The Agonies of Parents
There are tenebrous socio-economic changes all over the world in the past 20 years.
On a brighter note, pre-primary and primary educational system has undergone a tremendous change in Singapore. Policy makers have come and go. New and on-going changes are being made at every school, teacher, principal and child. Continually, there are repercussive bearings on the young mind, both psychological and physiological.
As parents, we want our children to do well in studies. We want them to excel in their work and be successful individuals in society.
Even as a parent, we agonised over which primary schools to send the child once they reached the school going age. Do we send him to a popular one or neighbourhood school?
Some parents choose a school based on academic achievements, teaching staff and facilities.
I personally believed family background and parental upbringing are the more important factors than choosing a school of academic excellence for a growing child. With a stable family, he will have happier relationships, imbued with social, emotional skills and sound moral values from the family members.
If we were to send him to a popular school, we need to be ‘parents’ volunteers’ or have some linkage or contributions to the school. Otherwise we will be at the bottom of the pack from the pool of registrants.
We worry over other subtle factors for the young child as well.
Do we want the child to undergo stress and pressure at a tender age?
It is well known that Singapore is a ‘pressure-cooker’ society. Students are encouraged to embrace fast technological changes in school. Students pressurised to excel academically in school.
But does such pressure need to come with such youthful age? Will the child be burnt-out before he or she even completes his education in Singapore? We are aware there are snobbish parents, and parents who pile their children with tuition and plenty of other CCAs. Can the child cope with so many expectations thrown at them? All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.
On the other hand, parents perceived neighbourhood schools are usually fraught with discipline and ill-mannered children. Is that true for all?
I don’t think so.
I personally know many a professional sent their child to neighbourhood school, including doctors and lawyers. Not to mention quite a few parents are top ranking executives in the business world. Hence pressure comes even to neighbourhood school to win award
Many parents come from well-to-do families. They have the economic means and the mental will to ‘make’ their sons and daughters do well in school. Ironically, due to the hectic schedules, they inadvertently neglect their children’s physical and mental well-being. Be it scaling the corporate ladders or expanding their businesses, they left with little time to build bonds with their growing child.
Conversely, there are also dysfunctional families that looked ‘normal’ on the outside. Impulsive and irresponsible behaviours might result as juvenile delinquencies. Such adverse effects on children growing up from such families will manifest later in life.
It is better to be a big fish in a small pond then a small fish in a big pound. Rather, It is better be an underdog than an underachiever. Do we choose a renowned school or neighbourhood one?
My mind is made up. Let’s choose the lesser of 2 evils.
On a brighter note, pre-primary and primary educational system has undergone a tremendous change in Singapore. Policy makers have come and go. New and on-going changes are being made at every school, teacher, principal and child. Continually, there are repercussive bearings on the young mind, both psychological and physiological.
As parents, we want our children to do well in studies. We want them to excel in their work and be successful individuals in society.
Even as a parent, we agonised over which primary schools to send the child once they reached the school going age. Do we send him to a popular one or neighbourhood school?
Some parents choose a school based on academic achievements, teaching staff and facilities.
I personally believed family background and parental upbringing are the more important factors than choosing a school of academic excellence for a growing child. With a stable family, he will have happier relationships, imbued with social, emotional skills and sound moral values from the family members.
If we were to send him to a popular school, we need to be ‘parents’ volunteers’ or have some linkage or contributions to the school. Otherwise we will be at the bottom of the pack from the pool of registrants.
We worry over other subtle factors for the young child as well.
Do we want the child to undergo stress and pressure at a tender age?
It is well known that Singapore is a ‘pressure-cooker’ society. Students are encouraged to embrace fast technological changes in school. Students pressurised to excel academically in school.
But does such pressure need to come with such youthful age? Will the child be burnt-out before he or she even completes his education in Singapore? We are aware there are snobbish parents, and parents who pile their children with tuition and plenty of other CCAs. Can the child cope with so many expectations thrown at them? All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.
On the other hand, parents perceived neighbourhood schools are usually fraught with discipline and ill-mannered children. Is that true for all?
I don’t think so.
I personally know many a professional sent their child to neighbourhood school, including doctors and lawyers. Not to mention quite a few parents are top ranking executives in the business world. Hence pressure comes even to neighbourhood school to win award
Many parents come from well-to-do families. They have the economic means and the mental will to ‘make’ their sons and daughters do well in school. Ironically, due to the hectic schedules, they inadvertently neglect their children’s physical and mental well-being. Be it scaling the corporate ladders or expanding their businesses, they left with little time to build bonds with their growing child.
Conversely, there are also dysfunctional families that looked ‘normal’ on the outside. Impulsive and irresponsible behaviours might result as juvenile delinquencies. Such adverse effects on children growing up from such families will manifest later in life.
It is better to be a big fish in a small pond then a small fish in a big pound. Rather, It is better be an underdog than an underachiever. Do we choose a renowned school or neighbourhood one?
My mind is made up. Let’s choose the lesser of 2 evils.
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