Comments on: Copying Singapore’s education: are Americans foolish too? http://educononline.com/2009/08/19/copying-singapores-education-are-americans-foolish-too/ Educational consultancy from Singapore for schools of international standards in Asia Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:19:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Amran http://educononline.com/2009/08/19/copying-singapores-education-are-americans-foolish-too/comment-page-1/#comment-1625 Amran Thu, 21 Jul 2011 03:10:52 +0000 http://educononline.com/?p=1980#comment-1625 Thanks, Sherrie, for the comments. I have for quite some time felt that the schooling system in Singapore only help to entrench the ones who are already successful. It is a system that perpetuates its own kind. I also agree with you that teachers who have themselves never experienced student-centered teaching and learning, will be hard pressed to change their teaching approaches. Teachers tend to teach the way they were taught unfortunately. They just cannot visualize a different way of teaching and learning since they themselves are generally the more successful product of a particular way of learning. Is there hope for the Singapore system? I think the more important issue is can we continue the way we do things in schools, especially that silly emphasis on high stakes, written examinations? Thanks again for your comments. Thanks, Sherrie, for the comments. I have for quite some time felt that the schooling system in Singapore only help to entrench the ones who are already successful. It is a system that perpetuates its own kind.

I also agree with you that teachers who have themselves never experienced student-centered teaching and learning, will be hard pressed to change their teaching approaches. Teachers tend to teach the way they were taught unfortunately. They just cannot visualize a different way of teaching and learning since they themselves are generally the more successful product of a particular way of learning.

Is there hope for the Singapore system? I think the more important issue is can we continue the way we do things in schools, especially that silly emphasis on high stakes, written examinations?

Thanks again for your comments.

]]> By: Sherrie Lee http://educononline.com/2009/08/19/copying-singapores-education-are-americans-foolish-too/comment-page-1/#comment-1624 Sherrie Lee Thu, 21 Jul 2011 02:14:53 +0000 http://educononline.com/?p=1980#comment-1624 "The elite in Singapore, like Obama’s daughters, will get schools that are not factory-like in nature, boasting of enlightened approaches to education. The rest of America, like the rest of Singapore, will get the rags and the factory assembly line which is indicative of where the powers-that-be think such students should be heading for." I couldn't agree more. I feel indignant about this and yet the so-called promises of meritocracy will be hurled back at you like some sort of catch-all rebuttal. Is there hope in Singapore of change? Moving away from high stakes exams? Focusing on the student instead of the teacher? If teacher themselves have never experienced student-centered teaching, they will be hard-pressed to be student-centered themselves. “The elite in Singapore, like Obama’s daughters, will get schools that are not factory-like in nature, boasting of enlightened approaches to education. The rest of America, like the rest of Singapore, will get the rags and the factory assembly line which is indicative of where the powers-that-be think such students should be heading for.”

I couldn’t agree more. I feel indignant about this and yet the so-called promises of meritocracy will be hurled back at you like some sort of catch-all rebuttal. Is there hope in Singapore of change? Moving away from high stakes exams? Focusing on the student instead of the teacher? If teacher themselves have never experienced student-centered teaching, they will be hard-pressed to be student-centered themselves.

]]> By: Amran http://educononline.com/2009/08/19/copying-singapores-education-are-americans-foolish-too/comment-page-1/#comment-482 Amran Wed, 19 Aug 2009 07:09:23 +0000 http://educononline.com/?p=1980#comment-482 Come to think of it, I have made a small comparison between Singapore and Finland. See http://educononline.com/2009/07/06/singapore-and-finland-looking-after-teachers/ Come to think of it, I have made a small comparison between Singapore and Finland. See http://educononline.com/2009/07/06/singapore-and-finland-looking-after-teachers/

