Learning Josh

What a weekend! Caleb (my twin brother) and I have just returned from Singapore on an all expenses paid trip by National Geographic and the Singapore Tourism Board. I had entered a video competition months ago and won 4D3N trip staying on Orchard Road. Having family and friends there, we naturally caught up with them and did all the touristy stuff too. The photo here is us on the ‘luge’ (like a toboggan) on Sentosa Island at night (can you tell which one I am?). People keep asking me ‘why do you keep winning stuff Josh?’. It’s simple, you’ve got to be in it to win it. They say that every 100-150 competitons you enter, you should atleast win one. So start entering people! (Just incase you’re wondering, we weren’t on the plane that had the nosedive..phew!~)

Anyway being the nerd that I am, I even decided to visit an English learning tuition centre, known as Morris Allen English Centres. It’s pretty much like Kumon but they specialise in English communication as all the teachers are native english speakers. Having observed a few classes and even having lunch with the principal of MAEC, I have gained further insight into Singapore’s education system and it’s pros and cons.

The values in education here are reflective of the typical Singaporean values. Just to be general, Singporeans are a competitive and profit earning bunch. There are around 4 million people on an island half the size of Perth and they want to be the next Tokyo and Hong Kong. They’ve just had the f1 night rally and will be holding the 1st youth olympics in 2010. Sounds like a progressive society doesnt it? But what we see in education, is that so many kids have to live up to EXTREMELY VERY HIGH expectations. In order to get ahead, they have to go to the best schools, get the best marks, to get into the best universities, to get into the best jobs  — so Mum and Dad don’t have to be poor when they retire. But what’s wrong with high expectations? Well nothing, unless your intent is driven by greed of making more money. Parents send their kids to tuition centres like Morris Allen and fork out almost 1/3rd of their salary on tution. A child at one of the centres told me this:

“I like tuition. Mum says I can only stay in tution, if I keep my marks up in school”

Well hang on, don’t you stay in tution so that your marks can improve? And if he doesn’t improve at school, he will just end up less skilled because he can’t go to tuition anymore…I would also believe this child would get 80% in his exams, but that probably wouldn’t be good enough for his mother — ‘what happened to the other 20%!??’. Do these kids ever get to play or have some fun? Talk about pressure!

I also talked to a teacher there and i told her these kids seem independant and smart, but its because all they do for their education is study for the next exam. Their english exams are set out in the same format every time, so there is a routine and way to study for them. First is grammar, then spelling, etc etc..I believe though, that when it comes to thinking outside of the box, being creative or getting a real attainment of the concepts, these kids can struggle. This can also be reflective in Singaporean society — everything is followed by set and organised ways — rules and regulations. There is even a website dedicated for people to dob in others who break the rules by taking photos of them and putting them online. This one photo had a woman taking a sip of water on the train and the caption said ‘There is no food or drink allowed on the trains!”

There have also been some pros to this high pressured environment – when it comes to diligence and best effort these kids grasp it fast so procastination isn’t as bad. Thier content knowledge would be alot higher than kids the same age in Australia.

Learning from this experience, I am not having a go at Singapore but their values in how children should learn are different from mine. But is it their fault? It’s a competitve world out there and Singapore wants to be a big mover and shaker in Asia and the world. But sometimes you’ve just gotta let kids be kids…