nanana wrote:x9200 wrote:Surely you are right but I have always thought teachers are the core part of the system.
Let me put it this way, say this school has a fantastic program that will ensure holistic development of the child. But, the teachers at the school just can't deliver the program efficiently, for whatever reason that might be (e.g not passionate about teaching, personal issues, attitude problem, over worked, over stressed etc). Don't think the child will benefit much if he/she is in the class of this kind of teacher.
and PNGMK was right about the stupid ass meetings, and not to mention all sort of stupid paper work, documentation, and other stupid side duties apart from teaching.
Again, I agree, but it does not change anything. If, despite of a good program the teachers can not deliver, still something is wrong and if this is not a single teacher but like majority of them, this is the system that is wrong (IMHO).
But frankly, I don't think this is the case in Singapore. This system, as mentioned earlier, seems to be focused on academic achievements (rewards, scores etc.) and it does it very very well. Something like this is not a side effect of bad or busy teachers as this requires directed effort. The effort is there, but it is the effort put in a wrong area.
Personally I think, most of these teachers are educated based on rota type of learning. How can they teach to think if this is completely outside of their boxes? Why should they do it if what is expected are just the achievements, scores, numbers? Do not question anything, memorize vs question everything, memorize just basics, learn to recognize the connections/relationships (a good school).
Side point: do you know how it shows in uni* students (the end product of the process)? In the level of micromanagement required to complete any complex task. It also shows as highly specialized but isolated knowledge. You successfully completed and defended your PhD on a market price variations in the sells of fountain pens and you are a God of it knowing practically everything in this area, but you have no idea what the fountain pen is because it was not required.
*) unlikely an average parent will see anything wrong at the early-mid stages of the education, but as the other poster mentioned, this is a marathon with the end product that matters.