An article from The Straits Times (Monday, 1 November 2010)
School can wait, childhood cannot
Gen Y parents should relax a bit and not push to make kids top achievers
by Corrie Tan
It is easy when you are not a parent to write off worries that run along the lines of, what if my child does badly in school? Or what if she does not have the interview skills to get a good job? Or what if he lacks an appreciation of the arts?
Me, I worry instead that Singapore's novice parents - my peers - seem to be pushing too hard when it comes to child-raising.
Rattled by the Ministry of Education's announcement that examinations at the Primary One level would be scrapped by 2013, many parents rushed to buy endangered exam papers of top primary schools from unauthorised vendors.
Let's not even talk about private tuition. Last month, The Straits Times reported that children as young as four are being sent for extra classes to prepare them for primary school. And, oh, to the Toastmasters Club to hone their speech and presentation skills.
At this rate, the average Singaporean six-year-old will soon have: a Grade Eight certificate in piano and violin, flawless public speaking skills, the ability to multiply and divide four-digit numbers and a vocabulary to bamboozle college professors.
Early childhood educators have advised caution. If a child enjoys his or her classes, then there is something to be gained from them. But children should not be dragged there kicking and screaming.
While parental concerns about a child's future are legitimate, I wonder if the greater slice of Gen Y, achievement-oriented and exposed to a surfeit of education options, measures success only in terms of grades and trophies.
Or do they, as time-starved young professionals, equate enrolling their children in enrichment courses with a greater contribution to their development?
I believe that an unwilling child is likely to learn nothing, regardless of his hours in class. And isn't it a happy childhood that matters in the end, since it's something that cannot be reclaimed?
From age four to six, I frequented the playground and not tuition centres. The piano was a foreign instrument that produced noise when I attacked its keys.
At six, I played an angel in a kindergarten Nativity play. My knees shook and I forgot some lines. And maths? What was maths?
I still passed A-level mathematics, went to university, got a job and can knock out some tunes on the piano.
In a blog devoted to her cancer-stricken four-year-old duaghter - now cancer-free after chemotherapy - a former teacher of mine summed it up best: "One thing I know for sure, I'm going to let my little girl enjoy her childhood and forget about angsting about her being monolingual or being unable to spell anything other than words like princess, love, castle and once upon a time.
"School can wait. Jobs can wait. Childhood cannot. Life cannot."
corriet@sph.com.sg
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Task
Comment on the above newspaper article by writing a 200-word reflection.
Do you agree or disagree with the writer? Why?
Deadline: 1 November 2010, 2359 hours SGT
I agree with what the author says. As the world gets advance, the more stress one will get. Stress does not involve only with adults, but young children too. It is really scary to see that children as young as six-year-old to obtain a Grade 8 for her music. Imgaine how competitive Simgapore will be in 20 years time. Its a normal thing that parents are worried about their Children's studies but not to the extent that they sent them for tuition lessons, workshop and courses. Children should be freed from all these stress and be allowed to enjoy their childhood when they are young.Childhood does not last forever, once its gone, its gone. While studies can still be catch up when you are lag behind. Thus, i feel that being a children, should spent more time enjoying and mixing around with friends instead of facing the textbooks at such a young, tender age.If this culture will to continue, children will grow up to be more self-centered and do not care about anyone. They will be much more concious with their results and nothing much matters to them.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Children now have to go for a lot of courses as their parents want them to learn more as they are afraid of their child's future. However, the child would need to take up so many stress that causes him/her to be unhappy. The lack of interest in study can affect the child's results as well. As long as the child has interest in a particular thing, the parents need not worry about the development of him/her. I agree that school can wait, but childhood and life cannot. Everyone only has only one chance in childhood and therefore we must enjoy it and treasure it well. Children nowadays have to attend courses everyday and they wouldn't have a chance to play with their friends and enjoy their childhood life. I hope children nowadays can live to enjoy their childhood days.
