MOE Relooking P1 registration - Too much priority to alumni
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Straits Times, 3 March 2012
P1 priority: Cut out parent volunteering, not affiliation
I WAS educated in a convent school for 10 years, and am delighted that my daughter is as well (in a different convent school). I am just as gratified that my son is enrolled in a mission school.
So the view in Tuesday's editorial ('Worrying about Primary 1') that affiliation should be ideally restricted to children whose parents had attended a school of choice or who are currently on its staff is, well, worrying.
For many parents and families like mine, religious affiliation is the primary reason for choosing the schools for our children.
But in the editorial's ideal world, my children cannot receive enrolment priority via affiliation in a mission school because my daughter would have to enrol in the convent school where I studied - which no longer exists.
One creed of the mission schools when they were established was to accept all Catholic pupils, an option that is getting more and more tenuous today. For parents like me, the school of choice is not an elite one or one that is academically superior, but a mission school whose environment embraces the fundamental values of my faith even as it educates the children and embraces pupils of all races and faiths.
If we must eliminate an avenue of priority, it should be the parent volunteer system which smacks of elitism, favouring well-off families who can afford a stay-at-home mother.
The system further disadvantages single parents who already are handicapped in raising a family.
I say this as a stay-at-home mother who is a parent volunteer in her son's school, after he enrolled.
Volunteering for 50 hours in a school, without guarantee of a child getting a place, is subtracting 50 hours of a parent's time which is better spent with her child (or children), perhaps on more meaningful activities - community volunteering activities, if you wish
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_773078.html -
Straits Times, 3 March 2012
Respect and cherish alumni contributions
SCHOOL alumni should NOT be denied priority.
An alumnus' contribution does not begin when he signs up as an alumni association member, but starts when he is enrolled at school.
Most students contributed in some way: achieving good results, winning awards at public events or upholding the values of the school through good behaviour. Which is why calling an alumnus a 'sleeping member' is wrong.
In my last year in secondary school, we worked as a family to raise funds for a new building, even though we knew we would not benefit tangibly as we were leaving.
It did not matter as many of us knew that one day, our children may enjoy the fruits of our labour. Tradition and pride in one's alma mater should not be ignored and removed to satisfy others.
The Education Ministry should ensure that an alumnus' value is honoured and cherished.
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_773075.html -
Yes, cut out PV, affiliation and Grassroots … but keep Alumni. These are stake-holders of school.
For me, our kids were enrolled in our alma mater - the traditions, the values I grew up are still a very big part of the school holistic education - since my school days, my parents were very supportive of the school programmes, donating generously to the school building fund, now I find myself doing the same thing. Every funfair, every fund raising, I would volunteer my time and money.
It’s a privilege to know that my children will be imbibing the same Christian values while receiving their education in the every same schools we graduated from. -
Keep Phase 2A2.
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Well, ur friend went in with her eyes wide open, didn't she? Don't think anyone forced her to do it. But I agree that PV scheme shd be scrapped. Total exploitation and no transparency...
happy to be mum:
agree to phrase out the parent volunteers phrase! i count myself lucky for not having to go through it!
but one of my gf, in order to secure her son's place...has already clocked more than 150 hrs and still clocking and that famous school in the east is super \"particular\" about their volunteer programme. To me...that is exploitation of the already stress parent's time! Time which they can spend guiding their own kids! -
keroppi:
Yes, cut out PV, affiliation and Grassroots ... but keep Alumni. These are stake-holders of school.
For me, our kids were enrolled in our alma mater - the traditions, the values I grew up are still a very big part of the school holistic education - since my school days, my parents were very supportive of the school programmes, donating generously to the school building fund, now I find myself doing the same thing. Every funfair, every fund raising, I would volunteer my time and money.
It's a privilege to know that my children will be imbibing the same Christian values while receiving their education in the every same schools we graduated from.
without the church/clan who started the schools, there would be no such traditions and values. -
If there is anything to remove, it should be PV and grassroots under phase 2B.
Reason is simple, selection of PVs is not transparent…hours chalked are crazy for some parents. Truly sincere PVs should serve AFTER child gets into the school.
As for grassroots, the PVs serve the grassroots and community, not schools.
Thus, I hope that Phase 2A stays. I was in a convent school all the way to secondary. Now, my daughter is studying in the same school. No regrets registering her in the school. I enjoy ironing her pinafore. -
LOLMum:
without the church/clan who started the schools, there would be no such traditions and values.
:ugogirl: -
LOLMum:
Without country, there is no home.. let alone schools.. clans, church, grassroots..keroppi:
Yes, cut out PV, affiliation and Grassroots ... but keep Alumni. These are stake-holders of school.
For me, our kids were enrolled in our alma mater - the traditions, the values I grew up are still a very big part of the school holistic education - since my school days, my parents were very supportive of the school programmes, donating generously to the school building fund, now I find myself doing the same thing. Every funfair, every fund raising, I would volunteer my time and money.
It's a privilege to know that my children will be imbibing the same Christian values while receiving their education in the every same schools we graduated from.
without the church/clan who started the schools, there would be no such traditions and values.
w/o an effective arm forces, there is no country.
So all boys should be given priority, bcoz when they grow up they'll defend our country which give you your home and schools.
So, all boys choose their school first in phase X, then girls get to pick their school in phase Y. All Girl schools will start enrolment in Phase Y.
makes sense?
How far, how wide, should we make the connection link? :evil: :evil: -
keroppi:
You already said it's a privilege.. it shd never be an entitlement.
It's a privilege to know that my children will be imbibing the same Christian values while receiving their education in the every same schools we graduated from.
Your privilege is another citizen's unfairness and losses.. and that place could have been given to the poor kids who stays just opposite the school. One place taken by an alumni's kids who lives >2km, one place less for the kid next door.
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