So Danial is in Primary 2 this year. And because he had such good results from last year's final exam, he's been placed in the "mega class" - I kid you not, that's what the class is called.
OK, "mega" because there are 60 students with two teachers in *one* class - sorta combining two classes into one. Can't think of what the economic or efficiency advantages to this really, but that's the way it is.
True to the typical Singaporean passion for classification and segregation (and I am equally guilty as charged), the kiddies in this class are identified as above average, and so the teachers are encouraging independent learning through more group work. These kids get more homework and more "challenging" worksheets. The price to be paid for being smart. Sheesh.
And trust me, he gets home everyday with LOTS of worksheets that need to be completed and handed in the next day. I'm not sure who's getting the most stress here in this ecosystem -- the teachers, for having to prepare these worksheets and then marking them? or the kids who actually have to complete them? or the parent who has to go through them with the kid after a long day at work?
I'm only glad that I am not in school anymore. And so thoughts for that MA drift further into the back burner. Heh.
2 comments:
I don't get how group work fosters intelligence. After all, you may be gifted and talented, and so are all the other kids in your class, but you still don't have the knowledge and experience that the teacher does. So why can't the teacher "teach" it?
I am especially frustrated in college when I pay $22,000 a year and the teacher would sit and listen to us report on the book the entire class read.
If learning to work with other people is that important, teamwork and clubs should be mandated by society as much as classroom education; the two shouldn't necesarily be mixed.
Pardon me, I get a little bitter sometimes.
I don't think group work fosters intelligence, so I'm with you on that. At most, it fosters collaboration skills.
And you know, kids here are mandated to join societies and clubs. Going off tangent, Danial just rang me up to say he's signed up with the Hip Hop Club at school. I fell off my chair, I didn't even know they had one. He said he decided on that club since the Robotics Club is not available for Pri 2 students but he can join them next year. Gotta trust he made the right decision since I gave him the autonomy to decide on this.
Anyway, when I heard about this "mega class", I was freaked out that there would be 60 students in the class. How do you teach 60 students at one go? How does one **survive** 60 students daily??
I hear ya re your college experience. I learnt more at university when I was researching than listening to lectures :) And because I majored in journalism and communications, there is no right or wrong answer so it was largely based on how well you present your case.
And being bitter, don't worry about it. You are in good company here :)
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