ReplyDeletei feel that this article is very relatable to us singaporean kids. From p1, we are started to be pressured to excel in school. If we do not do well, parents will start to increase the amount of tuition that we have. I feel that this is due to the society that we have in our lives. It is instilled in us that if we do not do well, we would have a lousy future. Thus , this increases the amount of pressure on us until we have unhealthy competition. Also , we face stiff competitiomn with foreign talents , such as students from china. All of these factors forces us to work so hard that we waste our younger years away. We do not bother to spend our time on our more meaningful things such as building meaningful relationships with our friends , instead we shut ourselves up in the world of studies , which is very very unhealthy.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the author. Kids at a young age should have fun and play. However, it is not wrong that kids have a head start in Primary School by attending extra classes. It is benefitial, but it prevents kids from having fun like others their age. It is true that if kids know their stuff at a younger age, they will become smarter than others, have excellent jobs in the future and be more successful. Personally, I think that kids should just have fun.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the author. All parents want the best for their children. However, wanting the best and wanting their child to top in this ever competitive society we are in now are totally different matters. Ever since their kid are in their mother's womb, their parents are already fussing about it's future, paving the road that their child would take in the near future, gearing their kid for the competitive society. As soon as their child are able to communicate, they are sent for lessons after lessons, enrichment courses to stimulate their brains. As a result, the poor child is packed with lessons after lessons every single moment of his or her life. The child doesnt get to enjoy its childhood, he or her doesnt know what is "PLAY". I feel that a child needs to enjoy their childhood before its gone, and a childhood is about being happy every moment from when you are awake till you are asleep. Playing and enjoy the world's company is what a child should have during his childhood before they gear up to face the world. Parents can send their kids for courses that their child shows a particular interest in or a few courses to broaden the child's knowledge but not to overload the child's brain capacity. Children are meant to enjoy their childhood.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the author. This situation is not unusual in Singapore as the parents nowadays are stressing on the importance of education. Though it is not wrong for parents to stress their children on the importance of education, it is still considered rather unhealthy if the child is forced to study to that extent. Having a head start at such a young age and increasing amount of courses or tution the child has to attend deprives the child from his or her childhood. At such a young age, children should be having fun and playing without being burdened by the thoughts of studying. However, the children nowadays are constantly being stressed by their studies. They are always at home studying, in school, or attending courses or tution. This extreme schedule stresses the children and would cause the fear of studying to develop in them. Being forced to study and excel in order to secure a good job or a bright future without a moment of playing or enjoying their time deprieves the child from his or her childhood. Parents should not go to that extent and should allow their children to relax. Every child has a talent and parents should support them in excelling something they have interest in. It is unnecessary for parents to be too worked up with their children's academic results. Being constantly stressed or burdened with the thoughts of studies affects the mental health and the state of emotion of the child. Children should be free to play and have fun when they are young as it is their only chance. When they finally finish their studies or have achieved in securing a good job, they would not have any time to play or relax as they would then be occupied with other important things. Even if they have the time to relax and play, it would be very different from what they could have experience when they were young.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what the author says, especially with the last line - "School can wait. Jobs can wait. Childhood cannot. Life cannot."
ReplyDeleteLife is short and we can only experience childhood once. So why not live it to the fullest? I mean, sure, every parent would want their child to excel, but giving them pressure may not necessary be the best way to do so. Parent’s intentions may even backfire. If the lessons that they are taking is enjoyable to them, it might just cultivate their passion and inspire them. Their childhood should be something memorable to them, some thing they will always remember, and not something that they remember as having a hectic lifestyle. Childhood is the only time in which they have no worries and always being carefree. Once they start schooling, they will be faced with the pressure to excel in school. When they get a job the will face greater challenges. So why not let them have a happy, pleasant and memorable childhood?
I agree, it is true that parents of Generation Y are pushing their children too hard and being too severe with them; but when it comes down to facts. All their actions are not without proper reason. In this current Generation, Children have PSPs, IPhones, Apps, Computers, Smart Phones, Television programmes. Kids nowadays know not of what is 'taking turns' because they have their own portable games for themselves. Not a Playground to share with all the neighbourhood children, where each child has to take turn to use the slide or see saw. Such characteristics as the above of Selfishness develop in children when they are exposed to different environments.
ReplyDeleteWhich parent does not want the best for their Child I do wonder, it is precisely because of this fast-paced world and this love they encompass that parents are rushed into making such decisions for their children. Wanting their child to be all-rounders. Instead of calmly stepping back and asking themselves if the child would enjoy being put through all the homework, assessment papers, courses, workshops - they don't pause to spare a thought for the child's preferences. Children learn best when they are learning something they enjoy, not when they are forced to learn something they do not have a curiosity or attraction to.
