For the elite or just elitist?
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'Us vs them' view of students disturbing GEP a boon for talented pupils
Tuesday • November 22, 2005
Letter from Kelly Koh Ben-Lin
Letter from Chaitali Tarafdar
In her zealous defence of Gifted Education Programme (GEP) students, Michelle Qiu ("A second look at the gift", Nov 21) displays a sense of, at best, brash arrogance and, at worst, condescension and a superiority complex.
While I do not want to believe she represents the typical GEP student, it would be worrying if many "GEPers" (as they call themselves) had such an "us-them" mentality.
Aside from proclaiming "mainstreamers" (what a patronising term!) to be immature, she is thrilled the programme allowed her to interact exclusively with "people like us".
For a "gifted" student, she is quick to make sweeping generalisations that "everyone" in the mainstream follows trends, almost insinuating that "ungifted" people have no minds of their own.
It is fine if Michelle and her group of like-minded friends continue to live in their ivory towers, associating only with members of this chosen fraternity, keeping out of the lives of the "mainstream". Unfortunately, many may end up with scholarships and eventually hold public office, where their policies will affect the "mainstream" and the "masses".
I shudder to think what kind of empathy there can be when, from the onset, these young people display such an elitist "us" versus "them" mentality.
This is probably an alarmist scenario, but picture this: A group of key decision makers decide that the general population is rather immature and cannot possibly have minds of their own.
As such, everyone with an IQ below 150 should be systematically eradicated. Such a mentality would please Adolf Hitler.
My daughter will join the GEP in January. The GEP branch sent us materials highlighting the curriculum. The briefing was also elaborate, giving a clear idea that students would have to work hard.
I asked my daughter if she was still willing to go for it — she enthusiastically and repeatedly nodded.
Five other parents I know whose children are joining the course likewise did not pressure their children. Another parent of a child who is in his third year of GEP says he enjoys it.
Strangely, though the programme is criticised as a heavy burden for small shoulders, there are many siblings in the programme. If parents felt it was a nightmare, it is unlikely they would allow another child to enroll.
As Singaporeans, it is easy to overlook the plight of talented young people in other countries who, lacking the chance to nurture their talents, are forced to leave their homelands. Here, talented children are identified and nurtured.
So let us try to see the merits of the programme, rather than only the demerits. -
Example of elitist? Read this thread.
http://www.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=157037 -
Thank you for advertising for Club 30sOriginally posted by Gazelle:
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I dont think club30 need anymore introduction and I am very glad that you echo my views.Originally posted by elindra:Thank you for advertising for Club 30s -
Thanking you for advertising for us equates echoing your views?Originally posted by Gazelle:I dont think club30 need anymore introduction and I am very glad that you echo my views.
Anyway, I don't know why I missed that thread started but I find it totally hilarious and amusing. -
another flaming war.... -
This gifted program is good but the kids must also be taught that they must be humble.
It is true that these kids have been guided to think more independently than others, they shld also be taught the wisdom of looking out for others. -
humility is one thing most singaporeans will never have.
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The last time that thread abt elite in club 30 actually cannot fault some ppl thinking that cos some you talk abt ACS lah being student leaders lah and going overseas to work.... will make ppl think that way.
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Once u get out of the small island to the ww... u will be humbled.Originally posted by The man who was death:The last time that thread abt elite in club 30 actually cannot fault some ppl thinking that cos some you talk abt ACS lah being student leaders lah and going overseas to work.... will make ppl think that way. -
100% agree. Have this to add when......Originally posted by dragg:humility is one thing most singaporeans will never have.
a country is relatively richer than the surrounding's,
the society is rigidly meritocratic,
a society is always obsessive with being number one, ie 1st
a society is driven by high cost of living,
a pri sch young boys/girls go to a school already being classified n labelled,
humility is far from people head and mind. -
No....gifted children needs to learn how Singapore is run, don't they?Originally posted by Salman:This gifted program is good but the kids must also be taught that they must be humble.
It is true that these kids have been guided to think more independently than others, they shld also be taught the wisdom of looking out for others.
In Singapore, elites are a law unto themselves. They get the best jobs, evade NS, go to the best universities, join the PAP, run the army and rule the country.
The rest of Singaporeans are better rendered sterile so as not to further degrade the gene pool and our competitiveness. -
Huh...like that the thread starter is an elitist too, if those are the key points on what makes a person eliteOriginally posted by The man who was death:The last time that thread abt elite in club 30 actually cannot fault some ppl thinking that cos some you talk abt ACS lah being student leaders lah and going overseas to work.... will make ppl think that way.
Like that all those foreign workers coming in to take up jobs no singaporean wants are elites too...just going overseas to work ma....
