Sec 5 class advised: Go to ITE instead replied by ^tamago^ @ Wed, 23 Jan 2008 10:27:48 +0800

^tamago^ — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 10:27:48 +0800

Sat, Jan 19, 2008
The Straits Times

I REFER to the article, 'Principal's ITE advice 'had to be delivered'' (ST, Jan 17).

I cannot believe Minister of State for Education Lui Tuck Yew expects students, parents and the concerned public to 'separate the 'tone' from the 'substance' of the message'. He states the obvious that students 'need to be told that if you don't work hard, you won't make it'. He has missed the issue completely.

No one is suggesting hiding the fact that 40 per cent of Sec 5 students will not do well enough in their O levels to qualify for the polytechnic. We all agree that this message 'had to be delivered'.

The issue at hand is all about the tone. The tone of the principal in question reflects her true intention when communicating this message to her students. Did she intend to encourage her students to work hard? Judging from the effect she had on the majority of the students, it is extremely difficult to believe that she 'meant well'. Her students were discouraged and went away with battered self-confidence. Parents had to do 'damage control'.

By downplaying on the 'tone', Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui adds salt to the wound. While he shared that educators can 'calibrate', 'soften' and 'improve' on the message delivery, he fell short of acknowledging that this principal's tone was plainly and simply wrong because the effect it had on her students was far from nurturing.

Perhaps the principal indeed 'meant well' but somehow her tone was misinterpreted. Being able to communicate effectively so that both the message and intention are clearly understood is paramount for educators.

Lastly, Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui shared that he had 'interacted with enough educators' to know that they 'are far more ambitious for their students than they are for their career advancement'. This is a sweeping statement. No one will commit career suicide by appearing otherwise when interacting with their boss.

I would suggest to the minister to conduct an independent anonymous survey among teachers to check ground sentiments as to whether the school ranking system is working against the Ministry of Education's mission of nurturing our youth.

It has happened in the past when schools had students drop difficult subjects, in an apparent attempt to improve their rankings.

Lawrenz Sim Chee Choon

Sec 5 class advised: Go to ITE instead replied by felirox @ Thu, 17 Jan 2008 22:27:29 +0800

felirox — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 22:27:29 +0800

Originally posted by lagrangian1125:

In the eyes of the elites,

sec5=go ITE.

Why feel so angry about it. If u happen to be one who is in sec 5, do well then and on the day of release of result, go to the principal , right in front of many others, tell straight into his face, U ARE NOT GOD. U CANNOT DETERMINE THE FUTURE OF OTHERS. THANKS BUT NO THANKS, I AM NOT GOING ITE!!!!

Maybe this is the best lesson for the principal to learn.

I would do that if my principal were to say all this bollocks. but thank god,she doesnt but instead she motivated us. Principal cannot play reverse psychology with these students. Some humans are born to be narrow minded. They will take tat as discouraging them.

Sec 5 class advised: Go to ITE instead replied by OsecretO @ Thu, 17 Jan 2008 21:05:03 +0800

OsecretO — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 21:05:03 +0800

the best is study hard and do well from pri sch den go sec express straight away go poly save a few years..

Sec 5 class advised: Go to ITE instead replied by SBS3625D @ Thu, 17 Jan 2008 21:02:52 +0800

SBS3625D — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 21:02:52 +0800

Reminds me of my JC last time. Rigid idiotic principal who had the same thinking.

Forces people drop subjects, retain blah blah. All in the name of figures.

WTF is so fascinating about figures?

I look down on such shallow people.

IDIOTS.

Sec 5 class advised: Go to ITE instead replied by BrUtUs @ Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:58:52 +0800

BrUtUs — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:58:52 +0800

Originally posted by SBS3625D:

If sec 5 class is advised to go ITE, vice versa I would advise the principal to retire.

Stupid thinking. My blood boiled when I read that the school quoted stats to prove its point.

WTF. What kind of EDUCATIONAL institute is that?

Are figures so important?!

if like tat might as well scrape sec 5... stupid principal... tink MOE should do something abt her n her dangerous comments... parents from tat sch should complain to MOE abt her... pui...

Sec 5 class advised: Go to ITE instead replied by LazerLordz @ Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:56:45 +0800

LazerLordz — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:56:45 +0800

Originally posted by SBS3625D:

If sec 5 class is advised to go ITE, vice versa I would advise the principal to retire.

Stupid thinking. My blood boiled when I read that the school quoted stats to prove its point.

WTF. What kind of EDUCATIONAL institute is that?