Generation Y at present, only seem to measure success in terms of grades and trophies. True these will help improve the child's future, but at what cost? A child's childhood is the most important time of their lives, it should not be put at stake. A child is most easily influenced when young, it is through the tiniest of things that they learn from.
If a Child's earliest memories are of being dragged to the tuition centre and having sit through hours and hours of lessons, the child might develop negative feelings for study on a whole instead of actually learning anything. A Kids childhood cannot be rewritten, it happens once and only once. Unlike various exams and tests where we have more chances to do better. Everyone only has a single chance at childhood, if it's ruined. It cannot be saved.
I agree with the author. Many parents in Singapore sent their child for tuition and extra lessons at an age as young as four inorder for them to be ahead of others. However, I think that sending a child as young as four for extra lessons is a waste of the child's precious childhood. I do not see the point of being ahead of others when at the end, we will all end up getting a job, married and have a child. A childhood is a time for kids to go to the playground and have fun. A childhood should not be wasted on tuitions and piano lessons. Moreover, a playground is for children to play and enjoy. Adults who regretted not going to the playground during their childhoodare unable to do so as they are too old and the slides are probably too small for them. Therefore, I think that children are suppose to enjoy their childhood. Once a childhood is gone, it is gone for life.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the author to a certain extent. It is no doubt that parents will worry about their children’s future because they do not want their children to follow their footsteps. This is because every parent wants his child to strive for excellence and excel in all that they do. No parent will want his child to face countless failures in his life. In a world with such advanced technology nowadays, jobs are getting more and more competitive. This is also why parents fret that their children might not be able to even be qualified to compete with the people in the outside world. Therefore, it is no wonder why parents are fighting to purchase endangering primary one examination paper before they are extinct. They want to prepare them for future examination stress, even though it is advised that all primary one pupils do not take examinations. Talking about private classes, it has shown that parents have sent their children for these classes, even at the unbelievable age of four! If the child seems interested in the lessons, for example piano lessons, he may continue. However if he does not like the instrument at all, there is no use letting the child continue to attend the lessons, thinking that interests can be nurtured overtime. If unfortunately, the child shows no interest to the musical instrument at all, his parents should find out what exactly he is interested in and move on in that area. On the other hand, a child should not start attending lessons at young ages ranging from zero to five, in my opinion. There is a reason why the education system in Singapore states that school starts at the age of seven, which is primary one. This is to let children enjoy the early days of their lives because they will not be able to do it the same way when they grow older. They will face competitors in this competitive society. Everyone is competing with somebody for something. Hence, a child should be given time to learn to play and laugh and have fun while they can.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this article, I feel that this article applies on we, Singaporean kids. When I was P1, I face the same thing too. My parents sent me to tution and wanted me to excel in all subjects. This goes on throughout my whole schooling years until today. In today day and age, many parents hold high expectation for their kids and are already sending them to different classes to learn more, example, piano and violn as said in the articles. Parents nowadays want their child to excel in both academic and in their talent, hence, this resulted in the children being exhausted due to numerous classes as not all children are interested in classes and such talents. Even if the children spend days or hours in tution, they will achieve nothing if they are not interested. This has made the society being competitive, every parent would send their children to many tution classes as they can afford so as to ensure their child to have a bright future. This will result in their child facing a great pressure and leaving them an unhappy childhood. Therefore , why not let the children to have a happy childhood and not putting them into tution classes?
ReplyDeleteI agree to this article as it is the current state of Singapore parents right. They are so indulged in their childrens' studies that they send them to various activities and put enormous stress. They do all this forgetting that their child have a life of its own. Thus, it makes them lose their sweet childhood life and the experiences that they could get from it. All that the child know would be English and Maths, it wouldn't know how to socialise with people. Thus, i fully with the writer's views.
