if you have been questioning the "whys" of such an incident ... why didn't you think that her atas classmates and "changes in family structure" (whatever that means?) were to blame ? .....
I'm not saying that the system is totally perfect .... but do you imagine for a moment ... that if TS' daughter was in the gifted stream or program, she would be bitching about the education system here ? .... of course, anyone who do well under a certain system, would not likely condemn it ..... so is it really a case of sour grapes ? ....
System needs reform.
But then again..such thing especially on academics is especially subjective and might be biased..because there ARE people who do extremely well even in the context of world ranking, such as students who are actually sent on scholarship to oxford, harvard, stanford etc. However, what do we use as a gauge to measure the fairness of the system? Those who are academically inclined? What about those who have a more artistic outlook? And the disabled?
Even you would notice that the highest ranking soldiers in the army is usually a scholar who pwns at academia, unlike other countries' whose rank is determined by performance in war/peacetime.
Originally posted by Kimtan:MATHEMATICS
Take a look at her Mathematics result:
Section A - 15/20 (75%)
Section B - 14/20 (70%)
Section C - 14/60 (23%)
Section A & B results show that her basic knowledge for Mathematics is quite good.
The problem lies in the method of teaching! A simple formula for triangle:
1/2 x base x height
is taught as
Step 1: base x height
Step 2: take the answer divide by 2
Why complicant a simple formula?
How many parents who had learnt Algebra in secondary level can answer the question taught in primary level using bars comparison?
I'm wondering how much is taught in the classroom? Only the basic? And they expect a 10 - 12 year old to apply in a complicated and 'challenging' problems!
ENGLISH
English is another dumb-found. I still remembered my time, we learnt new words and their meanings. We construct sentences with them. We had spelling and dictation. We also learnt cursive writing.
From P1 - P4, she still had spelling once a week. But P5 spelling was abolished after a few months. She never have to do new words nor sentences construction. No cursive writing lession!
Really wondering what was taught!
SCIENCE
Look at the text book. They look very simple. Not one guidebook covers everything, you have to buy a few.
Questions on experiments. In the first place, were these children shown or done the experiments? Do you think enough is done to make them understand?
Ridiculous! What is holistic teaching?
HOLISTIC : treating the whole person rather than just the symptoms of a disease.
1 : of or relating to holism 2 : relating to or concerned with wholes or with complete systems rather than with the analysis of, treatment of, or dissection into parts <holistic medicine attempts to treat both the mind and the body> <holistic ecology views humans and the environment as a single system>
Hm. It took me 9years to finally realize why we need problem sums in primary school...that is after I have to start teaching my sister her p5 and p6 maths. Like your child, she also don't like problem sums. But these problem sums are the most crucial section whereby a student uses his/her understanding of whatever that he/she has learnt for the term/semester and put into solving the scenerio placed. As for the simple formula of area of a triangle, I wouldn't say it's making it complicated...more like the way you see it. If one can't understand 1/2xBxH, then the other method (BxH)/2 would be just another alternative for one to understand. It's just like 3+4=7 and 4+3=7 yeah?
I think the abolishment of cursive writing is because it's no longer important. And what's more important to note is that every change that the MOE system goes through, in my opinion, is because of the O levels standards. They want to start from the foundation of students and then as they move on the education ladder, there won't be too much adjustment and adaption. Do you really think cursive writing is necessary?
the o level stuff is actually getting easier, if you consider the change in syllabus, with less and less stuff to learn. stuff like ap gp from A maths, radiation from physics is cancelled...
i think 20 years ago, there is much more stuff to learn in the o level syllabus compared to now...
i think 20 years ago, there is much more stuff to learn in the o level syllabus compared to now...
Must compare than know.
just a rough guess from looking at TYS from 1989, and now.
Originally posted by skythewood:the o level stuff is actually getting easier, if you consider the change in syllabus, with less and less stuff to learn. stuff like ap gp from A maths, radiation from physics is cancelled...
i think 20 years ago, there is much more stuff to learn in the o level syllabus compared to now...
i disagree lor. Secondary school students now learn stuff like matrix, graph theory, probability lor. Stuff like ap and gp are assumed to be number pattern the student can figure out themselves without knowing.
