Top International Schools in Singapore

[Mary Hatch Bailey]

I guess I'm too young for the St. Elmo's Fire jab (I had to Google it to even know if was supposed to be a jab). Not sure what exactly about my post is so mean spirited? Except to say if I have to hear how great XYZ school is again on another thread I may vomit.

My experience is obviously very different than yours MHB--and my kids education ALWAYS come first. I did say that you've got to visit the schools FIRST. There is no use looking at your finances and jumping at the first school you can afford. That is NOT the way.

But to each her own.

Your kids' education always comes first? Well congratulations, you get Mother of the Year. Do you honestly think that 99% of us don't think the exact same thing or have you cornered that market? If you're tired of hearing how great XYZ school is, then stop reading those threads. People ask for opinions, and people give them. That is the beauty of a forum.

People who pay top dollar for their child's education aren't all consumed with what the 'cool' crowd is doing, or listening to 'crap' or making choices based on a 'herd' mentality ~ or do so for the bragging rights alone. I would imagine they are trying to do what is in the best interest of their children. Some find the "the level of instruction and "feel" of the school" at XYZ to match their family's educational philosophies. Good for them.

It's wrong to assume you know their motivations, just as it would be wrong to assume people who send their kids to local schools are all kiasu skin flints.

Your assumption of bad intentions is what is tiring and mean-spririted, not your unfailing support of local schools. I think if you stop assuming our situations are so different you'll see that like most people, we're all just trying our best to do the right thing by our children.

And what good is visiting the school if there is no way your child can attend? Sounds like visiting the pound when you can't bring home a puppy.

[sundaymorningstaple]

^^^^

No. That is what's tiring.

[Mary Hatch Bailey]

Why? Because it's true? Think outside your little box for five minutes. I don't make ugly generalizations about my friends who home school, or send their kids to boarding school. Not my choice, but it works for them. Those choices are theirs alone and not indicative of some snobbery or conformist mentality or the measure of a better parent.

[cbavasi]

Yikes - I had to edit out my addition to this topic as it wasn't very helpful.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Why? Because it's true? Think outside your little box for five minutes. I don't make ugly generalizations about my friends who home school, or send their kids to boarding school. Not my choice, but it works for them. Those choices are theirs alone and not indicative of some snobbery or conformist mentality or the measure of a better parent.

But generalizations about others here is okay.

[Mary Hatch Bailey]

But generalizations about others here is okay.

No. You are exactly right. They are not OK, which is exactly why I posted a contradictory post when I felt that boffenl had, once again, reduced the decision of schooling to the virtuous local schoolers vs. unethical spendthrifts.

If I had posted:

Needless to say, there really is a herd mentality and if being part of the cool crowd (my kid goes to blah, blah blah...) is important (rather than your kids' education) then listen to the crap about local schools; IF the level of instruction and "feel" of the school is more important, go visit International schools and see for yourself!

everyone would be on me like white on rice.

All I have said, is that these decisions are personal and best left up to the families. Ugly generalizations and the people who spew them, need to be outted and contradicted, otherwise the quality of the thread is compromised.

And while I understand where cbavasi is coming from when she writes that we should keep it topical and not dredge up these old arguments, I believe families making these decisions right now would benefit from a more well-rounded, balanced perspective. Singapore's International Schools are not populated solely with label-conscious, conformist snobs ~ someone moving in to Singapore and making such a big decision should hear another viewpoint.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Frankly, MHB, you are and were totally out of line with your initial reply to boffenl, She specifically said to visit the schools to get a feel of them. If one also has the wherewithal to afford the top or should I say, most expensive schools (the two, by the way are not necessarily mutually exclusive, regardless of what some may think), by all means visit them as well to get a feel of all the different opportunities.

Nowhere in the post, that you so vehemently attacked, did she say one should go to the local schools. Instead of carrying out the grudge you've carried for the past 5 years against her, you might be better advised to actually read her posts and not read into her posts. And frankly, some of those kids who DO go to those schools are somewhat pretentious BECAUSE their parents CAN afford it. You might do well to remember that. Most here have to make compromises, unlike yourself.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Where's that "Sheesch!" image when I need it......

[Mary Hatch Bailey]

Frankly, MHB, you are and were totally out of line with your initial reply to boffenl,

Why? Because I called her generalizations 'crap'? Well, I think they are crap.

She specifically said to visit the schools to get a feel of them. If one also has the wherewithal to afford the top or should I say, most expensive schools (the two, by the way are not necessarily mutually exclusive, regardless of what some may think),

Has anyone here, ever said the cost of tuition = quality of education or did you just make that assumption? She may have said to visit the schools, but she also reduced all discussion of International Schools by their proponents to 'blah, blah, blah.' As if they were all the same and as if all parents' comments were the same. Oh no, no generalizations there... Give me a break.

Nowhere in the post, that you so vehemently attacked, did she say one should go to the local schools.

No, she just maligned and belittled those who don't.

Instead of carrying out the grudge you've carried for the past 5 years against her, you might be better advised to actually read her posts and not read into her posts.

.

I could say the same to you. You seem to have a blind side to the other people who, like yourself have benefitted from local schools. Why you perpetuate this 'us against them' mentality is beyond me. I've been the one who has advocated looking at it by a case by case basis and not painting entire demographic with the same unflattering brush.

And frankly, some of those kids who DO go to those schools are somewhat pretentious BECAUSE their parents CAN afford it. You might do well to remember that. Most here have to make compromises, unlike yourself.

Why, in God's name would you think I am a stranger to compromise? Is compromise always based on finances in your world? You don't think children of means end up in local school? Are you kidding? Sending your kid to local school has become a status symbol among some wealthy families. I know two different families who moved to from the US to Singapore for no other reason than to put their kids in local schools in hopes of broadening their cultural exposure and to give them a top notch math/science education. Are some kids in International Schools 'pretentious' because their parents CAN afford it? The short answer: No!

Money doesn't make people pretentious. Pretension makes people pretentious. The irony is, I'd guess most average Singaporean families with kids in local schools would consider any American at their school to be wealthy and quite posh. It's all relative, isn't it.

[sundaymorningstaple]

[Mary Hatch Bailey]

Not sure what you find confusing about my post, but then that's the crux of the issue isn't it. This is where LOL meets WTF.

[sundaymorningstaple]

This is the smilie for confused. And I think you are. This is LOL and this is WTF or Totally off the deep end:

[Mary Hatch Bailey]

Totally off the deep end? Really SMS? You find that I don't like seeing others reduce people to a stereotype 'totally off the deep end'? I took your eye rolling emoticon a step further and just thought you must be confused since incredulity seemed such an inappropriate response. You've become so myopic, I'm not sure you actually even read the posts thoroughly anymore, since the meaning is often so lost on you.

[boffenl]

I've never been nominated for Mother Of The Year before, but I'll take it!

I knew jumping in on a thread with MHB would bring on a conflict, but I was hoping.... anyway, yes, I am an unabashed LOVER of the local school system. That doesn't mean it's for everyone. I KNOW it is not. I was lucky to begin my daughter's schooling here in Singapore very early--for others who are coming in later it may not work.

That being said, just because everyone in your condo sends their kid to XYZ school doesn't mean it's good for your kid. Everyone MUST look at all their options (local, international, Boarding school and homeschooling) to make the right choice for their family.

The right choice for my child was a local neighborhood school--I won't apologize for that choice nor stop telling EVERYONE how great it is. If you have experience with another school, you can tell everyone your experience there. To each her own.

[Mary Hatch Bailey]

A fair and more balanced post. The one from July 20th? Not so much