Tan Kin Lian's Blog: School work and holidays

Thursday, July 01, 2010

School work and holidays

RECENT revelations by parents on how their children are being deprived by schools of their term breaks to complete projects or study for exams, or both, suggest the following:
- poor time management;
- over-zealous or too much teaching;
- not recognising the need for children to rest; and
- the belief that more is better.

The allotted curriculum time and term time should be adequate in imparting whatever knowledge students need without having to encroach on the students' holidays.
It's generally accepted that term time is sacrosanct and should not be siphoned off for non-educational purposes.

Why shouldn't the school vacation be likewise left alone for the benefit of the students?
There's much that the students can do during school holidays: reading outside school texts, travelling, playing sports, or just enjoying the respite, all of which can contribute to their learning and development.

Learning is supposed to be an enjoyable experience.To make it any less so by needless overloading and depriving our students of rest and recreation would be counter-productive.

Lee Seck Kay
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_547818.html

Holiday homework blues
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_547819.html

'School holidays are the best time for students to learn.'
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_547996.html

School breaks important for catch-ups
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_547816.html

Tuition factor
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_547995.html

Holiday homework
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_547916.html

Adopt a balanced approach
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_547915.html

8 comments:

C H Yak said...: I read somewhere in the WEB that "Singaporeans enjoy racing their children"...

From the letters by the parents, they seem against it ...

From the letters by the teachers, they seem against it ...

From the letter by the Director of Schools MOE, the intention is to help weaker students, and he seems against it.

Then what is causing this irony?

What is obscuring the truths?; July 01, 2010 11:16 AM
Anonymous said...: Dear Mr Tan,
I agree that students nowadays are overloaded with too much school curriculum time which stretches into a good part of the school holidays. Sometimes, even school CCAs are conducted during the school holidays. I think there is a need to consider whether these "extra" curriculum time are being overdone for our students.

I understand especially for the students taking O levels that these "extra" time during school holidays are used for intensive revision for O levels. However, there is always the danger of overdoing things just for a good reason.

I am now in my thirties. I recall as a student last time, I seldom have to go back to school during school holidays, even during my O level year. In the end, my O level results still turned out reasonably well. I recall also that I had no tuition during my time as a student, and tuition among my friends back then are still not as popular as now.

Thus, I question with amazement whether times have changed such that education is more competitive now (major exams such as O levels getting more difficult now?). Or, is the quality of our students not as capable now than before that schools have to put in much more time to train them for exams and parents to engage tutors for their child? I know I maybe generalising things here, and I believe some students do need the extra training time for their studies (be it to improve on their weakness or to excel). However, there is always a danger of overdoing things just because it looks so right.

Doing well in major exams is important as it can affect one's future to a certain extent. I believe all students should work hard to do well in major exams. However, there is more to life than just aiming for straight As (such as learning to enjoy time with family, learning to use time to serve the community or less fortunate).

Parting note to consider: Academics is important. However, character is even more important as it decides how the person uses his knowledge to build lives or destroy lives. Has our education system been successfully training up exam smart students who will grow up to become "furture mercenary leaders" or "future gracious leaders of good character"?; July 01, 2010 11:16 AM
Anonymous said...: Out of the 4 weeks,my kid has to go to school almost full time in the first 2 weeks. The last 2 weeks are filled with CCA.

Very Tulan; July 01, 2010 11:18 AM
Anonymous said...: Beside homeworks, they have to attend and practise performances frequently for national events ie. YOG, NDP, etc etc.
Looking from a negative side and looking into cost, these children (NSF) are the cheapest or FOC labour that our government could find.

Have we hear any of our Minister's children performing in these events? I don't think so. They will most likely be at VIP stand or taking singapore scholarship studying overseas.; July 01, 2010 11:30 AM
Anonymous said...: "....enjoying the respite...."

if student thought negatively, they become gangster and vendalise public property & threaten resident !!!

Mr Tan, visit Blk 339 void deck, woodland Ave 1 and check for yourself.

These smart generation do not afraid of Police !!!; July 01, 2010 11:34 AM
Anonymous said...: ....if students go for extra extra lessons during all the holidays and still fail the exam, not the fault of the teachers mah !; July 01, 2010 1:32 PM
Anonymous said...: For those parents and students who are tu-lan'ed and disgusted with all these ECAs and CCAs and extra "tuition" etc etc ...

-- YOU CAN SIMPLY BOCHAP AND DON'T PARTICIPATE!!!

I used to skip all these crap stuff especially back in primary & secondary school. JC time maybe I turn up for 50% of this bo-liao stuff that are basically designed to:
1. Make the teachers/heads of depts/principals look good for their promotion exercise;
2. Cover their arses;
3. Full fill some orders and quotas from MOE.

I kenna many scoldings, letters from form teachers, head JC tutors, my parents kenna phone calls, meetings in schools etc etc.

And I still managed to get into NUS and get honours degree. I am just average intelligence, but I try to be street-smart and focus on the important things. The rest of the fluff just chuck into the fire.; July 01, 2010 2:01 PM
Anonymous said...: Dear ANON: July 01, 2010 2:01 PM

You give me, an old fart, hope that Singapore is not completely lacking in a street smart younger generation.

You see through the bullshit. I hope there are more young people like you.

May your generation be the one that will undo the stupid mistakes made by my generation during the next Annual General Meeting of shareholders that takes place once every 5 years in Singapore.; July 01, 2010 10:58 PM