ReplyDeleteI Disagree to what the author says more than i agree with it. It may be right for children to enjoy their young life while they still can but if they do not brace themselves for the future to come. Yes they do have to enjoy their childhood and those parents who sent them off to tuition centers are overly concern over their child's education welfare but that does not mean that it is all harmful but not an advantage towards the child. Due to the economic competition is increasing, it is important that children do get educational tips to overcome the situation in the future to come but not to an extent by flooding them with tuition classes. Not mentioning that countries like homeland singapore have to depend on their people to reach the world rankings, as the people are their largest asset they have to focus on educating the people so that they will be able to be on par with the other countries. This gives reasons for the parents of children to focus on their children's education to prepare them for the near developing future to come. And also it is always good to have a SMALL head start in everything.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the writer very much. Even though Singaporeans today cannot survive without certificates, it is important that parents know their limit and not force their children to go for too much courses that will make them too stressed up. Time will never rewind and there is only one chance that each person can do anything. Do let children to have a happy and memorable childhood instead of one that is unhappy. However, when the child grows up, he or she can then be trained slowly if his or her parents feel that he or she needs to be trained on certain skills like public speaking skills. It is no doubt that it will be better to learn something as early as possible, but learning skills too early might stress the child too much that it fails eventually when the child does not want to learn. It is ‘never too old to learn’ something so long as you have the resilience to do it. Hence, I reckon that parents should let their children relax and have more fun while they are still young while disciplining them, and they will face the real society when they grow up in future.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the author. In this generation, many parents are too eager to send their children to courses and early childhood education mainly because they do not want their children to lose out in the future -- be it in primary school moving on to a secondary school with a better reputation or even finding a job. In such a competitive economy like Singapore, no parents would like to see their children being failures, and no one likes to be one too.
ReplyDeleteHowever, some parents did not spare a thought for their children because all they want for them is to excel in his or her studies. At such a young age of four, they are already being sent to tuition classes, I think that is a bit too much pressure on them. But I think most parents should ask themselves this question. "Will my children be happy if I keep sending them to lessons like this?" Yes, going for enrichment classes, learning a skill or two will definitely help them in one way or another. But if the children are being forced to and they are unhappy about it, everything that are taught in these classes will not enter their minds! Because they have no interest at all.
Time passes very fast. Once the child grows up, there is no turning back. And everyone would want something to look back upon when they get older, and think about the wonderful childhood memories they have. After all, "Children" is a classified age group where people are still young, naive and playful. They should be having the time of their lives and having a carefree mind instead of thinking of their future and stressing themselves out. It is definitely too early for them to be thinking about this. Therefore, I feel every child should have their own rights to grow up in a happy environment instead of a stressful one and be successful yet unhappy.
In my opinion, I fully agree with what the author says. Childhood is something that can only be experienced once. Once, its over, nothing can be done to change it back. As competition out there in the society is getting more intensive, parents are also adding more pressure to their child by sending them for enrichment classes, tuition, piano, swimming, etc. Such classes are not bad, but if the child is being forced to go for such courses not because they want it, but because they do not have any say against their parents decision. Then, there I see no point in sending their kids for any of such courses. The child would gain nothing and would not enjoy what their learning. As a child, "fun" is the key essential for them to learn. With "fun", the child not only engange themselves in laughter, but they also learn to be more appreciative of what they are learning. Therefore, i think it is important for the child to first enjoy their childhood to the fullest then comes the worrying of the school work and future jobs.
