zac's mum\" post_id=\"2000049\" time=\"1603459005\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2000049 time=1603459005 user_id=53606]

ammonite\" post_id=\"2000041\" time=\"1603453892\" user_id=\"50141:

At the secondary school/JC, even University level, what is taught is actually the mere basic foundation of the subject (even if technically detailed).

When the kids actually come out into the workplace, what they need is street savvy and EQ to learn on the job. This could be the latest technology/developments/best practices whatever you want to call it. Can’t be learnt from textbooks as all textbooks are several years’ old research and long outdated.

Met so many interns/fresh grads who came in with stellar grades & scholarships but couldn’t apply their book knowledge.

Learning is a continuous lifelong journey. I don’t want my kid to ever think he has “arrived” after getting a degree.

I don't think any working adult is under the delusion that they have \"arrived' after getting a degree. It is just the start.
That is quite different from saying that things taught in school is useless or irrelevant.

Edited: edited as I realised I was waffling away, hah. Anyway, to bring it back, I think whatever we learn in school has its uses. Rereading the post again, I agree that it does not lock us into our paths.

bbbay\" post_id=\"2000083\" time=\"1603499549\" user_id=\"175278:

ammonite\" post_id=\"2000043\" time=\"1603454655\" user_id=\"50141:

Actually I pop in because of the thread title, but I see that the topic has shifted somewhat, lol. Coming back to the earlier discussion, I think the subjects offered really depends on the child and school. Some schools are more flexible. Ds1 did badly for his Sec2 exams, but had no problem being allowed to do A and E math. To be honest, I was wondering what the fuss over streaming was until I realised that it was not so in other schools.

Yes the discussions have been on what subjects have been offered and what to choose. And we have been discussing from another angle: the why of our choice. Why choose science over humanity or vice versa. Or whether both have their places for a fulfilling careers? Or their long term usefulness that goes outside exams.

I was referring mostly to the drift to ministers' educational background.

But if you want to talk about the why of our choice - do you mean our choice for ourselves or for our children?
and it seems strange to me to even question if both have their places for a fulfilling career or usefulness outside exams - to me it is \"of course\".

raistlyn\" post_id=\"1988764\" time=\"1596259106\" user_id=\"155862:

Hi everyone,

My son was assessed to have dyslexia very recently + dysgraphia. He also has some attention deficit symptoms with poor working memory. I'm exploring the possibility of taking him out of the MOE system to an international school that will focus more on creativity and other aspects of development (while also obviously teaching the academic stuff). Of course, I know MOE's stance that all SG kids must go to a local school.

Has anyone tried this route - asking MOE for an exemption on such grounds? How did that go? Would love to hear your experiences of coping in the local system too.

Many thanks!!

Also very late reply, but the people you should speak to are those in the local homeschooling community. They will have a good feel of the latest MOE stance. From my understanding, from the govt end, it is a challenge. In the past, it would also have been a challenge to get a place in an international school, but with the pandemic, places might be easier to come by now.

For my child with dyslexia and dyspraxia, the younger years were genuinely challenging but after a rough start, he has been loving school for the past years. It took time assembling the right support for him, and teaching him workarounds, but with supportive teachers and friends, he couldn't be happier in school now. MOE is genuinely trying to be accommodative to special needs students, and though the skill level is still limited, the system itself has a lot of goodwill.

My general advice is not to spend so much time fretting over the weaknesses that you forget to cultivate your child's strengths.

Billaboy08\" post_id=\"1991720\" time=\"1597741411\" user_id=\"176190:

Hi all, my son has been suspected for having Dyslexia and ADHD at p2..

Any recomendation for him to get a check up?

I have when to poly clinic to get a referral but the child development clinic rejected us telling is that only school can refer.

It was the teacher that told me to bring him see a doctor.

Any clinic or doctors any parents here can advise? Some clinic charging 2k to 3k for the assessment any cheaper option?

Thanks

Hi, this may be coming late, but one person you can approach is the AED in school. The teacher who spoke to you might not be familiar with the school's AED. The AED should be able to point you to the various routes and also places for assessments. I am surprised to hear that the child development clinic will only take school referrals. Please be sure to check with the AED how to get a school referral. I believe there are also subsidized clinics at NTU and James Cook university. The waiting list is long, so get on it as soon as you can.

After said that, I do feel that a good private assessment is worth every penny. It is not so much a matter of competence but time. A private ed psych can spend more time analysing and making sense of your child's assessment results, explaining them to you, and going through the recommendations. That is really what you are paying for.

Actually I pop in because of the thread title, but I see that the topic has shifted somewhat, lol. Coming back to the earlier discussion, I think the subjects offered really depends on the child and school. Some schools are more flexible. Ds1 did badly for his Sec2 exams, but had no problem being allowed to do A and E math. To be honest, I was wondering what the fuss over streaming was until I realised that it was not so in other schools.


As to choices, both the sciences and humanities are valuable and I am glad that the system now is more flexible, allowing kids to pick from both sides.
Having said that, I have one child on each side, and I feel the best is to let their interests drive them in their subject selection, but it’s good to still read casually beyond that.

bbbay\" post_id=\"2000026\" time=\"1603450005\" user_id=\"175278:

How about another angle: What are the subjects we learnt during our schooling days, will have the biggest impacts in our day to day life now?

I must be an old-school romantic. To me every subject has its beauty and purpose, and if I am not actively using it, it is because I lack ability or opportunity, and not that the subject is irrelevant.

Zappy\" post_id=\"1993481\" time=\"1599006374\" user_id=\"134817:

ammonite\" post_id=\"1993480\" time=\"1599006126\" user_id=\"50141:

hi, I am wondering how coloured picture books translate on common ereaders? Any insights?

The e-readers are B&W only.
So the pictures just looks grayscale on the e-readers.
Same as if you print a colour photo on a B&W printer.

oic. Thank you, Zappy!

hi, I am wondering how coloured picture books translate on common ereaders? Any insights?

zac's mum, Zappy,

thanks so much for the suggestions!

Zappy\" post_id=\"1981226\" time=\"1592450034\" user_id=\"134817:

ammonite\" post_id=\"1981211\" time=\"1592445879\" user_id=\"50141:

Hi MKS, yup those for pulling loop away or tightening masks. I saw a number of options online but I am not sure how comfortable or effective they are and am hoping that some forummers might have some feedback on the different materials/effectiveness. I considered the sewn option for comfort factor but that is not as easy to disinfect as plastic or silicon and buttons may be a choking hazard for young children.

I bought some online... in my view, it was absolutely useless & a waste of money, even though they're quite cheap. One of the worst buys during this circuit breaker, on par with the face shields (but that's another story - caused by the miscommunication on whether they can or cannot be used).

Although the advertisements usually state that the extenders are adjustable, they can still get loose and slip and will eventually become looser even after being tightened initially.

Additionally, it slips down the back of the head - so the ear loops of the masks now dig into the top part of the ear instead of the back of the ear.

Thanks for the valuable feedback, Zappy! It helps me to rule out the narrow plastic ones. I wonder if silicon or a wider design will make a difference. I saw a Sikh boy using an extender and it looked like it was staying put well, but I am not sure if it is because his neatly bunned hair helps to hold it in place.

@MKS, the parents have already tried to tighten the masks - unfortunately they are either pressing on the ear very badly or still falling off constantly or sliding about and getting into the eye. I'm not even sure if the parents gave them kid size masks. I am hoping that mask extenders can alleviate the problem with minimum fuss.

@zacs mum, thanks for the sugg but I think the parents are just putting the children in whatever the rest of the household is using for now.