RECENT revelations by parents on how their children are being deprived by schools of their term breaks to complete projects or study for exams, or both, suggest the following:
- poor time management;
- over-zealous or too much teaching;
- not recognising the need for children to rest; and
- the belief that more is better.
The allotted curriculum time and term time should be adequate in imparting whatever knowledge students need without having to encroach on the students' holidays.
It's generally accepted that term time is sacrosanct and should not be siphoned off for non-educational purposes.
Why shouldn't the school vacation be likewise left alone for the benefit of the students?
There's much that the students can do during school holidays: reading outside school texts, travelling, playing sports, or just enjoying the respite, all of which can contribute to their learning and development.
Learning is supposed to be an enjoyable experience.To make it any less so by needless overloading and depriving our students of rest and recreation would be counter-productive.
Lee Seck Kay
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_547818.html
Holiday homework blues
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_547819.html
'School holidays are the best time for students to learn.'
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_547996.html
School breaks important for catch-ups
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_547816.html
Tuition factor
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_547995.html
Holiday homework
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_547916.html
Adopt a balanced approach
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_547915.html
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Exchange traded products
An important reform under the reforms being considered in America is for certain types of derivatives to be traded on an exchange. This ensures that the contracts and prices are transparent and that the financial risks are properly accounted for.
I encourage invesrors to invest in exchange traded products, for transparency and fair pricing, and to avoid all types of structured products that are issued by financial institutions (to achieve their sales and profit targets) that are not traded on an exchange.
Read Practical Guide on Financial Planning.
Tan Kin Lian
I encourage invesrors to invest in exchange traded products, for transparency and fair pricing, and to avoid all types of structured products that are issued by financial institutions (to achieve their sales and profit targets) that are not traded on an exchange.
Read Practical Guide on Financial Planning.
Tan Kin Lian
Sustainable Cities and Transport
Singapore has just hosted the World Cities Summit. It would have been a wonderful opportunity to showcase our previously lauded world class transport system, except that it had lost is lustre in recent years due to inadequate new infrastructure to meet the large increase in population.
Like many other large cities, Singapore roads are congested with private cars and other types of traffic. We also face inadequate parking space for the private cars at the homes and workplaces. Instead of building more roads, commuter lines and parking lots, we have to find innovative ways to deal with the universal challenge of moving people to work and back home.
I suggest that new towns be developed as a large car free zone. Commuting within the town should be by public transport in the form of feeder buses, taxis, shared cars and shared bicycles. The local transport will move the people to the train station, bus interchange, town center or the fringe car parks. Private cars can be used from the fringe car parks to travel on the highways to other parts of the city that are still dependent on private transport.
The new towns should be planned with the aim of encouraging people to live, work and study in the same town and avoid the need to commute long distances. The cost of buying and selling properties should be reduced, e.g. by removing the stamp duty, to encourage people to move to a new home that is close to their place of work.
This will lead to sustainable cities and a better quality of life. Perhaps when Singapore hosts the World Cities Summit again in the future, we will have a good showcase.
Tan Kin Lian
Like many other large cities, Singapore roads are congested with private cars and other types of traffic. We also face inadequate parking space for the private cars at the homes and workplaces. Instead of building more roads, commuter lines and parking lots, we have to find innovative ways to deal with the universal challenge of moving people to work and back home.
I suggest that new towns be developed as a large car free zone. Commuting within the town should be by public transport in the form of feeder buses, taxis, shared cars and shared bicycles. The local transport will move the people to the train station, bus interchange, town center or the fringe car parks. Private cars can be used from the fringe car parks to travel on the highways to other parts of the city that are still dependent on private transport.
The new towns should be planned with the aim of encouraging people to live, work and study in the same town and avoid the need to commute long distances. The cost of buying and selling properties should be reduced, e.g. by removing the stamp duty, to encourage people to move to a new home that is close to their place of work.
This will lead to sustainable cities and a better quality of life. Perhaps when Singapore hosts the World Cities Summit again in the future, we will have a good showcase.
Tan Kin Lian
FIFA World Cup - Quarter Finals
Of the 8 countries that qualified for the quarter finals, 4 are in South America (i.e Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay), 3 are from Europe (i.e. Germany, Spain and Nederlands) and 1 from Africa (Ghana). The South American teams have done quite well. So sad, that the 3 Asian teams (i.e Japan, North Korea and South Korea) were eliminated.
Passing the buck
This expatriate wants to set up a representative office in Singapore. He has to go from one agency to another. No agency wish to take the responsibility to assist him. It is a common behavior in Singapore. Read this letter.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Video - Wisdom on how to live life
Dr. Tommy Wong introduces his book, "wisdom on how to live life" in this video (now replaced by a new video).
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