Originally posted by FirePig:
i disagree lor. Secondary school students now learn stuff like matrix, graph theory, probability lor. Stuff like ap and gp are assumed to be number pattern the student can figure out themselves without knowing.
eehhh
i have the feeling i learnt that stuff too. on top of AP GP?
basically, if you give the tys question for students 10 years ago, they can do. you give tys from 10 years ago to student now, they might not be able to do.
Originally posted by FirePig:
i disagree lor. Secondary school students now learn stuff like matrix, graph theory, probability lor. Stuff like ap and gp are assumed to be number pattern the student can figure out themselves without knowing.
They learn basic graph sketching not graph theory. Graph theory is only learn in university, and so is set theory. O level only teach set notations!
Originally posted by Kimtan:
Well maybe that is why she did not perform as well.
I am convinced that meaningful caning bring out the child's potential most. A P1-P5 kid will only regard encouragement as sign of weakness. If u never yell at her all this while for failing, chances are she will just think it is ok to fail.
Be realistic, human beings learn lesson the hard way.
Me and my siblings were caned when we failed our CA tests in primary sch. My parents love us, but they believe in caning system. It is this caning system that brought all of us through Uni and some Phd.( Of course, my parents stop caning once we were in sec2 or sec3)
Anyway, it is too late to start yelling at her now. I understand your love for ur daughter, but have it occur to u that u might be actually an ineffective teacher to ur daughter?
Actions should be taken when she starts failing in P2 or so....Get a good tutor, be prepared to coach her on her subjects and plan time table for her to study effectively and of course a balanced lifestyle. My mum does it when I am young. I learn how to plan timetable from her and I never need my mum to nag at me to study once I was in secondary.
I hope ur appeal gets through. And do try things like planning timetable for ur daughter, get her a tutor, be more stern when she did badly in homework.
I wish you n ur daughter good luck.
Kimtan, I take my hat off to you. Let her go through the system, it's tough I know. Continue to motivate her and cultivate her interests.
Kim,
My bro went through his ITE education and I don't remember him mentionining about the principal can only choose a certain number of graduates into a polytechnic study. You just need to be the top 5% of the entire ITE cohort (anyone please correct me if I'm wrong thanks!). My bro went ahead, graduated with his Polytechnic Diploma. He had completed his part-time Degree with NUS last year as well.
Life isn't really that bad.
Slow learning pace is not anyone's fault to point on.
I was retained a year in my Polytechnic days because I kept failing my engineering maths too.
You have to let go of the anger before constructive alternatives surface before you.
An angry and negative mind states will keep attracting unpleasant things to happen to you.
Relax.
Originally posted by Poh Ah Pak:Why drag Lee Kuan Yew into this discussion?
i thought everything is LKY's fault????
i thought everything is LKY's fault????
That is true, a lof of stuff that is wrong in Singapore today is due to him, but not all.
EM3 wasn't that bad afterall bro,
i was frm EM3 afew years back,
i got into Normal Acad in sec school and now im studying in Ngee Ann Poly.
look on the bright side man.
i build my foundation in math from EM3.
now im doing better than some students from EM2 or express stream.
the way i see it, too many parents blame the school and MOE when they precious children fail..... sure the system is imperfect, but what i like to know is: how many of such parents take personal ownership of mentoring their children.
i actually have to tell my older son (Sec 3 this year) NOT to study too late.
i also actually see my younger son extremely motivated when he is doing his PSLE preparation this year....
why is that so?
because instead of looking for the fall-guy, i choose to think that the buck stops with me. it is up to me to motivate my children to study and to work hard.
i know of a colleague who constantly blame the school for his son's failings. his perception is that it is the school's responsibility to motivate his son. i think that's wrong, it's the school's role to EDUCATE the children, it's up to the family to MOTIVATE them to excel.
