Coming back to SG to escape from the bitter cold in the North, we have taken at least two months to get accustomed to everything at home. Funny, isn't it?
In Singapore, we have the government schools, well-trained teachers, different types of tuition and enrichments, ranging from Shichida to Kumon. Singapore is not simply a multi-cultural and multi-racial society now. It has transformed itself to become international in its population, its brands for bags, food and education alike. Is this a good sign? Let's leave this to another post.
Well, back to the priorities of SG education. We have all the various classes from different schools of thought abd we outsource. Outsource our duty of educating our kids to these centres, well established and with a proven track record. please do not be mistaken that these centres are below what they have claim to be, I cannot prove the effectiveness. But, one thing I know for sure is when we, as parents outsource the job of educating kids to read, write and all other things, we have lost the chance to motivate, control and build something as special as a bond. This relationship is also outsourced, delegated to trained individuals but who also leave the lives of the children when they change positions or simple have left. How many children listen and argue constructively with their mums and dads in SG? How long do they do it for? The point is that we have exchanged the opportunity to participate in their learning when all we do is to drive them to lessons after lessons. And, I understand. I understand that the government policies in this part of the globe does not support mummies to stay at home. However, I feel very strongly against outsourcing my kids education. Because, to me, whether they are 1st in academics is not as important as if they know me and their daddy. They understand when we get angry, when they do things that are too much and we'll be truly truly mad. Cus when they become teenagers, they know the boundaries. They understand why, even if it is generation gap. They will learn to respect it. Not that my kids are perfect now. In fact, they are quite monstrous, but it gives me the opportunity to learn about their ways. Understand their thoughts and temepraments. Some days, I feel sad about how our society has evolved to let all women think that working mummy is common. How many of us have been raised by our own mummies and actually hold fond memories? I have the good and bad. But, I treasure the good more. I hope my kids will too.
PS: I am not saying I don't send my kids for any classes. I send them for classes daily, it keeps my sanity and staying sane is important.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Monday, March 21, 2011
The Finnish education system versus Singapore education system
The finnish education system is ranked #1 worldwide; singapore is not too bad too. The finnish children go through their education system and emerge equally smart and capable compared to the singapore children. However, the finnish preschool education system vs that of the singapore preschool system is ends apart.
In Finland, children do not begin formal school or learning before the age of 6. They go for daycare or playschool at 3 years of age (that's the min) and they play! That's all they do. They interact with their friends and do, close to no formal learning. They sing, they have craft and stations to play. But, there's no writing, recognising words. And, at three, they are only expected to know numbers 1 - 6.
Now, the SIngapore education system, at three, the children are expected to know numbers to 12. AT the end of their year (N2) they are expected to write their names. And, in 2 languages... Here, schools only teach English till they are in K1, where they get to choose another lnaguage.
Why are preschools in Singapore rushing the children to learn? 2 reasons: mentality of the parents and expectations of the primary schools.
As a mum, I worry. I worry that when J goes back to SG to start his primary one, he won't be able to write very well, or read real stories. He won't be able to cope with so much of expectations. In Finland, children learn to read and write in elementary school. They are not expected to know these skills, such as the various concepts in Math (adding, subtracting etc) before. This takes the pressure off the parents. Although most children will have had a basic understanding of those concepts before elementary school. This understanding of concepts is not done on paper, and not required to be demonstarted on paper. They probably have learnt it in their daily lives, out of their own curiosity asked their parents or adults and found out over time.
Most of us will know the requirements of the primary schools... they do categorise. *worry* YIKES!
The fact: Finns do as well as Singaporeans in the international setting. So, do we push and rush J now? Should we?
I need to consider... :)
In Finland, children do not begin formal school or learning before the age of 6. They go for daycare or playschool at 3 years of age (that's the min) and they play! That's all they do. They interact with their friends and do, close to no formal learning. They sing, they have craft and stations to play. But, there's no writing, recognising words. And, at three, they are only expected to know numbers 1 - 6.
Now, the SIngapore education system, at three, the children are expected to know numbers to 12. AT the end of their year (N2) they are expected to write their names. And, in 2 languages... Here, schools only teach English till they are in K1, where they get to choose another lnaguage.
Why are preschools in Singapore rushing the children to learn? 2 reasons: mentality of the parents and expectations of the primary schools.
As a mum, I worry. I worry that when J goes back to SG to start his primary one, he won't be able to write very well, or read real stories. He won't be able to cope with so much of expectations. In Finland, children learn to read and write in elementary school. They are not expected to know these skills, such as the various concepts in Math (adding, subtracting etc) before. This takes the pressure off the parents. Although most children will have had a basic understanding of those concepts before elementary school. This understanding of concepts is not done on paper, and not required to be demonstarted on paper. They probably have learnt it in their daily lives, out of their own curiosity asked their parents or adults and found out over time.
Most of us will know the requirements of the primary schools... they do categorise. *worry* YIKES!
The fact: Finns do as well as Singaporeans in the international setting. So, do we push and rush J now? Should we?
I need to consider... :)
Friday, January 14, 2011
Living in Finland versus Living in Singapore
I read an article on Yahoo! about the rising costs of living in Singapore and how the inflation in everything (except salary) explains for the low low birth rate and how some of us, Singaporeans think that we will soon become Chinapore.
Sets me thinking about the recent article I read on SG's view on early education for our children. Let me try and do a comparison.
