Let's make school fun

Let's make school fun

I caught a glimpse of the future recently and I didn't like what I saw.

More specifically, I didn't like hearing about what upper primary might be like for seven-year-old Jason and four-year-old Shannon.

I was at a children's forum recently, where upper primary pupils shared their views on five topics: education, family, money, friendship and security.

Over several hours, we heard the views of articulate child panellists from a diverse range of schools. I also read the wishlists of dozens of 10- to 12-year-olds, written on note cards and displayed outside the auditorium, and I spoke to some of them.

What stood out for me at the forum, which was organised by the Singapore Children's Society, were their candid thoughts on education.

Their honest expressions made for a sober look at the lives of Singapore tweens, a stage that Jason will reach in three years.

Here is the gist of their thoughts on education:

On school: "I wish my teachers wouldn't take away Physical Education lessons and replace them with English, mathematics or science lessons just before the exams, or if they do, keep to their promise of making up PE after exams", "I wish school is more fun and less stressful" or "I wish school hours are shorter and learning is fun".

On Primary School Leaving Examinations: "I hope I can get 225/260 (from different kids) for PSLE so that I can live up to my parents' expectations".

On homework or tuition: "I wish I didn't have maths homework every day even though I can cope" and "If only I didn't have so much tuition".

If I were a foreigner passing by the event that day, I would be appalled at the picture painted by the children.

But I'm not a foreigner and I do know the education system fairly well, from having covered it for work.

While it has its merits with many children thriving in the system, it is undeniable that there is truth in the children's comments.

That could explain the uncomfortable silence from a few parents as they took in what their children had written.

It is easy to blame the schools, but in all honesty, I think it takes two hands to clap.

Can we as parents do anything about it or are we just adding to our children's burden by, for example, insisting on tuition to give them a leg up in the system?

When Jason was attending a preschool that gave him worksheet after worksheet to do and playground time was often cancelled when children could not complete their worksheets, I transferred him to another school which emphasised learning through play.

I saw the negative effect the first school had on him when he felt that learning was no longer fun. He dreaded going to school and stopped singing to himself as he played at home - perhaps also because he didn't learn many songs at that school.

The change in Jason was immediate after he went to the new preschool. He looked forward to going to school each day, often badgering me to take him to school earlier.

While a change in preschools solved the problem then, it would not be as easy to solve a similar problem when Jason is older.

Some parents told me they minimise school stress for their child by, for instance, opting out of remedial lessons they feel their child does not need, so as to give him or her more time to rest and play.

Others say they keep external enrichment lessons to a minimum.

A handful say they tell their kids that grades are not everything and mean it. They are just as happy for their children to attend neighbourhood secondary schools.

Leaving the event, PSLE seemed like the be-all and end-all of these children, never mind all the changes that have been introduced to reduce the stress.

It is easy for me to say now that I want Jason to have his childhood since he is only in Primary 1 and school demands are not as heavy.

But I can foresee how easy it would be for me to fall into the trap of insisting he keep up with his peers in the future, because "I want the best for him and want him to reach the best of his abilities".

Perhaps we as parents can take the lead and it could well start with asking the child about his day in school, rather than about his grades.

So when school reopens next month, I must remember to ask Jason: "What was the best thing about school today?", instead of "How many marks did you get for Chinese spelling?"

janeng@sph.com.sg
facebook.com/ST.JaneNg


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