Ex- teacher fed up with FAPee...

[makapaaa]

<TABLE id=msgUN border=0 cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD id=msgUNsubj vAlign=top>Coffeeshop Chit Chat - Ex- teacher fed up with PAP...</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead vAlign=top><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>kojakbt89 <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>2:40 am </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 3) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>41579.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt><CITE class=fn>Adam Song:</CITE>
November 26, 2010 at 6:18 pm Adam Song(Quote) (Edit)
I read in ST forum some months ago, some brave soul said that it is impossible to teach in Neighbourhood schools. And I dare say it is mostly true. Except for a few top schools ie those ranked 1-10th. Each school has about 3 top science classes you can teach, ie the students sit and listen.
In the average class, and this means in most classes, you are just trying to get their attention. You probably end up speaking to the walls yourself. And that does something to your mental well-being.
The Minister himself may not know this. The Director herself may not know this. After all when they visit, everything is put out to be ’swee, swee’ ie done up beautifully for the visit to impress.
The politiking that goes on, the back-stabbing, the ill-feelings generated by the performance bonus, ‘How come I only get the D when my results are better than the top ranked school?” Well, you are ‘meeting expectation’
How do you impart values of diligence, quality, integrity, trustworthiness, when the school envirnment is poisonous?
Who dares to write truthful testimonials when it means the people in charge will not get their ‘performance bonus’?
Even when top students from a top school did something wrong, it is all ‘covered up’
When a recalcitrant student ‘bullies’ is hauled up and reprimanded, he says ’sorry’ without meaning it. If the case is reported to the police, it simply means more ‘counselling’.
Teachers are afraid of sudent gangs. Even primary school kids, those in P5 or P6 know how to ‘do a teacher in’. Just gang up on one teacher at a time. Give him/her plenty of trouble. Misbehave, do not hand in work.
You literally have to beg them to do their work. Or you need to keep all their files in a locked cupboard. Or else you have nothing to show when it comes to ‘check file’ by your Head of Department.
Check the resume of the directors, how many of them actually taught as classroom teachers in the average, neighbour schools. They may suspect what is the real scenario in these schools. But who is telling. Performance bonus comes first, couched in the wonderful language of ‘hoslistic development, pastoral care, school excellence model’ and what have you.
The ones who actually work? The ordinary classroom teacher. Is she valued? No, just give her the ‘D’ grade, and say something to the effect of ‘well you are retiring soon….”
I have been there, done that. I soon quit PAP and join whichever party that will tidy up the education system. Give just 50% weightage to academic performance, and I am with you.

</TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msgleft width="1%"> </TD><TD class=msgopt width="24%" noWrap> Options</TD><TD class=msgrde width="50%" noWrap align=middle> Reply</TD><TD class=wintiny width="25%" noWrap align=right> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgbfrbot> </TD><TD colSpan=3> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<!--PostMsgHTML--><SCRIPT language=JavaScript><!--if (adPosition == 1){ showGoogle(); }//--></SCRIPT><!--/PostMsgHTML--><!--PreMsgHTML--><!--/PreMsgHTML--><TABLE class=msgtablealt cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead vAlign=top><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>kojakbt89 <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>2:46 am </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (2 of 3) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>41579.2 in reply to 41579.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt><CITE class=fn>Adam Song:</CITE>
November 26, 2010 at 5:54 pm Adam Song(Quote) (Edit)
I doubt all civil servants support the PAP. Most of us know this:
1. Civil Service pay has not kept pace with economical growth over the last 3 decades
2. Pay that should have been given to the rank and file has gone into paying the top 1-2% holding top or ‘important’ posts in the form of ‘performance bonus’.
3. The rank and file, have to keep ‘performing’ useless projects that do not add to productivity or value.
4. The overall ‘performance’ then is judged as ‘great performance’ and huge bonus given to a few, mainly the superscale officers. These are the so called key personnel, the ones give the A and B grades for their ‘performance’
5. So overall, the civil service pay packet does not increase very much.
6. If you listen carefully to the civil servants (teachers included), many of them do not value the PAP system, not anymore.
7. The last group of civil servants they want to antagonise are the classroom teachers
8. Each year, 5% classroom teachers get the ‘D’ grade for teaching well – that sounds strange. But they get ‘D’ ie ‘meeting expectation’ grade for not having enough wayang to show.
9. If the above group numbers 2000 over the last 10 years, multiply that by the number of students they teach. That will be 20,000 families
10. I am not saying they tell students the PAP is not good jsut because they dont get the performance bonus. But when the kids complain about PAP, and they do, because their parents are fed-up with the PAP, the teachers no longer sing praises of the PAP or even try to explain. Does not matter what the Social Studies books say.
11. And if any PAP members should read this, well think carefully and please do something about the the EPMS system. Give the good teachers those obtain the results their due bonus.
12. Do not imagine the old and experienced teachers will continue to support a system that does them in, after all the years of good service.

</TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msgleft width="1%"> </TD><TD class=msgopt width="24%" noWrap> Options</TD><TD class=msgrde width="50%" noWrap align=middle> Reply</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[scroobal]

Singapore teachers are the highest paid amongst all public school teachers in the world. It was an early political move similar to UMNO which has it roots on politcising and recruiting teachers. The teachers union has Lawrence Sia as an MP. It is a captive PAP base. It is no surprise that they had their very own private housing estate. Even the rest of the civil service was not so lucky. The came Marine Vista and Laguna whoich were flats.

Obviously techers have no clue what their real status is.

 

[kingrant]

Those were the days...I think their lives are tougher nowadays, as the PAP no longer fears teachers becoming a fifth column or relies on them as a powerbase.

It is no surprise that they had their very own private housing estate. Even the rest of the civil service was not so lucky. The came Marine Vista and Laguna whoich were flats.

Obviously techers have no clue what their real status is.

 

[halsey02]

Singapore teachers are the highest paid amongst all public school teachers in the world. It was an early political move similar to UMNO which has it roots on politcising and recruiting teachers. The teachers union has Lawrence Sia as an MP. It is a captive PAP base. It is no surprise that they had their very own private housing estate. Even the rest of the civil service was not so lucky. The came Marine Vista and Laguna whoich were flats.

Obviously techers have no clue what their real status is.

Was it Three Housing Estates? & that was in the 1960's early 70's by then the Teacher's Thrift & Loan Society.

You want to name them?, I start Teacher's Housing Estate, with names like Tagore, Munshi Abdullah....and the oldest I think is long Upper Paya Lebar Rd.

 

[Getloud]

To get back at PAP, the teachers need to teach their students how to think and not just follow.
Once they start to think, there's hope for SG.

 

[kensington]

PAP will bury those teachers alive and burn their books too, just like Qin Shihuang.

Those with hopes already escaped to become barbarians, albeit banana ones...

 

[scroobal]

You are right bro. I can't recall them except for Teachers Housing Estate at Yio Chu Kang.

Was it Three Housing Estates? & that was in the 1960's early 70's by then the Teacher's Thrift & Loan Society.

You want to name them?, I start Teacher's Housing Estate, with names like Tagore, Munshi Abdullah....and the oldest I think is long Upper Paya Lebar Rd.