tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post3997228758389083403..comments2024-03-19T18:44:15.041+08:00Comments on Little Stories: Congratulations to the BoyGilbert Koh aka Mr Wanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01027678080233274309noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-72887491655995567132013-05-24T22:17:38.102+08:002013-05-24T22:17:38.102+08:00I myself is a GEP student at Primary 5. I do think...I myself is a GEP student at Primary 5. I do think the whole thing is quite stressed up, with squillions of projects and a lot of other stuff. We all have experience of suffering. The GEP is the CORRECT place to suffer. So, please DO NOT COME HERE or be prepared for tons of projects and a lot of assorted "crap".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-10947547015542918122013-05-24T22:16:32.274+08:002013-05-24T22:16:32.274+08:00I myself is a GEP student at Primary 5. I do think...I myself is a GEP student at Primary 5. I do think the whole thing is quite stressed up, with squillions of projects and a lot of other stuff. We all have experience of suffering. The GEP is the CORRECT place to suffer. So, please DO NOT COME HERE or be prepared for tons of projects and a lot of assorted "crap".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-89463804487241633152010-04-20T12:46:18.393+08:002010-04-20T12:46:18.393+08:00If your child is considered gifted, you should be ...If your child is considered gifted, you should be happy. Alot of parents sent their childrens to additional classes every week to improve their learning abilities but may not necessary end up in these programmes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-84604868429283488302009-11-22T20:03:45.723+08:002009-11-22T20:03:45.723+08:00Recommendation:
http://scientific-child-prodigy.b...Recommendation:<br /><br />http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/<br /><br />This is the true story of scientific child prodigy, and former baby genius, Ainan Celeste Cawley, written by his father.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-11211994338835928712009-11-16T06:58:56.525+08:002009-11-16T06:58:56.525+08:00That is why I say that some parental guidance is n...That is why I say that some parental guidance is needed, so that the kid sees the big picture, when he makes any comparison.Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01027678080233274309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-32798323432623321752009-11-15T20:40:00.434+08:002009-11-15T20:40:00.434+08:00Mr Wong said'"Even if he is the bottom 10...Mr Wong said'"Even if he is the bottom 10% of his GEP class....His ego need not feel too bruised." I apologise but I can't really agree to that as most people only looked at people around them and compared with them. There are alot of people dying of hunger and we are of course better of than them, but do we compare ourselves with them or with your fellow neighbour who had just bought a BMW? So if the kid is in the bottom 10%, definitely his ego would be bruised, especially when he was among the top from his previous school.Rialcenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-4214769784050239402009-11-13T12:14:13.794+08:002009-11-13T12:14:13.794+08:00When I entered the GEP at Primary 4 and got less t...When I entered the GEP at Primary 4 and got less than expected grades, compared to my brother who did not, my parents would often remark that something probably went wrong with the selection process and that I was chosen by mistake. Please don't do this to your kid.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-3509587513524755592009-11-12T22:45:43.115+08:002009-11-12T22:45:43.115+08:00Anon Nov 10 10:50 AM's point about self-esteem...Anon Nov 10 10:50 AM's point about self-esteem taking a hit after first getting bad results in the GEP must, I cannot emphasize this enough, be noted and appropriately discussed by astute parents. When this happened to me, my father looked at my result slip sadly and told me, "You are in GEP, so you are smart, right? Take care of this yourself." which was probably the worst ever thing that could have been said. Ah well, time heals wounds, but it could have been handled better, I feel.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-59686901701638873822009-11-12T10:27:50.773+08:002009-11-12T10:27:50.773+08:00As a former GEP student with siblings both inside ...As a former GEP student with siblings both inside and outside the GEP, I can tell you that it is the nature of people to point, whisper and compare. The comparisons extend beyond your siblings to your non-GEP friends / schoolmates - all the way from primary school to secondary school and beyond. I think that whether it becomes something beneficial or not depends on both the personality of the child and the attitude of the parents.<br /><br />But if you were to ask me whether I enjoyed and benefited from my 10 years there, my answer would be yes. And were there adjustment difficulties going in and coming out, also yes - but I believe that it is part of the process of self discovery.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-33793567912238638412009-11-12T01:43:15.336+08:002009-11-12T01:43:15.336+08:00He should just send his kids to a private school.He should just send his kids to a private school.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-37229565752876794792009-11-11T21:04:02.296+08:002009-11-11T21:04:02.296+08:00"That is also a *great* disadvantage because ..."That is also a *great* disadvantage because society is not full of quirky cerebral people and sooner or later, your kid will have to learn that society is less accommodating of such people."<br /><br />How is that a disadvantage? Your kid will learn to push the boundaries. That's what gets people ahead in life, not conforming to the state of the masses.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-62714530087455243832009-11-11T18:40:55.034+08:002009-11-11T18:40:55.034+08:00"A prophet is despised in his own country, an..."A prophet is despised in his own country, and in his own house, and among his own kindred." -Mark 6:4Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-92097683273821180392009-11-11T16:09:42.960+08:002009-11-11T16:09:42.960+08:00Not exactly relevant, but thought I share this art...Not exactly relevant, but thought I share this article -<br /><br />Disadvantages of an elite education<br />http://www.theamericanscholar.org/the-disadvantages-of-an-elite-education/<br /><br />But I still say, go for it. =DAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-21524298920819072912009-11-11T15:33:33.964+08:002009-11-11T15:33:33.964+08:00I know this will be irrelevant.
