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
Wednesday, 16 April 2014
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.
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.
Tuesday, 15 April 2014
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.
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.
Sunday, 13 April 2014
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.
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.
Saturday, 12 April 2014
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
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
Saturday, 5 April 2014
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.
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.
Friday, 4 April 2014
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.
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
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