Are figures so important?!

What can you do when the principal is not professional enough, and perhaps not up to standard as an educator?

It reflects on the level of quality leadership she/he has shown, and its very shoddy.

I would not hire someone like this. No. Never.

Sec 5 class advised: Go to ITE instead replied by SBS3625D @ Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:54:27 +0800

SBS3625D — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:54:27 +0800

If sec 5 class is advised to go ITE, vice versa I would advise the principal to retire.

Stupid thinking. My blood boiled when I read that the school quoted stats to prove its point.

WTF. What kind of EDUCATIONAL institute is that?

Are figures so important?!

Sec 5 class advised: Go to ITE instead replied by Dead_Man_Inc @ Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:47:00 +0800

Dead_Man_Inc — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:47:00 +0800

if they advise sec 5 students to go ITE, they should give notice earlier..

like telling those sec 4NA class beforehand that even if they go sec 5, there will be a big gap between N'levels and O'levels.

and if they want to include discipline all this sh!t in the requirements to get into sec 5, they should also need to warn them beforehand, even before they get into sec 4NA. And not giving them the mindset that once they do well for N'levels, they can automatically get into sec 5N.

Sec 5 class advised: Go to ITE instead replied by BrUtUs @ Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:46:57 +0800

BrUtUs — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:46:57 +0800

Originally posted by furb:

Such principal needs to be fired. Who the hell say sec 5 who don't do well cannot go poly. Even if they really can't, at least they never give up and are still trying.

Personally, I'm been through N-level (Yes, I'm a normal academic) and I have to say, O-level is not that difficult if u work hard for it.

Don't think that I'm boasting just because I made it to poly, i give u a personal experience.

I did badly for my mid year test and my prelim. I got 28+ for L1R4 due to me slacking off and goofing around the whole year.

But, after that I decided that it will be the end for me if I don't start studying, so I worked hard for 2 weeks (without slacking off) and manage to get a L1R4 of 14 and got into my dream course for poly.

So if a person work hard whole year round, there really no reason he would fail his O's.

Lucky or not for me, my main point is, school is a learning insituition, a place where students are encourage to learn. It's not a place where u demoralise students from learning.

x2 the principal should jz stfu n go f himself/herself...

Sec 5 class advised: Go to ITE instead replied by Unidentified @ Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:44:41 +0800

Unidentified — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:44:41 +0800

Originally posted by Dead_Man_Inc:

hmmm.. now i know what it means

if you can study type , then can your theory well , go out your work is talk talk talk , then your people do the work

if study you will really die , go get some real life working experience , although not highly educated , but you will learn more on the social life

Sec 5 class advised: Go to ITE instead replied by Dead_Man_Inc @ Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:41:19 +0800

Dead_Man_Inc — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:41:19 +0800

Originally posted by Unidentified:

se hui da xue

meaning working lor

since i cant learn in theory way -> school
then i learn in pratical ways -> work

Originally posted by 798:

realistic working life. not those u can find in ur school textbooks.

hmmm.. now i know what it means

Sec 5 class advised: Go to ITE instead replied by googoomuck @ Thu, 17 Jan 2008 19:36:51 +0800

googoomuck — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 19:36:51 +0800

Another controversial policy. What does MOE has to say?

PASIR RIS SCHOOL'S N-LEVEL POLICY UPSETS STUDENTS
Poor conduct? Then you can't stay

# Top grades, but student not promoted to Sec 5

# System ensures students are committed to studies at O level, says school

January 15, 2008

Students with good grades at N level but have disciplinary problems end up in ITE instead of being promoted to sec 5.

http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,153421,00.html

Sec 5 class advised: Go to ITE instead replied by eagle @ Thu, 17 Jan 2008 19:35:22 +0800

eagle — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 19:35:22 +0800

I remember I had a sec 5 tuition student. He got A2 for physics and A1 for E maths under me

Sec 5 class advised: Go to ITE instead replied by lagrangian1125 @ Thu, 17 Jan 2008 19:33:32 +0800

lagrangian1125 — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 19:33:32 +0800

In the eyes of the elites,

sec5=go ITE.

Why feel so angry about it. If u happen to be one who is in sec 5, do well then and on the day of release of result, go to the principal , right in front of many others, tell straight into his face, U ARE NOT GOD. U CANNOT DETERMINE THE FUTURE OF OTHERS. THANKS BUT NO THANKS, I AM NOT GOING ITE!!!!

Maybe this is the best lesson for the principal to learn.