Being a good cit...I know this will be irrelevant. <br /><br />Being a good citizen, I am curious to find out why and in what way, our government allow foreigners to have free education (I assume it is paid by tax payer) in Singapore and to serve other country upon graduation (without a bond) when there are so many locals that do not have a chance to recieve an education in our very own universities?<br /><br />From the article:<br />"The scholarship covers three to four years of tertiary study depending on the discipline, return airfare, full tuition and a living allowance of $4,300 per year (approximately P142,000).<br /><br />Scholars will be selected based on their academic merit, leadership qualities and potential to contribute to the Philippines' development.<br /><br />They are expected to return to the country after graduation.<br /><br />Applicants must be Filipino citizens with excellent academic records and a good command of English."<br /><br />source:<br />http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/community/view/20091109-235147/Acceptance-of-Singapore-scholarship-starts-Nov-16<br /><br />I hope to Mr Wong can consider to write an entry of your thought for this issue.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-30943478564838813822009-11-11T15:03:57.926+08:002009-11-11T15:03:57.926+08:00My friend who was working in Canada had his kids i...My friend who was working in Canada had his kids in an IB school there. He moves around so his kids had to change schools once in a while.<br /><br />The kids are now in a US University. One of them came over for exchange programme with one of our Universities. The kid interacted with the students and had this feedback.<br /><br />He found those IB kids from that IB school in Singapore unimpressive. There was a huge difference (lack of) in social skills, "class", "life", "intensity" compared to those IB students in schools outside of Singapore. It seems to point to one thing, that our education system, is indeed stifling. No matter what outside programme we attempt to put in.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-36530221822211132002009-11-11T15:00:36.873+08:002009-11-11T15:00:36.873+08:00Let's play spot-the-GEPer!
Many of them are...Let's play spot-the-GEPer! <br /><br />Many of them are now in public life and pushing 40. <br /><br />Any guesses, anyone?Ex-GEP-spotternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-70092687852536222942009-11-11T13:34:57.764+08:002009-11-11T13:34:57.764+08:00The educational benefits of being in the primary s...The educational benefits of being in the primary school GEP are overblown. Poetry, Greek mythology, Fibonacci numbers, etc can all be learned, by a bright primary school kid, *outside* of the programme. I learned many of these things on my own simply by reading voraciously in the old National Library while attending the GEP in ACPS. Kids at that age are naturally very curious and can soak up information like a sponge. A sufficiently involved parent can replicate most of the educational benefits and more.<br /><br />The primary advantage, as pointed out some of the posters here, is that you can get to hang out with very bright schoolmates. For many people, it will be the most cerebral company they ever keep for the rest of their life. Kids at that age with similar interests are quite good at keeping one another occupied. <br /><br />That is also a *great* disadvantage because society is not full of quirky cerebral people and sooner or later, your kid will have to learn that society is less accommodating of such people.Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04726805279916950590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-74791330839735657972009-11-11T13:00:15.382+08:002009-11-11T13:00:15.382+08:00@Stephen
Good luck with your boys. It may have b...@Stephen<br /><br />Good luck with your boys. It may have been a case of a close-shave cutoff for your 2nd kid. Appeal directly to the GEP Branch in MOE; there's a good chance of sympathies for twins.<br /><br />As for quirky, intelligent people -- they are everywhere in the world. It's true they tend to cluster in Singapore cos of GEP, but the same could be said of a good univ. faculty, or specialised community, or some workplaces, esp if one goes outside Singapore.<br /><br />I note also that Anon made a "LOL" comment so it was at least half in jest. No need to be touchy!<br /><br />All the best finding your peers and soulmates.Insidernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-52413286463945748892009-11-11T11:51:06.025+08:002009-11-11T11:51:06.025+08:00Hi Onlooker: To be fair to Anon, from experience, ...Hi Onlooker: To be fair to Anon, from experience, the eccentricity quotient on average in a bunch of GEP (or ex-GEP) students -is- higher than in a bunch of non-GEP students. Not sure if the eccentricity is caused by the GEP experience or is already inherent in the selected kids, but that is how it is.