ReplyDeletei agree with the author.Nowadays parents are so competitive,as they want the best for their children and not want them to lose out in any way.So they sent their child for as many enrichment classes as they can to let them learn more skills even at a young age.This is good but at the same time this could bring stress to the child.If the child does not like what he or she is doing and hates going for so many enrichment classes,it still would not benefit the child in fact it might cause the child to become rebelious. Although the world now has become very competitive I think that the parents should not deprive their child from having a happy childhood.Although certificates are very important in Singapore but I think that childhood should be one of the most memorable part of our lifes,so education can wait.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the author. The children's feelings matter as they will be unmotivated or even discouraged to undergo the tuitions their parents have arranged for them. The children should willingly go through the lessons and their parents should negotiate with them on how much lessons the children can take. But due to the competition nowadays, parents are pressurised to force their child to do well and be on par with others. On the contrary, children should not be held back from a happy childhood which will help the children understand their parents more efficiently.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the author. In school a student already undergo stress throught exams and test and yet parents force their children to undergo tuitions,enrichment courses and even tutor children in fine arts. This gives them more work and hence might suffer from depression which will lead them to bad behaviour like smoking and truancy. Such behaviour from parents are unneccessary and might cause their child to have a unhappy childhood. The children should also take the initiative to negotiate with their parents on how much lessons he can take
ReplyDeleteI definitely disagree with what the author had stated. As everyone knows, Singapore is like any other developed country, all of the citizens are living in a fast paced society. People would have to constantly upgrade themselves as well as their skills to keep up in the society and maintain their positions or be promoted. Whose parents would want to see their child end up in the future having lousy jobs with a low pay? Definitely no one's parents would want their child to end up being like that. Youths like us are getting more and more competitive towards education. In the past, it is rather simple to enter a polytechnic because many people would usually drop out of school and head towards the working path. However, youths and parents saw the importance towards education and how it leads to a good future of one thus parents tend to put pressure on their kids so that they could excel in whatever they do and attain a good position in the working industry. Even though parents may put pressure on their child since they were young, their child will understand their parents' intentions of them studying earlier and more have benefited them in many ways.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what the author said. Parents nowadays deprive their children’s childhood by giving them lots of extra classes such as piano class, private tuition for every subjects of higher level, when they have not even finished their syllabus in school. All these may lead to the children losing interest in studying, and some may even thought that studying means having their own schedule fully packed and not having any free time for themselves. This will cause the children’s grades to drop as they do not have the interest and the passion to study. Parents should consider their children’s interests, and discover their talents from there. Parents always thought being successful in life means to do well in academics, getting into top schools and junior colleges, entering into university, getting a degree, and to find a job with a very high pay. Everyone should live life to the fullest, and all stages of life are important, especially as a child. A happy childhood is important for a child as he should have memorable memories as a child. Thus, education can wait, but life cannot, childhood cannot.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the author. This article clearly reflects the lives of Singaporean kids these days. Many singaporeans kids are troubled with tuition of many different subjects, or with extra classes like piano lessons or ballet lessons. Though it may be good to learn something new, the child may not have interest in it and it would not benefit the child in any way when there is no interest in the first place. This way, many Singaporean kids are missing out on their childhood. In the past, the kids were carefree and they had nothing to think about, all they have to think about was how to have fun and enjoy their childhood while they can. However, in comparison, the kids these days not only have to cope with the stress of their schedule from all the classes they are attending, they have to worry about things like impressing their parents, doing their homework, and so on. With all these on their mind, it is almost impossible for them to enjoy their childhood, they do not have a chance to be carefree. I think parents should give their children more "breathing space" because like how the author mentioned, schools and jobs can wait, but life and childhood would never wait. Time would never stop for anyone, and it is impossible for anyone to go back in time. There are many different schools and job opportunities out there in society, however there one has only one life and one childhood. Only one chance to experience things that only can happened once. Hence, parents should let their kids have a happier and carefree childhood. They should be given a chance to enjoy childhood!
ReplyDeletei agree with this staetment. the children are wasting their childhood lives studying already! they should be out there enjoying their lives before the hark work comes in. for little kids, life isnt about studying. i feel the kids are under alot of pressure, the parents are trying to give them a better future by starting to let kids study when they are young, but as they are young, they cannot cope with all these. the text says 'School can wait. Jobs can wait. Childhood cannot. Life cannot." what this says is right, education can wait as they cannot live their childhood again.,
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with the author! Everyone is competitive nowadays. Parents want their children to have a head start in their studies. So they sent them to enrichment courses, piano classes and tuition to improve themselves.In the end children spent most of their time studying instead of having fun and making new friends. Parent wants their children to do well in studies so they are able to find a job that suits them. Every stage of life is important, so people should not miss any stage.I feel that children should be having fun instead of facing textbook.Education can wait as the child need to have fun and enjoy every stages of life. I think that parents should give their children more freedom. The child should not be fored to do things, there might be negative effect insead of helping them. Children should have a happy childhood instead of going for enrichment courses or tuitions. Therefore, school can wait,childhood cannot.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the author. This article is very true. Sigaporeans children are always force to study because of their parents. Their parents are very competitive, always wanting their children to do best and win other people. The childrens are also deprived of their childhood. Parents send them to many tuitions. Singapore childrens are forced to attend tuition and extra classes. They should not be forced because if they are forced, they will not benefit from the tuition and extra classes. Having too many tuition gives Singaporean childrens a lot of stress. Although stress is good, but too much stress is not goood. Parents also give their children too much preassure. Children should have a happy childhood not a lousy childhood. Therefore i agree with the author
ReplyDeleteI agree the author that education can wait, jobs can wait but childhood cannot. Childhood is only for that few years of our life, on the other hand, we can study and learn all sorts of musical instruments, dance and public speaking during adulthood too. Why stress your child on learning all sorts of skills when it is time for them to play. A child should be given time to enjoy when they are young, looking at adults in singapore, they are stressed from work everyday. If you start stressing your child since they are young, when are they going to learn to relax and enjoy life.