]]> By: Amran http://educononline.com/2009/08/19/copying-singapores-education-are-americans-foolish-too/comment-page-1/#comment-480 Amran Wed, 19 Aug 2009 06:09:42 +0000 http://educononline.com/?p=1980#comment-480 Thanks, Zaid. I appreciate the feedback. Lucky you that you didn't experience the Singapore model. Yes, I have been "slaughtering" the Singapore system as I am very concerned about the transfer of that system to Singapore's neighbors. The Singapore-brand is used more as a marketing gimmick then anything else. I am just raising awareness that a "cut-and-paste" approach, which some Singapore consultants have done, is detrimental. Sometimes some of these countries are trading their magic lamps for shiny, useless ones. I like the Finnish system. It is a lot more humane and teachers are not pressured to prepare students to pass high stakes written examinations. I will take up what you say and write about it. I have mentioned in my blogs about what I think the direction should be. I do not pay too much attention to teachers' qualifications. What is more important is the attitude and skills that the teacher brings into the classroom. While all things being equal, perhaps a higher qualification is better, I have seen too many mercenaries and teachers with Masters degrees who can't teach. So educational qualifications isn't high on my list of concerns. Thanks again, Zaid. Really appreciate the feedback :) PS. I would love to talk about educational technology too but I find that if the goals are not clear, educational technology is not going to lead to any significant changes. But I may come back to it some time :) Thanks, Zaid. I appreciate the feedback. Lucky you that you didn’t experience the Singapore model. Yes, I have been “slaughtering” the Singapore system as I am very concerned about the transfer of that system to Singapore’s neighbors. The Singapore-brand is used more as a marketing gimmick then anything else. I am just raising awareness that a “cut-and-paste” approach, which some Singapore consultants have done, is detrimental. Sometimes some of these countries are trading their magic lamps for shiny, useless ones.
I like the Finnish system. It is a lot more humane and teachers are not pressured to prepare students to pass high stakes written examinations. I will take up what you say and write about it. I have mentioned in my blogs about what I think the direction should be.
I do not pay too much attention to teachers’ qualifications. What is more important is the attitude and skills that the teacher brings into the classroom. While all things being equal, perhaps a higher qualification is better, I have seen too many mercenaries and teachers with Masters degrees who can’t teach. So educational qualifications isn’t high on my list of concerns.
Thanks again, Zaid. Really appreciate the feedback :)

PS. I would love to talk about educational technology too but I find that if the goals are not clear, educational technology is not going to lead to any significant changes. But I may come back to it some time :)

]]> By: Zaid http://educononline.com/2009/08/19/copying-singapores-education-are-americans-foolish-too/comment-page-1/#comment-479 Zaid Wed, 19 Aug 2009 05:26:11 +0000 http://educononline.com/?p=1980#comment-479 Hi Amran, As usual you are slaughtering the Singapore education system :) Anyway, sine I have not experienced it, I shall keep my words shut. But, in terms of role-model education or schools systems, what do you think of Finland (where teachers are required to have a Masters), or Korea (where you got to be within top 5% graduates to teach)? I really enjoy your posts, but it would be wonderful if perhaps we could forget Singapore for a couple of posts, and then explore some of the best role-models we have in the world :) Personally, I would love to read how Singapore could improve, and how other nations have successfully revamped the school system to fit today and tomorrow's learning needs and requirements. Thanks again for all your ideas and efforts :) Warm Regards, Zaid Hi Amran,

As usual you are slaughtering the Singapore education system :)

Anyway, sine I have not experienced it, I shall keep my words shut.

But, in terms of role-model education or schools systems, what do you think of Finland (where teachers are required to have a Masters), or Korea (where you got to be within top 5% graduates to teach)?

I really enjoy your posts, but it would be wonderful if perhaps we could forget Singapore for a couple of posts, and then explore some of the best role-models we have in the world :)

Personally, I would love to read how Singapore could improve, and how other nations have successfully revamped the school system to fit today and tomorrow’s learning needs and requirements.

Thanks again for all your ideas and efforts :)

Warm Regards,

Zaid

]]> By: Amran http://educononline.com/2009/08/19/copying-singapores-education-are-americans-foolish-too/comment-page-1/#comment-477 Amran Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:07:30 +0000 http://educononline.com/?p=1980#comment-477 Thanks for the comments, Fadzuli. Just read my blog posts. You will find my ideas (not necessarily original) all over :) Thanks for the comments, Fadzuli. Just read my blog posts. You will find my ideas (not necessarily original) all over :)

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