Foreigners views on Singapore education- Yvelyn Koh

Education

Summary: Some foreign families would choose to enrol their children into international schools while some prefers Singapore public schools. One factor that parents wants their child to be in a Singapore school is because the school fee is much cheaper than international schools. International schools yearly school fees is about $25,000 to $40,000. However, Singapore schools is no way better. These families thinks that Singapore education system take grades too highly, ranking each student individually and their child is unable to cope with that. All parents only want their children to be happy in school, in life. Many foreigner families prefer international school as their perception still exists, that Singapore education is too tough to handle. Regardless, some parents hope that their child could really be part of Singapore and they do not want to pay large sum of money every year just for education.


Opinion: I think that every parents have their own rights to choose which school they want to enrol their child in, as long as they know which choice is the best for the child. Singapore have a tough and stressful education, and rank students on their grades. However, this is just to ensure that students will work hard and compete with their peers, to get better results. International school may have a lighter load of education as compared to Singapore, but do the students there really learn? Or are they just listening?

Speech by Ms Grace Fu, MOE, at the Learning Journeys Appreciation Ceremony on 28th August 2008- Ryan

http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/speeches/2008/08/28/speech-by-ms-grace-fu-at-the-l-1.php

Summary: The oversea learning journey programme was first launch in 1998.At the time, the main aim of Learning Journeys was to instil pride about Singapore’s achievements in our students. It would not have been able to be like now without partnership and commitment over the years, from 20 in the past to 50 now in the present. With globalisation, Singaporeans now have more opportunities to live, work, and study abroad. Hence, it is increasingly important to foster in our young an emotional attachment to Singapore, no matter where they live, or however long they are away from Singapore.

Opinion: In my opinion, this programme have come a long way and whenever there is any opportunities student should cherish it. This programme would always educate student about how they should feel about Singapore and at the same time allow student to have a broader view of the world outside of Singapore.

Overseas Learning Experiences for Students- Ki Eunyu

Overseas Learning Experiences for Students

Summary(based on part 1 of the article): The main aim of overseas learning programmes is to enable students to be in link internationally, know the issues in this world. Schools believe that upon experiencing overseas programmes, students will be able to become a better leader, become more independent and understand more about culture of other countries. Overseas programme will also develop maturity and social skills among students as they face and solve problems in the unfamiliar environment, out of their comfort zone. The programme also benefits the school community as each student will prepare for success for the international world.

Opinion: I feel that overseas programmes are quite important in schools. Overseas programmes will be different from ordinary family holidays as students will be involved in experiences that they will not be able to experience in ordinary holidays such as being involved in schools of other countries and get exposure to their culture. Students will also learn values such as care and respect in that country. The learning will be very different and students will be able to appreciate their system. This way, students will be connected globally and become a more active international citizen.

Students’ overseas trips made possible with funding by JunTian

Summary: Introduced by the Ministry of Education (MOE) in 2008, the Internationalisation Fund (IF) has given students in Singapore a chance to experience life overseas, enabling them to gain a global perspective while on an overseas school trip.  Trips can be organised in line with a school’s study curriculum or used to encourage talent and development growth in students. The fund, set up in 2008, provided schools with $22 million for their internationalisation efforts last year, enabling more than 57,500 students to participate in overseas trips. South View's principal Jenny Yeo sees the IF as valuable because many of her pupils have no idea that life outside of Singapore could be so different. 'It's important for them to see what people in different countries wear and eat and how they live, because they are living in a global community now.'

Opinion: I feel that overseas learning is very important to students as it gives them opportunities to interact with people from different cultures and learn to be a globalised person. This is especially important for students and will allow them to benefit greatly in the future as we are living in a globalising world. It is crucial that we understand and can communicate with people of different culture. Exposing young Singaporeans to the outside world can also let them learn from the under cultures and bring these values back to Singapore.

Giving Our Students An International Education by ZhiGang

Giving Our Students An International Education

Summary: In view that not all students are financially well-off to travel overseas, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has announced the School Twinning Fund (STF) in 2005 to help students so that all students will have the chance to be able to travel overseas to open their eyes to new horizons. This also provide students a platform to expose Singapore students to the evolving regional and global environment, and to empower schools to develop globalized social and cultural skills in students.

