哪里出了问题？

若雷

以下是今天早报上的一封家长来信，读了真令人感慨……

我出身于80年代的教育制度，现在已是两名就读小一和小三孩子的父亲。我觉得本地教育制度不切实际且与现实脱节，并为此感到担忧。尽管我在当年的教育制度下考取好成绩，当时却已质疑校园所吸收的知识在现实生活中能有多大用处。 　　
遗憾的是，这种情况每况愈下。 　　
就拿小学数学作例子。为什么学生们必须在年幼时就学习解答更高年级的逻辑习题？这是否真能协助他们以创意思维克服人生障碍？让小学生面对这些成年人在工作上都无需接触的启发式问题，是否真对学生们有帮助？矛盾的是，这只会导致小学生用死记硬背来学习启发式演算法。课外教材泛滥，补习中心如雨后春笋冒出，足以证明这一点。 　　
我观察到的另一点是，小学教师往往没有机会着重灌输数学演算法的基础知识，而被迫让学生解答高难度习题。与其传授实用知识，这些深奥习题更像是为选拔数学天才而设。在学习时间有限的学堂，期望教师们在教导现今艰难的课程时面面俱到，是不可能的任务。 　　
今时今日，让小孩子补习，以补充学校教师有时无法或没有时间传授的知识是一个必要。家长这么做，不再是要孩子名列前茅，而只为了让他们能够数学及格，仅此而已。如果这么多学生需要补习，这意味我们的教育制度在传授正确技能这个基本目标方面，是失败了。 　　
我太太是大学荣誉毕业生，为了在家督导孩子而放弃事业，对于小学生面对的严苛考测标准，她感到忧愤。在小学水平就要学生们面对严峻学习挑战，除了带来高度压力，削弱孩童学习好奇心之外，我实在看不出有什么好处。 　　
浇灭学习乐趣不说，现今教育制度的另一个副作用是我的孩子已没有时间好好享受童年。他们没有多余时间进行户外玩乐，或阅读心爱书籍（这是提升语文水平的好方法），或尝试新嗜好，或只是单纯探索身边周遭的一景一物。这都归咎于他们有太多功课要完成。 　　
对于数学以外的其它科目，情况也是大同小异。学校并没教得更少，学生同时也没学得更多。

男人如树

其实这位父亲的心里话是“我在当年的教育制度下考取好成绩，我太太是大学荣誉毕业生，为什么我的孩子成绩不好？”
他把原因归结为题变难了，“为什么学生们必须在年幼时就学习解答更高年级的逻辑习题”，其实真正的原因是竞争加剧了，而这是无法避免的。
既得利益者和努力向上的人，对竞争的看法是不同的。

毛絮

"以创意思维克服人生障碍, 传授实用知识" 基础教育的好处本来就不是这么用来评价的, 看你要何时suffer了, 我见过很多大学生因为基础教育弱, 确切讲数学弱, 影响他们的博士硕士科研的

trespasser

男人如树 发表于 2-5-2012 10:49
其实这位父亲的心里话是“我在当年的教育制度下考取好成绩，我太太是大学荣誉毕业生，为什么我的孩子成绩不 ...

估计他的孩子唯一不好的科目是数学吧，话说数学想考高分，孩子是否聪明很重要。
学校很喜欢在大考时出一两题和书本无关纯考验孩子思考能力的大题，拿最高分的基本是男生。我家的每次碰到这种题就不会做，这位家长的抱怨我能理解，但学校为什么这么做我也能理解。

vivocity2010

问题出在有的新加坡家长对当今的教育要求了解不够！！！:L:Q

oliver_871

男人如树 发表于 2-5-2012 10:49
其实这位父亲的心里话是“我在当年的教育制度下考取好成绩，我太太是大学荣誉毕业生，为什么我的孩子成绩不 ...

