Be the first in a C class OR last in an A class?
Where would you rather be in school ? Or more precisely, where would you rather have your children? Be the top student in an average class or come in the last in the top class?
What are your thoughts? What are your experiences?
I’ll be collecting your feedback and blog my views.
Hit comment OR
if you wish to be anonymous, email me at alpha.orinis@gmail.com
What are your thoughts? What are your experiences?
I’ll be collecting your feedback and blog my views.
Hit comment OR
if you wish to be anonymous, email me at alpha.orinis@gmail.com
posted by Orion | 10:59 PM
10 Comments:
last in the top class. he would be mixing with smarter/hardworking people in that class. hopefully it will all rub into him.
I asked a similar question recently. Do you want to be
"exceptionally unexceptional OR unexceptionally exceptional"
i think it's synonymous to your question.
My opinion would be: to be last in an A class. As paul put it....mixing with hardworking/smarter students is benefitial in long run.
Top in an average class. Because :
(1) he would be promoted to a better class next year as a result
(2) the mental devastation and consequences that comes from the humiliation and inferiority complex suffered by being last in class is not to be understated. That is why in Australia, no school ever grades children like that. If my kid should come last, I would keep the info from him if it were within my control.
(3) ideally my kid would be influenced by those just as smart or slightly smarter. Let him progress by achievable small steps. Certainly not pushed into the deep end, overwhelmed by a sea of children tons smarter as he would be if he comes last in the top class.
(4) I want my kid to be happy first, then take on the challenges one by one with lots of help from mummy and daddy
timkerbell: the child would probably have already gone through (1) to get to his last in first class position.
Guys and Gals
Your kids is one thing - but what are your personal experiences ? And how much of what you have experienced in your school life influences where you'd like to see your offspring in this context ?
The plot thickens ...
Young children rarely have preconceptions about standards like 'exceptional' or 'superior', to begin with. It is always from us adults that they form impressions of what's worthy or valued or not.
And, ultimately, some kid is gonna have to be in the "last in the top class" position. Or in brutally honest terms: last of the last, at the bottom of the heap, for that matter. What does our pre-occupation (obsession?) on this matter say about our society? That those who can’t perform academically are losers? Which is exactly why we really don’t want our kids in that ‘lowly’ position?
So come to think of it, perhaps the root issue is really the adult concept of exceptional-superior-inferior, which, in truth we not only construct, but which we subscribe to, AND (unfairly?) impose on the kids！
Think about it: Is the 'last in top class' really as unfavorable and potentially detrimental to self-esteem as it seems?
Rather than doing all in our power to protect kids against the negative effects of such value systems that emphasise academic performance, to the exclusion of all other social/moral values, should we consider the need to adjust our mindsets by reevaluating the benefit-harms of such a flawed value system?
Might we not，perhaps find in that 'scorned position' some small measure of merit in terms of character-building, strength and pride that is rooted in a less discriminating, more balanced and liberating value system altogether?
Or perhaps it means we need to devote more effort to developing self-esteem in the child before they leave the 'safety' of home and become subject to value judgements that may affect their confidence, self-worth and esteem.
Are we, inspite and despite all our fierce parental instincts of love and protection and absolute devotion, really protecting them from the harsh realities of life, realities we in our own questionable wisdom, have actually created for them?
Hi Paul, if the child had already gone through (1) then it is a good likelihood that he was not ready for the top class then. Having been demoted to class C and coming up top, he should now be ready to try again in a better class.
Orion, personal experiences.....in std 1 I was in the bottom class, but from the following year onwards, was always in the top class in good schools.
From personal experience, if you recognize a streak of ambition and the abilities, the child would do best when put in the top class in a top school.
But encouragement and assistance can only do so much unless the child has a minimal level of academic ability. I have seen this so clearly with siblings of widely contrasting academic abilities.
It is best to cater to specific needs of each individual child.
In my children's school, they mix the years up so that the children have a better chance to develop at their own pace.
My experience I was always in the 1st class but always few last ones behind. Did not do too well academically, just managed through with sheer luck.
Maybe I am street smart.
My thoughts for my kids ; whatever class be it 1st class or last class.As long as they try their best and put in hard work in their studies.I am happy.
Example:my daughter she was in 3rd class but when the std 6 exam she shocked us by getting 5A.
speaking from my own experience, i have been in the average class and the top class (f4 n 5) before.. and it really boils down to how interested the person is in their work and the people they mix with in their class.. i was never one who adopted the policy of * i must score straight A's! * .. always studied enough to be amongst the top 10 and that sufficed.. but in f4 n 5 i had 3 close frens
1 - very hardworking although only in top 20
2 - extremely hardworking and is top in class (and in whole of art stream.. we were in a sub-art class)
3 - hardworking and really smart, dont have to do much to score
with the 3, i came to realise, i dont want to be left behind and worked at it.. and achieved where i wanted to be at the end
so all in all, though parents play a very influencial role, i'd say peers play a stronger role in studies and play than do parents =)
When I was in my primary, I was the last few in the bottom few classes. Scores does not matter to me, nor to my parents. Though they did not push me in my study, they did put a lot of moral values into me. I think that is more important than pushing your children to score straigh A's or be at the top class.
I agree with Jean that peers play a really important role in our future. We tends to listen to peers more than to our parents. I'd say I obey my parents rather than listen. I never really push myself to study harder until after my Remove Class (I was chinese educated), where I mixed with a group of really good friends that affect my thinking about studying.
Since then, my interests in books and study grew stronger and stronger. Scores and grade system gave us a very good tool to measure ourselves so that we can set a target to hit. It does not matter if you are not in the top class now (if we're not fit, we are not fit, do not force). Know where you stand, and set your next target. But, if you think you or your children is fit to be at the top class, go for it!
If you ask me, I'd prefer to "be the first in a C class" first, then work myself up to the "first in an A class".
There is a chinese saying, "If you do not have big head, do not wear a hat that is too big".
Even if I can not meet the target that I set, that's fine. That's not the end of the world, I still gain. I also get to meet and mixed around with a wider range of people rather than just the top classes ones. If you think that you'll not mix around with the people in A class when you in the C class, you are wrong! It's true if you are just a book worm and don't join school activities where you can mix and socialise with various classes of people. That was what I did during my remove class. Sometimes, being at the top classes we tends to think more about IQ but forgot about the importance of EQ. In school, we can excel with just IQ, but in real working world, we need EQ as well in order to excel - facts of life.
Post a Comment
<< Home