Sec 5 class advised: Go to ITE instead replied by 798 @ Thu, 17 Jan 2008 19:24:18 +0800

798 — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 19:24:18 +0800

Originally posted by Dead_Man_Inc:

sorry but what u mean "social university" ar?

realistic working life. not those u can find in ur school textbooks.

Sec 5 class advised: Go to ITE instead replied by gLc @ Thu, 17 Jan 2008 19:22:19 +0800

gLc — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 19:22:19 +0800

Originally posted by felirox:

are u saying even tho the sec 5 student got at least 20 points and below..they wont make it to poly?

i didnt say that leh.

Sec 5 class advised: Go to ITE instead replied by Unidentified @ Thu, 17 Jan 2008 15:09:12 +0800

Unidentified — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 15:09:12 +0800

Originally posted by Dead_Man_Inc:

sorry but what u mean "social university" ar?

se hui da xue

meaning working lor

since i cant learn in theory way -> school
then i learn in pratical ways -> work

Sec 5 class advised: Go to ITE instead replied by felirox @ Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:48:31 +0800

felirox — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:48:31 +0800

Originally posted by gLc:

My school last time not like that, but still quite reputable, the principal tell us(before getting back N level result), he say those who manage to attain needed criteria to go sec5 might want to reconsider the decision to go sec5 and instead ITE. As he say alot do not even make it to poly..

Nowadays, it is also the case whereby you need to have no discipline case in school to go to sec5, alot of my friends like me kena kick out even though we attained the grade. Bo bian go private study O levels lor.. still the same.

are u saying even tho the sec 5 student got at least 20 points and below..they wont make it to poly?

Sec 5 class advised: Go to ITE instead replied by Dead_Man_Inc @ Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:34:43 +0800

Dead_Man_Inc — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:34:43 +0800

Originally posted by Unidentified:

Dont worry , im also the non-elites too
I given up on school since the day i was told that no poly acepts me
It alright , i now at the road of ''social university'' and im perfectly fine

sorry but what u mean "social university" ar?

Sec 5 class advised: Go to ITE instead replied by crosshairs @ Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:22:16 +0800

crosshairs — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:22:16 +0800

Originally posted by Q.C.Pak:

What's wrong of being a non-elite?

I'm neither. I'm what people would call a "misfit". Even Misfits are polarised into 2 distinctively different categories.

Sec 5 class advised: Go to ITE instead replied by Unidentified @ Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:18:47 +0800

Unidentified — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:18:47 +0800

Originally posted by Dead_Man_Inc:

its their way to differentiate the elites and non-elites

unfortunately, i belong to the non-elites

Dont worry , im also the non-elites too
I given up on school since the day i was told that no poly acepts me
It alright , i now at the road of ''social university'' and im perfectly fine

Sec 5 class advised: Go to ITE instead replied by sundaytimes @ Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:10:48 +0800

sundaytimes — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:10:48 +0800

During my sec 5 where i doing my o level.
my principal ask the whole school o level takers during the assembly this question "Why RI students can get 10 A1, why you all cannot"
I laugh how can neighbourhood sec sch compare with RI

Sec 5 class advised: Go to ITE instead replied by sundaytimes @ Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:04:31 +0800

sundaytimes — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:04:31 +0800

i know that during the 80’s where i took my O level, there was only SP poly & NE poly. So it is very difficult to enter poly even the mechanical course. Today there is 5 polys i heard o level 5 subject over 25 point can go in .

Sec 5 class advised: Go to ITE instead replied by gLc @ Thu, 17 Jan 2008 12:41:10 +0800

gLc — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 12:41:10 +0800

Originally posted by Dead_Man_Inc:

last time my principle keep "encouraging" us to get good results, so as to let the school has a better name, somethng like that

i keep thinking, what has our results got to do with the school? yeah it may be good for the school, better reputation. till one day i sort out my thinking, i don't do well for the sake of the school's reputation, i do well for my own future.

My school last time not like that, but still quite reputable, the principal tell us(before getting back N level result), he say those who manage to attain needed criteria to go sec5 might want to reconsider the decision to go sec5 and instead ITE. As he say alot do not even make it to poly..

Nowadays, it is also the case whereby you need to have no discipline case in school to go to sec5, alot of my friends like me kena kick out even though we attained the grade. Bo bian go private study O levels lor.. still the same.

Sec 5 class advised: Go to ITE instead replied by Q.C.Pak @ Thu, 17 Jan 2008 12:35:57 +0800

Q.C.Pak — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 12:35:57 +0800

What's wrong of being a non-elite?

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