Opinion: In my opinion, I feel that even though the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced the School Twinning Fund (STF), it is not enough. Schools should pick students who have not been on any overseas learning trip to grant a chance for every student to be able to travel overseas at least once to ensure fairness in the school and also expose each and every student to the different cultural backgrounds. Meanwhile, also developing students to be global citizens using such opportunities.

Celebrities Behaving Well- Yen Yuen

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/09/fashion/celebrities-behaving-well.html?_r=0

SUMMARY: Comparing to the past, fewer celebrities are giving bribes to escape from their minor crimes (eg Drunk Driving) because of the Internet's power to shame and memorialise. (For example, Alex Baldwin quit Twitter several times and bade a recent long goodbye to public life) They are starting to be mindful of their manners. 

Cat Marnell, a rare journalist, has appeared in the news about her exploits with drugs. Despite this, she felt that it is perfectly alright to do so. "Drugs are bad, but they are still fun."

Smoking as well as drinking and a host of other insalubrious habits are now correlates with lower levels of income and education.

Casanova are also decreasing with better education about sexually transmitted infections and apps like Lulu


OPINION:
It is delightful to see that the more celebrities are behaving well because of the negative influence their inappropriate actions can have on their fans, who is mostly teenagers. Their actions such as smoking, drinking, drunk driving, womanising can inculcate immoral values in teenagers. Teenagers who idolised them will feel that their actions are perfectly fine and correct.

Nonetheless, not all celebrities are behaving well and teenagers have to be aware of who they are idolising. In this case, parents have to play a part and monitor their actions so that they will not follow the wrong path. Most importantly, before doing so, they have to establish good relationship with their children and understand them so that they can have a better awareness of their actions.

bullying online-demi tay

summary:
Social networking sites have made cruelty and meanness public. Previously these acts were invisible, now they are at display to all. There are different views on what to do with this visibility. With technology you have some benefits and some negatives, the latter being that there is a new way to bully kids and it does make it more difficult. In a lot of circumstances, a bully has been bullied, whether it’s by other peers or in parenting styles.A lot of parents do monitor every aspect of their kids electronic use today. The kids don’t like it, but I’ve never told the parents stop. If you have a typically developing child, talk with them about the dangers. Parental support can actually decrease the likelihood of bullying, a lot of it is about developing, learning coping skills.

opinion:
I feel that teenagers bullying online are caused by discrimination of others. This bullying can be lessen by having parents to guide their child so they would not go and bully other online. Parents have great influence as most children do not dare to defy their parents. I also feel that bullying occur when one feel more superior than the other. schools can play a role by helping different people to work together bond together so they would not bully.http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/03/24/experts-offer-their-guidance-to-cope-with-online-bullying/?_php=true&_type=blogs&ref=bullies&_r=0

stay at home mother on the rise - demi tay

summary:
The share of mothers who do not work outside the home rose to 29% in 2012, up from a modern-era low of 23% in 1999, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis of government data. The broad category of “stay-at-home” mothers includes not only mothers who say they are at home in order to care for their families, but also those who are at home because they are unable to find work, are disabled or are enrolled in school. Married stay-at-home mothers are more likely than single or cohabiting stay-at-home mothers to say they are not employed because they are caring for their families (85% said this in 2012.No matter what their marital status, mothers at home are younger and less educated than their working counterparts. Among all stay-at-home mothers in 2012, about four-in-ten (42%) were younger than 35. This compares with roughly a third (35%) of working mothers. Half (51%) of stay-at-home mothers care for at least one child age 5 or younger, compared with 41% of working mothers.

opinion:
in my opinion, I am feeling happy that there are a rise in homestay mother.having too much working mother may cause their child to go astray as they do not have motherly love which most child need to have as they are at the developing stage. With the rise in home stay mother children are less likely to mix with gangs outside. Children are able to talk to their parents about how's their day and what they have encounter in school. Some children may get bully, with a parent at home the children can consult their parent and so they would not do silly things such as sucide.in a whole, children are more likely to be able to developed better than a child without any care from their parents.
.http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2014/04/08/after-decades-of-decline-a-rise-in-stay-at-home-mothers/

Teenagers most influenced by celebrities by ZhiGang

Teenagers most influenced by celebrities

Summary: Research has shown that one in four teenagers admit that they are more influenced by celebrities than people they know. Within the community, the top choice for individual teenagers looked up most was family members, followed by other popular figures including teachers, police, GPs and sports coaches. This result has shown the drastic increase of teenagers turning to their celebrities as role models for them to follow. But, the change in the teenager have to depend on who he look up to.

