Definition of a Good School
Recently a journalist asked for my views on highly anxious parents who lose sleep over the Primary 1 registration for their children.
Some parents were reported to have used fake addresses in the hope of getting their children into top schools. Others volunteered for school and community work to clock sufficient recognition so their children’s application move further up the queue. Yet there are others who purchase or rent homes near to their dream schools.
The scenario seems to be no different in some other countries in Asia and in the west.
A July 2013 USA Today article reported that like some parents across the USA, Chinese parents "plot and save to get their kids into the best possible schools." They will do what it takes to live in their enrolment districts of the best schools. Sky-high residential prices surround China's most coveted schools that feed into top high schools. Some newly-weds and even couples who are not yet married, hunt for apartments in popular school districts.
My response to my journalist friend on the Singapore situation included suggestions to make Education Minister Heng Swee Keat’s vision of “every school a good school” a reality. I had reckoned that when every school is a good school and perceived by parents to be so, then we would logically see less competition and anxiety. Some measures I suggested that include:
• Rotating top school principals to other schools which may be less popular.
• Ensuring the faster sharing of excellent resources whether in academics or non-academics subjects and make them accessible to all schools.
• Creating third-party testimonies by eg parents of existing students or independent education experts to highlight how students from the less popular schools have benefitted.
BUT WHAT MAKES A SCHOOLA GOOD SCHOOL?
The truth of the matter is this - depending on our value systems and life aspirations, many of us have different definitions of a good school.
If Singaporeans continue the commonly held view that good schools are only those that produce good academic results, I fear the root causes of stress will be here to stay.
In my view, a GOOD SCHOOL should be:
1. A school which recognises that students have different kinds of intelligences. Check Howard Gardner’s well-known theory of 8 multiple intelligences. Some are better in the arts or music, others are socially more competent, for instance. English, Maths and Science which cover primarily linguistic and logical-mathematical intelligences cannot be the key determinant of whether a student is competent or not;
2. A school which offers a through-train from preschool to primary school to secondary school. This will allow students, staff and parents to focus on at least one less high-stake exam such as the Primary Six Leaving Examination and give them precious time ;
3. A school which enrols students of all language, race, economic backgrounds and ability. This will create a natural setting for young people of diverse backgrounds to grow up together and not wait till they become grown ups to learn how to be inclusive and value differences;
4. A school which designs opportunities so that students who are more able in specific domains can help those who are less able or are different due to their special needs. This will allow service and character development to occur on a daily basis and not on a project basis;
5. A school which takes special care of students who are disadvantaged to enable them to have equal access to good nutrition, education and financial support;
6. A school which exposes students to more CCAs activities of their choice so they have a more enriching palette of leisure choices they can choose as adults;
7. A school which is equipped with the proper HR knowledge, skills and tools to (a) attract, develop and retain educators with both good character and competence; and one that has the courage to (b) exit those who lack the character and competence to work in the education sector.
Education, we all know, is a topic that is close to the hearts of many Singaporeans. Someone once quipped that many of us behave like mini education experts, with our differing opinions on what MOE should do - education, not an easy portfolio to run.
But if the majority of us can agree on some fundamental desirable principles on what constitutes a good school; and hopefully some ways by which we can get there, then Education Minister Swee Kiat’s vision of making every school a good school in Singapore will be a dream come true.
What is your definition of a good school?
Denise Phua Lay Peng/ My Paper’ Fortnightly Column/ 9 Sep 2013