ReplyDeleteThough I also agree that children also have to study and not play all day long, it is very important for them to enjoy learning. Some students are forced to go for workshops, tuition and extra lessons by their parents often feel their schedule is packed and they do not have time for themselves. Hence they will have pressure that are being put on them by their parents and they will turn to things like smoking and alcohol to destress. This will cause a negative impact on the child instead.
Therefore, parents should learn to let their child enjoy their childhood and not force them to pick up skills.
I agree with the author's statement.I feel that the children here are under a lot of stress and pressure. I think they shouldn't be studying at such a young age. they should be out there, enjoying their lives and not wasting their time studying.When in the near future, they would feel regretful that they have a deprived childhood.People can only experience childhood fun for once before they grow up.They can only go through it once.If they spend more time on studying at such a young age, they would not get the idea of what childhood means as they only have this thinking of studying,studying and more studying.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what the author say. When children are young, before they start primary school, they should just have a happy childhood, a happy memory worth remembering. It is known that life is extremely stresssful for kids in Sinapore. Yes, it is true that in Sinapore it's a cruel society, without certificates and certain education, jobs may not be available for you but you can always change to be better and more hardworking, with hard work, the heart and sicerity it isstill possible to get a job with a stacble income. We only have a life and we ought to live it happily, but not with stress. I think that we should enjoy life first as jobs and school can wait. We should be given this golden opprtunity, once-in-a-lifetime to enjoy life to its fullest.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the author. Small children should not have any stress from their parents and studies. They should be enjoying their childhood life as much as then can. It is not too late for them to learn new things, like piano, at a young age. Unless they enjoy it, they should be playing around the playground. People can also have a good job and good pay even though they did not start study from young. If they are hardworking, nothing is impossible. Parents are too eager for them to study well, thus giving their children more stress. Most of the children did not know how to manage their stress, and thus, will not have a happy childhood life. Once childhood life is gone, it will never come back. Studies can wait. Even if they are an adult, they still can study if they wan to. Parents must have patience. The more they rush, the outcome may not be better. What is the point of having alot of knowledge when they are not happy at all. Happiness are the priority among all. What is the use of giving them lessons on piano or other things when they are not interested at all.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this article, I feel that what the author says is true. Nowadays, parents worry for their child's future. Therefore, they start sending their kids to classes at a young age. Parents think that this classes actually work out for their kids to be interested in studies, so as to excel in both academic and talent, they arranged many classes over the weeks. From Monday to Friday, kids have to go to school and some may have tution class, only Saturday and Sunday are the days that they can rest. Hence, parents always use this time slot to send them to tution classes, resulting them of not having enough rest. Having such weekends over the whole year and throughout their studying years, the kids would not have enjoy their childhood. Lastly, I think parents should put themselves into their childrens' shoes and let them have a happy childhood.
ReplyDeletei agree with the writer. Due to much knowledge and information passed on from one party to another regarding the importance of education, parents nowadays become more competitive. In a competitive region like Singapore, parents understand the intense level of competition. Thus, they find all means to prepare their child for the best, starting with achieving good grades in school. In other words, they do not want their child to lose out to other children and in the future. Therefore some parents start sending their child for extra tuition lessons at a very young age. These parents are only looking from their own perspective and not realizing the impact that will cause the child. Example, losing one's childhood. parents should understand that if their children enjoys his or her classes, then there is something to gain. but if the children are attending classes unwillingly and were forced to, these classes would not benefit them at all. At such young age, these children should be at playgrounds having fun instead of being in rooms with books around them. i think that parents should be more understanding and should not take the childhood away from their children. Childhood only come once and it should be memorable. Therefore, education and schools can wait while childhood cannot.