Opinion: In my opinion, I feel that there is no good or bad celebrities. It depends on the way teenagers look at them. If they receive good parenting from young, they are able to differentiate what they is appropriate and what is inappropriate. Celebrities are like us, human beings and they have the times where they do the wrong thing in a time of folly. However, it does not mean that teenagers should stupidly follow the way celebrities does the wrong things.

Effects of Celebrity role models on kids and teens Ki Eunyu

Effects of celebrity role models on kids and teens

Summary: Celebrities have many impacts on lives of teenagers amd children. The influence may be negative or positive. Parents should ensure that their children do not get influenced negatively and should seek help and talk to them if their children behave in a unusual manner so that they will know what is right and wrong.

Opinion: I feel that nowadays, as technology develops,  we will be able to know what our favoured celebrity is doing and be informed of every action they do. One should not blindly follow what they do and think before they carry out and action. Celebrities should also be careful of their actions and try their best to establish positive examples as even their smallest action may become a huge influence to their fan's life. Parents should carefully monitor them and ensure that they do not follow undesired examples such as drugs. Teenagers should not lower their self esteem by comparing themselves to the celebrities.

Are celebrities good role models? By JunTian

Summary: Celebrity role models such as Miley Cyrus are leaving schoolgirls “manipulated and confused" by sending out mixed messages, a headmistress has warned. Stars risk leading children astray by launching themselves with clean-cut images before reinventing themselves as controversial and raunchy performers, it was claimed. Jo Heywood, head of all-girl Heathfield School in Ascot, said that it was hoped that the Olympics would provide teenage girls with a new generation of role models “recognised for their achievements rather than their looks”. These sportswomen stood for - hard work, sacrifice and achievement. They were clear-cut role models for young women to look up to and they did so. However, young women are now being manipulated and confused by potential role models.

Opinion: I feel that celebrities should watch their behavior and what they do or say as many look up to them role models. This especially so for teenagers who are still not so mature and cannot make proper judgement. If their idols behave in controversial ways, they might feel that it is right to behave that way too. Therefore, not all celebrities are good role models for teenagers. On the other hand, sportswomen are good role model as they teach teenage girls that not everything is superficial. True success comes from hard work and determination. These sportswomen also reduce the superficial and materialistic mindset teenagers might have. Thus, they are good role models.





Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/10427622/Miley-Cyrus-is-a-poor-role-model-to-girls-and-gives-them-mixed-messages-says-headmistress.html

Many Singaporeans’ parenting style not helping children succeed by JunTian

Many Singaporeans’ parenting style not helping children succeed
Summary:
In an attempt to restructure the education, the MP have proposed taking away exams and streaming in some schools. However, this is only solving the superficial problem of the huge stress students are facing, but will not benefit our students in the long run. An examination-free education system would serve only to mask the inadequacies of the current generation of pupils, rather than help them to succeed. While some of the pressure they face is due to the existing system, the root problem actually lies with the quality of young people now.  Many Singaporean parents lead busy lives and spend little quality time with their children. Over time, this sends their children a message that they are not that important to their parents, and the bonding process is weakened. Children who feel unloved or second-best are often less able to cope with the stresses of life. Physical pain can help children learn how to harness wayward passions responsibly and constructively. Sadly, many Singaporean parents are discarding this mode of training their children. Without direct and consistent parental presence in the form of both tender loving and hard discipline, a child’s psyche can become unstable, and his/her thoughts misdirected. When pressure comes, the cracks show up easily. This is why many parents wish to do away with school examinations; they do not want to have the fruit of their unsuccessful parenting exposed.
Opinion: I feel that it is indeed true that taking away exams and test is not a good solution. While this definitely reduce loads of stress, it will not benefit our students at all in the long run. By asking to do away with examinations, parents are nurturing in their children a mentality that they can avoid anything unpleasant, and in the future when they are independent adults, they will not be able to cope with all the stress and problems that are unavoidable. Also, parents should also ensure that they spend adequate time with their children. During the right times, parents should not hesitate to be strict when disciplining their children. Only by doing these can parents produce children that are responsible and can handle problems in the future.