其实这个家长反映的情况还是有代表性的。新加坡的小学老师教学系统性较差。这和新加坡没有师范学院有关。虽然有个NIE，但是属于短期培训性质，很多为了一个上岗证。更何况很多半途出家的，抱着小学那点知识谁不会教的心理，所以不重视教学方法，以为讲了就好，殊不知简单的知识才不好教，你要把握小孩的心智水平，拿捏的尺寸很细微。

当然这个家长反映情况的方式很有新加坡特色，专门强调自己当年好成绩，太太大学毕业，好像这样能给自己的发言加分，典型的新加坡纯扑式偏见。以前还看过一个家长只会用二元一次方程解儿子请教的一道小学数学题，就投书ST骂学校，说自己大学毕业，甚至直言挑战校长：你不用二元方程做得出吗？其实关心过小学数学的家长都知道，新加坡小学现在重视用MODEL解题，这题就是典型的MODEL解法。这个新加坡家长半桶水泼错对象了。类似幼稚无聊家长言论在早报，ST还时不时发表，也不知编辑是故意的，还是一样的糊涂。

xadish

不要迷信成绩⋯⋯⋯⋯

fuyihao

xadish 发表于 2-5-2012 23:40
不要迷信成绩⋯⋯⋯⋯

成绩代表学生的一切，这是现实，成绩是

xadish

fuyihao 发表于 7-5-2012 17:39
成绩代表学生的一切，这是现实，成绩是

嗯，那毕业后，收入是一切？

jjrchome

教育部对这篇读者来信的回复：

Primary school maths: A vicious circle
http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC120508-0000070/Primary-school-maths--A-vicious-circle
Schools, tuition centres, book publishers trying to outdo one another in setting tough questions, say teachers

by Ng Jing Yng            
            
SINGAPORE - As a recent letter to this newspaper re-ignited a debate over whether the standards of primary school level mathematics are realistic, some educators pointed to a vicious circle where schools, tuition centres and assessment book publishers try to outdo one another in terms of setting questions that stretch children's abilities.

Among the 11 teachers and former educators Today spoke to, almost half of them felt that tuition is no longer a luxury, but a necessity - they argued that these days, teachers are saddled with multiple responsibilities and do not have enough time to cater to the learning pace of every student in the class.

One of the teachers said: "We deal with a class of 40 and it is difficult to give equal attention to all. Our role is not only teaching and planning lessons."

He added that he would recommend weaker pupils to go for enrichment classes to catch up with their peers.

Nevertheless, all of them reiterated the need for "higher ability" questions in exams to stretch the more academically inclined pupils and differentiate them according to their abilities. The practice is in line with the principle of meritocracy and allows students to learn at a pace they are suited for, they said. Even so, such questions make up only "a handful" of questions in the entire test paper.

      In response to Today's queries, a Ministry of Education (MOE) spokesperson reiterated that the level of difficulty of Primary School Leaving Examination mathematics "has not increased over the years".

      The spokesperson added that the ministry reviews the subject syllabi regularly based on "widespread consultation with teachers and experts". In fact, the content in the mathematics syllabus was reduced in 2001, she added.

      A primary school teacher, who had taught for more than a decade, pointed out that parents would question why schools are not giving questions as difficult as those set by tuition centres and found in assessment books. "It is a vicious circle," the teacher added.

      Today reader Ian Tan recently expressed his concern that the primary school system "has become one of irrelevant, unrealistic standards". Citing primary school mathematics, he felt that children have little choice but to turn to tuition "to fill the gaps that teachers sometimes struggle to fill".

      He added: "Why are pupils being asked to solve questions of higher level logic at such a young age? Does it make them more creative in problem solving? Does it help them when they are faced with heuristic problems that even adults do not have to deal with in the workplace? No, it only leads to more rote learning of, ironically, heuristic methods."

      Mr Tan's letter, which was published on May 2, has since received more than 5,900 "likes" and sparked more than 70 comments online. Other readers also weighed in on the issue.

      A primary school teacher with eight years of teaching experience told Today that while pupils might not need the algebra skills when they enter the workforce years later, "the skills of analysis and looking at problems in different perspectives … will help them in future".

      The MOE spokesperson said that a primary school education here would "lay the foundation for a child's future learning". She added: "During these formative years, the focus of schools must be to build his confidence and desire to learn, while providing him with a good foundation in literacy and numeracy for him to access secondary education."

    The spokesperson revealed a new primary mathematics syllabus will be implemented next year but it involves "only minor changes" to the Primary 1 syllabus. Accordingly, the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board will review the format of the examination paper.

      "Care will be taken to ensure that these changes do not increase the level of difficulty of the paper," the spokesperson said.