If today I decide to quit my job to work in Australia as a fruit picker? That makes me an elite too? -
maybe you should try to listen to what others have to say and keep this childish and defensive arguement to yourself. And for once, I hope the elitist from club30 will not come here and take over this thread.Originally posted by elindra:Huh...like that the thread starter is an elitist too, if those are the key points on what makes a person elite
Like that all those foreign workers coming in to take up jobs no singaporean wants are elites too...just going overseas to work ma....
If today I decide to quit my job to work in Australia as a fruit picker? That makes me an elite too?
Spare a thought, please give others a chance to voice their comments. -
Originally posted by Gazelle:maybe you should try to listen to what others have to say and keep this childish and defensive arguement to yourself. And for once, I hope the elitist from club30 will not come here and take over this thread.
Spare a thought, please give others a chance to voice their comments.
You never fail to crack me up Gaz.
Just pointing some things out and if you noticed, I am replying to someone from Club 30s about difference in points of views. You talk about not digging up history but you never fail to dig up the past with us.
Anyway, that has nothing to do with this thread so I won't digress further.
Did I even shoot anyone else down with regards to your initial article instead of your stab at Club 30? No, I did not so how can you say I'm not giving them a chance to voice their comments? -
so what if people think they're better then the others?its a fact isn't it..reality is harsh,some are better,some are lousier..
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Gazelle and elindra, I am not sure what happened at Club30s but it would be unwise to spread discord that has happen there to here. If possible, I would like all parties to focus objectively on what the thread poster has written.Originally posted by elindra:
You never fail to crack me up Gaz.
Just pointing some things out and if you noticed, I am replying to someone from Club 30s about difference in points of views. You talk about not digging up history but you never fail to dig up the past with us.
Anyway, that has nothing to do with this thread so I won't digress further.
Did I even shoot anyone else down with regards to your initial article instead of your stab at Club 30? No, I did not so how can you say I'm not giving them a chance to voice their comments?
Thanks -
Sorry about that goblin. Anyway I said I digressed and will not be talking about it anymore.Originally posted by greengoblin:Gazelle and elindra, I am not sure what happened at Club30s but it would be unwise to spread discord that has happen there to here. If possible, I would like all parties to focus objectively on what the thread poster has written.
Thanks -
They should teach them to have more 'Them & Us' mentality, afterall the gifted should know that they are the future rulersOriginally posted by oxford mushroom:No....gifted children needs to learn how Singapore is run, don't they?
In Singapore, elites are a law unto themselves. They get the best jobs, evade NS, go to the best universities, join the PAP, run the army and rule the country.
The rest of Singaporeans are better rendered sterile so as not to further degrade the gene pool and our competitiveness. -
just because u study in best school, best programme gifted or not will not make u clever.
I know of many people who are business kings with just PSLE education. -
they're clever,at least in book terms..Originally posted by Mr Soh:just because u study in best school, best programme gifted or not will not make u clever.
I know of many people who are business kings with just PSLE education. -
No sir, we pick the losers to run our country because we pity them. The acheivers who work hard must be short changed because they are to be burdered to carry the load for the loafers.Originally posted by oxford mushroom:No....gifted children needs to learn how Singapore is run, don't they?
In Singapore, elites are a law unto themselves. They get the best jobs, evade NS, go to the best universities, join the PAP, run the army and rule the country.
The rest of Singaporeans are better rendered sterile so as not to further degrade the gene pool and our competitiveness.
The govt also encourage all citizens to breed like flies so that we can have a bigger population. -
I am curious how could you judge them that way? Have you been to the same educational system? Do you have tests or proof to support what you have said?Originally posted by stellazio:they're clever,at least in book terms..
I am sorry to say this, I think you are being too judgemental and you are doing it without any knowledge of the subject.
To me is similar to what we are talking here. -
You better be as good as you think. If not, you will just be another loser.Originally posted by stellazio:so what if people think they're better then the others?its a fact isn't it..reality is harsh,some are better,some are lousier.. -
A country that is well run will be one that nurtures the right conditions for business to thrive even for the small-timer. Such a country that is pro-business will produce a lot of entrepreneurs who in turn produce a lot of jobs.
We do need some professors, academicians and elites from the universities but let us not kid ourselves this group of education products will not lead to job creation.
At the most this group of academicians may help to supply manpower need for our public administration and the teaching professions and research.
Our leaders in the initial years have underestimated the importance providing the population with broad-based practical education as posted to the Feedback Unit three years ago as this type of education will equip students with readiness to apply knowledge and become entrepreneurs one day.
So our leaders under the banner of meritocracy keep sending people to the universities or elitist schools only to produce many academicians and elites who are mostly waiting for high paying jobs instead of producing jobs.
Today, our leaders have succeeded in producing many academicians or educated unemployed. This is the price we are now paying for past oversell of education for education sake.
Singapore could have become a much more competitive country if we had equipped the population from the start with practical knowledge application instead of all the paper chase.
So today we are running short of entrepreneurs but we do have a lot of good degree who we are running out of ideas how to be better entrepreneurs and create jobs.