Our World. My World.

Friday, March 14, 2025

U turn

About 10 years ago, when M was in upper Pri, there was all this talk of removing streaming and lumping all kids of different abilities together. Learn together and all the lofty ambition of removing elitism etc..

Friends whose kids were in neighbourhood primary schools found 44 kids in each class and even in Pri 6, the kids were not sorted in any way. All learn Math and Chinese together!! I said it then, it was appalling. Stupid move. Bad for the kids who could learn at faster pace, and equally crap for the slower learners. Teachers would have a hard time and in the end could only teach to the average. I said it back then. And will say it again. Such a move benefitted no one.

So in August 2024, there is THIS "new" stance from MOE.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/gifted-education-programme-revamped-lighten-teachers-workload-school-chan-chun-sing-4558526?cid=FBcna&fbclid=IwY2xjawEzBCpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHamNC7_AttDgZwl-6gI-loxqQIN6jDqgCC6jgLJUONSDqgAKJOWoZsZixQ_aem_7Az02-Qc_N-bx2nLjY_2Rw

Isn't this a U-turn from the previous decision to remove streaming and group students of ALL abilities together in one class so they can learn TOGETHER? The theory then was it would allow fast learners to LEARN empathy and help guide their peers who are unable to cope. And so that the latter will not feel excluded/streamed into not-so-nicely-labelled classes. Bad for their self-esteem and growth.

”In the past, if we were unable to cater to the specific needs of the students, it actually made teaching much more difficult,” he noted.

“If we are able to identify the students according to their abilities, (this) allows our teachers to lighten their workload by being much more focused in their teaching. It is something that most people don’t see.””

Dying Slowly

Which is a worse way to die?

To be robbed of life suddenly like how J collapsed and dying slowly.

To be robbed of memory and life slowly like what is happening to Mum. Still dying slowly.

Last night, she could not remember I am her daughter. This is the second time. The first time was in early January. Maybe it was because it was at night and she was less alert/more tired. I must visit her in the day time to see if she remembers. She recognised me as part of the family, as she said. Happy to sit with me to chat and keep me company while I ate dinner.

She must be dreaming a lot lately. To her, those dreams are just reality. She talked about Dad but she did not refer to him as Dad. She just said he is R's father. He came to see her and said he is not well. Going to live somewhere else and won't be back anymore. Leaving the house to her. It is so sad to listen to her tell it. I asked if she was sad. She said a quiet no. I told her he left over 20 years ago. I am sad just to say it aloud. Sad for her mostly.

I asked her what my age is. She remembered what I told her repeatedly the last few months. But when I asked her what her age is, she said 40. She insisted that I must be born before her. I know the logic is gone. It never fails to sadden me each time I think of how the disease robs victims of their logic and memory.