ReplyDeletei agree with what the author has to say.Nowadays, parents always worry for their child's future. Therefore, they start sending their kids to classes at an extremely young age. Parents think that this classes might actually make their kids be interested in studies, so as to excel in both academic and talent, they arranged many classes over the weeks.This has affected many children to learn to hate studying and lose their childhood fun and happiness .Thus i feel that parents should not be overly concerned so that our future generations will have a happy childhood in time to come . therefore i deduce that parents should balance out between studies and playing .
ReplyDeleteI agree with the writer. Children should enjoy their childhood while they can, and not live life under pressure. Every parent would want the best for their child, but destroying their childhood is not a way to do that. What is the point of sending a child to classes that he or she does not want to attend? The child would not be able to learn anything, and that would be a waste of money and time. I feel that this money and time, could be used to let the child enjoy his or her childhood. Well, though studies are important, it can always be started a little later. A child should not be forced to study at a young age, or even , sending them for other kinds of classes. As the author states "School can wait. Jobs can wait. Childhood cannot. Life cannot."
ReplyDeleteI disagree with the author but only to a certain extent. As we all know, childhood is only for a specific number of years unlike adulthood which can last up to sixty years or more. However, parents nowadays are putting so much pressure on their children with extra courses and tuition. But speaking in their point of views, they are just preparing their children for the upcoming tension and pressure they will feel when they reach the working society. Singapore is a well-developed but small country whereby there are competitions everywhere. There is the need to upgrade skills on a certain basis in order to survive in the society. Just an 'O' level cert will not be enough to provide a better living as anyone can get the cert. However, its the marks and extra skills that employers compare. These are just the concerns and worries that parents have for their children. However, they have neglected their thoughts. Even if parents are concerned of their children's future, they forgot about their feelings. This also leads to misunderstandings parents and their children have nowadays. Children think that their parents are putting burden on them with targets that are to be achieved without putting themselves into their shoes. Therefore, childhood and education must be balanced.
ReplyDeleteafter reading this article , i have to say that i agree with this article and indeed this is happening more often in the Singaporean society . Singaporean parents tend to have this emphasis on education and believe that its the maiden and easiest path to a good life in the future . However , while this is true , we also have to highlight that excessive tuition and enrichment classes can also be extremely detrimental in the forms of some children . These children are largely the ones that dread studying and are constantly being forced and dragged by their parents to going to these classes . I believe and share the same view that childhood is something that cannot be reclaimed , and a happy and memorable childhood is just what every young kid yearns for . Hence , i feel modern Singaporean parents should accept that every child deserves to have a childhood that they desire . Afterall , it is true that when the child is happy and contented with whatever he does , it is only then that you see him engaging and actively participating in these education programmes .
ReplyDeleteI understand that delighting in one's blissful childhood may be important, but is that really necessary in the long run? With the multitude of strong competition in the working industry, and the constant need to up the bar, strong foundation from young is necessary, not several years of ignorant enjoyment. (In the end, does one actually remember much from his childhood?!)
ReplyDeleteOf course, you can't overwhelm the kid with classes 24/7, but you also cannot entirely disregard the idea of basic fundamental education as suggested from this article. Aren't good speaking and presentation skills vitally useful later on in life? Also, cultivating the habit of learning new things from young is definitely beneficial to the child and will greatly assist him in future endeavors. In other words, we shouldn't sacrifice the chance of a much improved lifestyle in the future for the child's mindless happiness in the early stages of his life.
I agree with the article. kids nowadays are facing a lot of stress from extra tuition , learning extra things such as piano lessons , dance lessons and so on . our schedules are packed so tight that sometimes there is hardly anytime to relieve all the tormenting stress.having a memorial childhood actually helps people in the long-run by helping them learn skills like making friends, relieving stress , care and concern. with such happiness , people would not go anti-social and work better in teams when in the competitive working world. overall, its up to the child to decide whether if they are interested in the lessons and whether they enjoy it so that they childhood would not be wasted
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