Allow pre-school teachers ‘more frequent breaks'- Ryan

http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/allow-pre-school-teachers-more-frequent-breaks

Summary: Pre-school teacher should get at least a 15 minute breaks every four hours of work which they does not get as much now. When an expert was interviewed, she mention that through her research of pre-school educators, most of them felt exhausted. In a workshop, a doctor who has been involved in the pre-school sectors in quite a few countries said that most of the countries outside Singapore would take 15-20 min off after four hours of close work with children.

Opinion: In my opinion, government should not only focus on primary school and onwards education but also on pre-school education as now pre-school are more part of the education system. Since pre-school is more part of the education system, government should implement such policy that allows all pre-school educators to have a break from the children after spent long hours with them. People may think taking care of young children may not be tiring than the other level of school but in fact it's very tiring.  they would require breaks,such breaks would than allow educators to rest and after resting could be better at taking care of those children.

Parenting Like A Tiger Mother Leads To Obese Children By: Sherman

http://time.com/30376/parenting-like-a-tiger-mom-may-make-your-kids-obese/

Summary:
Research suggests that authoritarian parenting style is worse for children's weight than an authoritative one. Authoritative parents interact with their kids on everything from homework to chores and getting along with their siblings therefore affecting children’s weight. Authoritarian parents were less likely than authoritative moms and dads to praise their children or give them positive feedback for good behavior, regardless of whether it was related to their health. When their children misbehaved, authoritarian parents were “most likely to respond emotionally and punish the child but not tell them what they had done wrong.” Other factors related to parenting style education or stress could be the driving force in the association between iron-fist parenting and children’s obesity. In the meantime, the results suggest that setting boundaries but making sure that children understand why rules are in place can teach them self-control, which might be important in regulating their eating habits as well.

Opinion:
In my opinion, I believe that children who have authoritative parents are affecting children's health because everything they do is being noticed. These children will then suffer from the large amount of stress given by their parents. With the constant need for these children to relieve stress, they will sometimes fall into depression while others go for binge eating to help. When children eat due to stress, not hunger, they will then tend to take in more junk food leading them to be obese. I think that parents should not be so authoritative and be more supportive of their children because they will then have lesser health problems. Children will then care more about themselves and the obese children will decrease.

Raising Successful Children-Ki Eunyu

Raising Successful Children

Summary: Some parents nowadays are over parenting and pushing their child to their maximum abilities. However, instead of pushing their children, parents should actually be patient and give their child some time to develop a sense of self. Parents should not continuously push their child and expect them to do everything right but they should only give help to them, praise and motivate them for a job well done.

My Opinion: I agree to this author's opinions. Over parenting has become an issue nowadays where there is competition everywhere. However, for the correct development of a child, parents should not interfere with every matter that a child has but give them some independence

S’pore Pupils Top Tests, Score Higher In Reasoning- Ki Eunyu

S’pore Pupils Top Tests, Score Higher In Reasoning
Summary: In international bench-marking studies, Singapore has emerged as a top few for mathematics, science and literary subjects. The students who do not excel in academics have also shown improvements. The main reason for this success was Singapore's education system which not taught mere learning and memorising of the subject but more of application of their skills. Another reason would be MOE's policy of trimming syllabus to develop critical thinking skills in the students and give them chance to learn more actively and less dependent on teachers.

Opinion: I feel that the policy that MOE adopted is very successful and should be carried on. The critical thinking and applying skills will be able to help the students even when they grow up. The trimming of syllabus will also give the students less stress and pressure, enabling them to have a passion towards learning.

Play in Preschool: Why it Matters- Yen Yuen

Summary
The article states the importance of play in Pre-School as it provides a child a plethora of learning opportunities. Firstly, It develops a child's language and vocabulary development. While playing with other children or adults, a child pick up and learn to use language to communicate meaning as well as picking uo new word and hearing the grammatical structure of the English Language. Secondly, it develops a child's imagination and creativity. In our fast paced society, the children have fewer opportunties to use and develop their creavitiy. Thus it is through fun play that they learn to think of creative games to entertain themselves and the possibilities are endless. Thirdly, they can learn problem solving and matheatics through puzzles and blocks games. Lastly, they get to gross and fine motor development

Opinion:
In my opinion, i feel that play is important in pre school for young children and pre school should not focus too much on a child's academics. While a child is young, we should focus on developing her communication skills and not exert unneccessary stress on a child as it may cause them to dislike learning. They should see the joy of learning as pre schools introduced play into learning.

http://www.education.com/magazine/article/play-preschool-matters/?page=2