members....My son also told me about the boy. He is a top PSLE student in his primary school. Agree with Fairy...Do not push your kids too much on CCAs.. The most important thing is that he/she enjoys it.
Just two years ago, I had the same feeling when my son came home from school at the start of the school year to tell me that one of his classmates (a GEP student) had passed away in his sleep during the Dec holidays, just before school re-opened. Some of the teachers and classmates cried. A counsellor talked to the students to ensure that they handle the situation well. The teachers created a powerpoint presentation on the boy, with photos of his life at school and got the students to make cards (probably to help them express their grief) to the boy's parents. The boy's parents were invited for the 'presentation'. I was very very sad for a while.
the following is unrelated to the above.....
In our pursuit for excellence, most people, especially parents nowadays do it at the expense of Quality Of Life. Is it so important to be a TOP student, be it in academics or sports? I trully symphatise with the Child, whose parents made it their motto/life's objective/ KPI to groom their Child into a TOP since kindergarten. Learning years ahead of the cohort, memorising the dictionary and etc are strategies they use to ensure that the Child remains a TOP, at least in the 6 years of primary school life. The Child's excellent marks, however close to full marks, are just not good enough if it is not the TOP. There can only be one TOP. Why give up so much in life just to hold on to such a title?
To quote a poem By William. Henry Davies.:
\"LEISURE\"
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare. -
I once talked to a P6 boy just after the PSLE what did he want to do after
the exam, he said "I will burn all my books bec I had enough of studying".
My son’s friend committed suicide when he was in P6
due to study pressure.
Enough said. -
As parents we want the best for the children, we try to provide the best opportunity and groom them for success. Unfortunately some people take that as being 1st is everything but there’s only one 1st position so does that make the top 10 positions or lower losers? It seems so. This I think is a Singaporean disease. There’s very little appreciation for the effort put in, there’s too much glorification for being in 1st position.
We always strive to be number one at all cost. We have seen so many cases of students going through study fatigue, death and suicides but does the pressure stop? NO.
It is easy to say… yes, strike a balanced lifestyle but how can parents even let the kids let their guard down about their studies and CCAs. It is a very competitive and stressful place to be in.
Parents are in a dilemma because it they do not push their children, they fear that they will end up as "losers". Who can blame them.
So we end up in this perpetually vicious cycle of increased stress levels for everyone especially the children.
Personally my husband and I believe in holistic approach in raising our children, we want them not only to be bright, strong and healthy but also kind, appreciative and respectful. But we struggle with time when it comes to being able to let them just run around and be themselves, enjoy their childhoood cos the demands on their studies is very high.
Time needed for extra lessons, CCAs and enrichment classes take up majority of the time.
Cut down enrichment? Sure… which one should go first? It’s a tough balancing act. In the end, you have to decide what’s the best combi ( less extra classes/CCA and more family time or more classes/CCAs and less family time ) for your family and kids and go with that. There will definitely be trade offs but that’s the way it seems to be these days. -
If the child is already in the 6 year IP program in secondary school, is the CCA important?. Since there is no JC admission required they do not need the two bonus points for the CCA. So can they stay as a recreation member in the team.
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What is the average CCA hours nowadays?
I checked my sons's concert band schedule and it is about 11 hours a
week (3 sessions a week) and more if there is competition coming up.
Wow, is it the same for others too or only for those 'hot' programs only?
I did not know CCA takes up such long hours nowadays. :? -
Hi pinky,
I think for performing arts such as band or dance and sports, practices will take about 2-3 times a week (about 3-4 hours each).
Joining a club may be less hectic.
My son has his CCA on Mon, Wed and Fri. He is back home at about 7 plus on those days. I actually advise him to join a club initially but he is an energetic and sporty boy, so clubs are out for him… He is into sports. He says it’s tiring but fun.
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