<br /><br />- Anon at November 10, 2009 10:50 AMAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-55479955150988144682009-11-11T04:05:33.148+08:002009-11-11T04:05:33.148+08:00As a former "gepper", I would strongly e...As a former "gepper", I would strongly encourage the boy to take the chance and enroll in the programme. In any case, the twins could quite possibly end up in different schools in the end. My brother took the GEP test a year after I did. He got in and we attended the same primary school, but two years later we were posted to different secondary schools based on our PSLE results. <br /> <br />My first few months in GEP were tough - I failed the GEP math exams repeatedly. They were much more challenging than normal exams (although I eventually scored A* in the PSLE math paper, my school average was 50-60). I believe, however, that my experience in the GEP has made me more prepared to take up challenges, both academic and personal. <br /><br />The classroom environment was extremely stimulating - I remember having political debates with my GEP classmates when we were 10 years old, our political consciousness being heightened by the fact that our school was situated in a very contested electoral district and one of my classmates being an MP's son. Many of said classmates are now studying in top universites worldwide, and one is a President's Scholar. To be sure, the environment is rather elitist (I was one out of 3 students in my class to live in a HDB flat) but I would say being in such an environment made me more sensitive to social (and other) inequalities rather than the inverse, and I never hesitated to engage in debate on such issues when the opportunity arose. Perhaps that's what makes the GEP special - you're encouraged to develop your own ideas rather than being told what to do - and that's the best experience any child can have.<br /><br />(N.B. it's Gifted <i>Education</i> Programme, not Gifted <i>Enrichment</i> Programme)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-82021173995001056852009-11-10T23:25:22.861+08:002009-11-10T23:25:22.861+08:00Hi Gilbert,
thx a lot for this post. I consider it...Hi Gilbert,<br />thx a lot for this post. I consider it and the comments most helpful. Ernest is really struggling with the idea to leave his school friends behind, so seeing all the encouragement was motivating. I spoke to some of the GEP schools and they at least would take Anthony in for the regular program. I will try the appeal as recommended by "Anonymous" :-)<br />Thx again to all for chipping in.<br />:-) Stephan<br /><br />P.S.: I actually consider myself rather a migrant than an expat. I left Germany for good and work on local T&C. <a href="http://www.dragontamer.net" rel="nofollow">My wife</a> being Singaporean surly helped to leave Europe behind.Stephan H. Wisselhttp://www.wissel.net/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-65360558660891718672009-11-10T23:00:13.229+08:002009-11-10T23:00:13.229+08:00Clearly you just prove my point.Clearly you just prove my point.Onlookernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-78655626714621951512009-11-10T21:15:49.262+08:002009-11-10T21:15:49.262+08:00Gilbert....if your friend is keen, the window is s...Gilbert....if your friend is keen, the window is still open for an official appeal.... they do try to keep twins together. But do it NOW.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-22568378027368809432009-11-10T20:28:21.761+08:002009-11-10T20:28:21.761+08:00Onlooker at November 9, 2009 11:30 PM:
Please, On...Onlooker at November 9, 2009 11:30 PM:<br /><br />Please, Onlooker. Fibonacci numbers are numbers that are part of the Fibonacci sequence. Perhaps it's stifling for people who don't see outside of the system.<br /><br />Anonymous at:<br />November 10, 2009 10:56 AM <br />November 10, 2009 2:10 PM<br /><br />Because clearly people who have this opinion don't go out enough, am I right? Clearly such opinions cannot possibly reflect anything but a narrow-minded person who hasn't made any remote attempt at finding like-minded individuals outside of the GEP.<br /><br />Clearly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-59490041522143640912009-11-10T14:10:33.964+08:002009-11-10T14:10:33.964+08:00"Having completed the programme more than 10 ..."Having completed the programme more than 10 years ago, I have never met a bunch of people who were anywhere as intellectual, quirky, passionate, and delightful. Not in JC, NS, uni, or at the workplace."<br /><br />-- lol you need to get out more.<br /><br /><br />ditto.<br /><br />-donAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com