Recently, we were given the stats for the boy’s latest round of tests – the highest score, lowest score stuff. For English, out of 60, the highest score in the class was in the 50s and the lowest was single-digit. First, I imagined how horribly the one(s) with the single-digit mark(s) and parents must have felt. Then, I felt really sorry for the teacher who has work with this bunch of 40 kids with such a range of abilities. And that’s just in one subject.
More recently, I was reminded by this article in TODAY about how that’s just one of many things the teacher needs to worry about.
Following that article about the system’s expectations of teachers, there were these two letters, one suggesting that teachers should be appraised by students! I really don’t know about this. Imagine the 40 kids rating their teacher. Even if they were 10 years older and more mature, I’m not sure if their ratings should be used. Everyone just expects such different things from school and teachers.
If you get someone with expectations like the ones below, you’re done for. They are from a letter to the ST Forum by someone who obviously has an (extremely large) axe to grind with the system.
Excerpts:
Let me contrast the approaches taken by an international school and an autonomous school in Singapore.
Guess which school offers customer-service orientation to parents and students (teachers respect students and do not scream at them); later-starting school hours; curriculum that allows learning to take place (teach less, learn more); good and motivated teachers; small class sizes; no pressure on students/ staff to win accolades (the journey is more important than the destination); minimal homework and tests/ exams; hiphop dancing exercise for PE and, best of all, cellphone and laptop usage. Students and parents are welcome to see the teachers and the principal himself whenever possible - no bureaucratic system to block access, even the security is friendly...
Shoes, socks and hair pose no big issues in the international school (don't sweat the small stuff). Students are free to show individualism (and do they look good). But not the stern Singapore school - it wants the students to look like factory-produced robots. I do not think this is the only way to instil discipline. I recall the time I had to go out late at night to buy white school shoes with laces for my child (velcro not allowed)...
Education should reflect changes in the workplace and society - including cellphone usage. Everyone is using cellphones everywhere, except in our conservative schools. How do you expect students to learn to use their phones properly in public if they are not allowed to do so in school? Education is also about teaching them responsible use of the phone during lessons...
With all the usual gripes about local schools, it is symptomatic of the increasing demand that schools be all things to all. Take that hip-hop dancing bit, for example. Some would like it, some would hate it. Some PE teachers can teach it, some can’t. Maybe there’s no teacher in that particular school who is able to hip-hop??
I found the bit about cellphone use odd, too. Does she mean students should be allowed to use phones in class? I cannot stand people’s phones going off in the middle of meetings, talks, training sessions, lectures, church services, etc. It’s downright rude and I think it’s a good thing children are not permitted to use phones in school. Anyway, I understand that another reason for banning mobile phones is the ‘high’ rate of phone theft in schools. So it’s for everyone’s good.
Uniforms – international schools also have uniforms, what. What’s she on about?
As for friendly security, are guards supposed to be smiling and warmly receiving everyone with open arms?
Sure, we do find less than ideal situations in schools, and I will admit that I’ve complained my fair share of complaints, but I think we all know that our schools operate under many constraints. It’s not as though they deliberately have large classes. Nor do I think there are no ‘good and motivated’ teachers. And as these two other letters say, schools have done a lot of good too, in spite of the constraints.
Anyway, my friend told me about this school she visited where the class sizes are so small (like 6 in a class) that the teaching is truly ‘individualised’. The children sometimes even decide their programme for the day/week. What’s more, a single teacher can handle more than one level in his/her classroom (only 6 kids in the class, what!). I believe the school is in Colorado. Perhaps parents like that lady can send their children there. And maybe we could also try the appraisal system on those teachers. I’m sure they would do well.
More recently, I was reminded by this article in TODAY about how that’s just one of many things the teacher needs to worry about.
Following that article about the system’s expectations of teachers, there were these two letters, one suggesting that teachers should be appraised by students! I really don’t know about this. Imagine the 40 kids rating their teacher. Even if they were 10 years older and more mature, I’m not sure if their ratings should be used. Everyone just expects such different things from school and teachers.
If you get someone with expectations like the ones below, you’re done for. They are from a letter to the ST Forum by someone who obviously has an (extremely large) axe to grind with the system.
Excerpts:
Let me contrast the approaches taken by an international school and an autonomous school in Singapore.
Guess which school offers customer-service orientation to parents and students (teachers respect students and do not scream at them); later-starting school hours; curriculum that allows learning to take place (teach less, learn more); good and motivated teachers; small class sizes; no pressure on students/ staff to win accolades (the journey is more important than the destination); minimal homework and tests/ exams; hiphop dancing exercise for PE and, best of all, cellphone and laptop usage. Students and parents are welcome to see the teachers and the principal himself whenever possible - no bureaucratic system to block access, even the security is friendly...
Shoes, socks and hair pose no big issues in the international school (don't sweat the small stuff). Students are free to show individualism (and do they look good). But not the stern Singapore school - it wants the students to look like factory-produced robots. I do not think this is the only way to instil discipline. I recall the time I had to go out late at night to buy white school shoes with laces for my child (velcro not allowed)...
Education should reflect changes in the workplace and society - including cellphone usage. Everyone is using cellphones everywhere, except in our conservative schools. How do you expect students to learn to use their phones properly in public if they are not allowed to do so in school? Education is also about teaching them responsible use of the phone during lessons...
With all the usual gripes about local schools, it is symptomatic of the increasing demand that schools be all things to all. Take that hip-hop dancing bit, for example. Some would like it, some would hate it. Some PE teachers can teach it, some can’t. Maybe there’s no teacher in that particular school who is able to hip-hop??
I found the bit about cellphone use odd, too. Does she mean students should be allowed to use phones in class? I cannot stand people’s phones going off in the middle of meetings, talks, training sessions, lectures, church services, etc. It’s downright rude and I think it’s a good thing children are not permitted to use phones in school. Anyway, I understand that another reason for banning mobile phones is the ‘high’ rate of phone theft in schools. So it’s for everyone’s good.
Uniforms – international schools also have uniforms, what. What’s she on about?
As for friendly security, are guards supposed to be smiling and warmly receiving everyone with open arms?
Sure, we do find less than ideal situations in schools, and I will admit that I’ve complained my fair share of complaints, but I think we all know that our schools operate under many constraints. It’s not as though they deliberately have large classes. Nor do I think there are no ‘good and motivated’ teachers. And as these two other letters say, schools have done a lot of good too, in spite of the constraints.
Anyway, my friend told me about this school she visited where the class sizes are so small (like 6 in a class) that the teaching is truly ‘individualised’. The children sometimes even decide their programme for the day/week. What’s more, a single teacher can handle more than one level in his/her classroom (only 6 kids in the class, what!). I believe the school is in Colorado. Perhaps parents like that lady can send their children there. And maybe we could also try the appraisal system on those teachers. I’m sure they would do well.
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