Originally posted by Chin Eng:the way i see it, too many parents blame the school and MOE when they precious children fail..... sure the system is imperfect, but what i like to know is: how many of such parents take personal ownership of mentoring their children.
i actually have to tell my older son (Sec 3 this year) NOT to study too late.
i also actually see my younger son extremely motivated when he is doing his PSLE preparation this year....
why is that so?
because instead of looking for the fall-guy, i choose to think that the buck stops with me. it is up to me to motivate my children to study and to work hard.
i know of a colleague who constantly blame the school for his son's failings. his perception is that it is the school's responsibility to motivate his son. i think that's wrong, it's the school's role to EDUCATE the children, it's up to the family to MOTIVATE them to excel.
i think educating and motivating our kids is our responsibility. the school is a facilitor in this equation.
unless you know what your children's are made of, i.e. temperament, steady type or kan-chiong type, etc., it is hard to provide the right level of support. as parent, we must be able to see and read them quickly and change if we must to do the right thing for them.
mine is a classic example. both my kids did well in their previous school. so, i up the ante and initiated a transfer to a so-called `top' school. they passed the entrance exam and were posted there last year. however, in the last 2 years, i noticed they were miserable in school. the grades too dropped, altho' i can confirmed that their teachers told me that they typically set very difficult questions to condition their pupils for the main exam. their homework load is tremendous. they can hardly catch up on their work so me supplementing them with MY homework for them is definitely putting additional strain on them.
i realized i made a fatal mistake in this case. i am pulling them out of the school.
perhaps my kids do not have that kind of temperament for the environment the school provide. or they are not as smart as i thought they are. regardless, i rather they have a childhood that is happy and not be reminded of their early years as one of struggle.
in the final analysis, we parents just need to do the right thing. our meritocratic driven society coupled with the kiasu-ness in most parents unfortunately will ensure that the current system will (still) prevail.
so, i up the ante and initiated a transfer to a so-called `top' school.
Yes, I think that was bad move as well redDUST.
Cannot suka suka change here change there.
Will demoralise the person.
Originally posted by Chin Eng:the way i see it, too many parents blame the school and MOE when they precious children fail..... sure the system is imperfect, but what i like to know is: how many of such parents take personal ownership of mentoring their children.
i actually have to tell my older son (Sec 3 this year) NOT to study too late.
i also actually see my younger son extremely motivated when he is doing his PSLE preparation this year....
why is that so?
because instead of looking for the fall-guy, i choose to think that the buck stops with me. it is up to me to motivate my children to study and to work hard.
i know of a colleague who constantly blame the school for his son's failings. his perception is that it is the school's responsibility to motivate his son. i think that's wrong, it's the school's role to EDUCATE the children, it's up to the family to MOTIVATE them to excel.
it's half half. both parents and schools play a role. Nothing wrong with blaming the school, but after blaming the school, he has to evaluate what needs to be done.
Originally posted by Poh Ah Pak:Yes, I think that was bad move as well redDUST.
Cannot suka suka change here change there.
Will demoralise the person.
yup, i know. luckily i realized that and acted on it.
but how come you are demoralized when our leaders never change here, change there? isn't stability good as you imply?
but how come you are demoralized when our leaders never change here, change there? isn't stability good as you imply?
Depends.
If your kids already doing well, you go and change of course not that good.
But if your kids doing bad, a change might be good thing, not bad thing.
In general, if we study history, old bastards in power for 50 over years is bad thing, not good thing.
Originally posted by redDUST:i realized i made a fatal mistake in this case. i am pulling them out of the school
let me congratulate you on this mature decision....
i sincerely hope all parents understand that sending their kids to top schools should not be a bragging right.
let me congratulate you on this mature decision....
You are willing to admit errors and take steps to correct the situation.
You did not sit around wait for things to blow over.
That is very good.
Originally posted by hisoka:it's half half. both parents and schools play a role. Nothing wrong with blaming the school, but after blaming the school, he has to evaluate what needs to be done.
not far from the truth, but in my opinion, it's the school's job to educate. the school cannot do too much to inspire the child, if the parents don't care.
to me the parent it the primary source for inspiration and the school take the secondary role, it cannot be vice versa.