In Finland, when you have a baby, you do not need to pay for anything, unless it's a luxury item like a sleeping bag or cot. That is to say that the delivery, medication and education for the child is paid for. In addition, the mum gets to choose to have the 1st three years off. I think the first 6 months is paid and the rest is not. But they keep the job for the lady. On top of this, the student gets a small pocket money when they go to tertiary education; no trasport costs for children under 7 years of age too! The downside of all these is less effective medication, waits and they are also not as picky as SIngaporeans. They are very contented with their way of life. They do not rank their schools or the children and they also do not have preferred doctors. I asked my neighbour about a good PD for the kids. She told me a clinic which is a PD clinic and they are all good. In SG, we scruntinize the clinic from the recp, to the nurses, doctor, etc. And, this applies to everything else. THe ladies do not carry LV or Chanel and they have absolutely no issue. In SG, please stand at Orchard Road and you will get the statistics.
I have a friend in Singapore who gave up her job to care for the baby. She does not buy an evening clutch for more than $49 and no Baby Bjorn potty or utensils for the kid. Just simple market spoons and bowl and simple $5 potty. They got by really well and she teaches the kids. We are preschool teachers. She cooks, no maid to help and she had a 2nd baby.
There's another friend who told me she cannot have children until they are ready with the car and the savings. She's not had a baby yet, because the preparation is not done.
Well, what I'm saying is not that you should have kids unprepared. But, do you prepare fr it financially or mentally? When I had my 1st baby, my hubby thought it was too early at first, the GP who did my blood test said that there is never a good time or best time to have a baby.It's true, because when we look at the kids after they sleep now, we ask each other how our lives will be without them.
A leap of faith, a cut in luxury and a new direction in life are the fundamentals of deciding whether to have kids.
On a more serious note though, I do agree that the SG government should look into the matter of rising property costs for newly weds. It makes making babies so difficult. In EUrope, it's also very expensive to own a property. so they rent most often.
And, if you think Europe is a good place to migrate to, think again. Do you want to pay 23% tax? That's how they have so much paid for teh citizens. The money's gotta come from somewhere!
An expensive education or a branded school or a school with a glorious past doesn't equate to happy, clever kiddos. What's your policy?
Sets me thinking about the recent article I read on SG's view on early education for our children. Let me try and do a comparison.
In Finland, when you have a baby, you do not need to pay for anything, unless it's a luxury item like a sleeping bag or cot. That is to say that the delivery, medication and education for the child is paid for. In addition, the mum gets to choose to have the 1st three years off. I think the first 6 months is paid and the rest is not. But they keep the job for the lady. On top of this, the student gets a small pocket money when they go to tertiary education; no trasport costs for children under 7 years of age too! The downside of all these is less effective medication, waits and they are also not as picky as SIngaporeans. They are very contented with their way of life. They do not rank their schools or the children and they also do not have preferred doctors. I asked my neighbour about a good PD for the kids. She told me a clinic which is a PD clinic and they are all good. In SG, we scruntinize the clinic from the recp, to the nurses, doctor, etc. And, this applies to everything else. THe ladies do not carry LV or Chanel and they have absolutely no issue. In SG, please stand at Orchard Road and you will get the statistics.
I have a friend in Singapore who gave up her job to care for the baby. She does not buy an evening clutch for more than $49 and no Baby Bjorn potty or utensils for the kid. Just simple market spoons and bowl and simple $5 potty. They got by really well and she teaches the kids. We are preschool teachers. She cooks, no maid to help and she had a 2nd baby.
There's another friend who told me she cannot have children until they are ready with the car and the savings. She's not had a baby yet, because the preparation is not done.
Well, what I'm saying is not that you should have kids unprepared. But, do you prepare fr it financially or mentally? When I had my 1st baby, my hubby thought it was too early at first, the GP who did my blood test said that there is never a good time or best time to have a baby.It's true, because when we look at the kids after they sleep now, we ask each other how our lives will be without them.
A leap of faith, a cut in luxury and a new direction in life are the fundamentals of deciding whether to have kids.
On a more serious note though, I do agree that the SG government should look into the matter of rising property costs for newly weds. It makes making babies so difficult. In EUrope, it's also very expensive to own a property. so they rent most often.
And, if you think Europe is a good place to migrate to, think again. Do you want to pay 23% tax? That's how they have so much paid for teh citizens. The money's gotta come from somewhere!
An expensive education or a branded school or a school with a glorious past doesn't equate to happy, clever kiddos. What's your policy?
Sunday, January 2, 2011
A new blog for documenting my thoughts as an educator
This is the beginning of year 2011. A new year with new beginnings and resolutions. As some of my friends know, I have had a hard time with resolutions this year, considering long and hard at the roles I play and what I hope to acheive in the year. One of the roles that I truly enjoy is that of an educator. What does it mean to be an educator? Is it a title that comes with a job or is it a role, an inner self that a person identifies with whether you are teaching or not? Many friends will know that I am only armed with a Diploma in ECCE from Wheelock College, and some years of teaching experience. And the biggest point of all is, I am technically out of job. This left me pondering... Am I still an educator? or I was an educator? I love my job so much, that whenever I read about research on education, it gets stuck on me, almost as much as shopping. Ha.. Well, Finland is a very unique place and there are many researchers learning about the "methods" of education here; if there is such a method, such as REggio EMilia or Montessori. I will share simple stories about what I learn about their system here with my readings and experiences.
I hope it will be a good sharing place for Singaporeans to reflect on what we really want to impart and educate to our children.
Gill
I hope it will be a good sharing place for Singaporeans to reflect on what we really want to impart and educate to our children.
Gill
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