First, notice the class size. There are a lot of really cute kids packed into those classrooms. A lot of kids. In the primary grades, the "ideal" class size is pegged at 35 to 40 students.
Second, notice the lack of technology. Not a single computer, calculator, clicker, or gizmo of any sort. Take a close look at the frame at 2:14 -- how old fashioned is that?! -- a pull down screen for a projected image (rather than the standard SMART board we see all over in the US schools). But you see lots and lots of books, pencils and paper.
So how does Singapore do it? How do they achieve world class results with no SMART boards or calculators, with big classes of little kids?
Last fall, the Chair of our local board of education stated in a Public Forum that Singapore gets such good results because they have better parents and a culture that values education. He also wanted more money. (I'm paraphrasing, and my apologies to the Chair if I am misrepresenting what he said. I invite him to correct the statement if he disagrees.)
But I disagree. Singapore clearly values education and it is seen as the way to success, wealth, and happiness. In the U.S., our kids seem to believe that the way to success, wealth, and happiness is through a spot on American Idol, so he may have something there.
The answer to Singapore's success, and the best hopes for turning around the U.S. education system, is in the quality of the teaching core. Here's an interesting point about Singapore teachers -- they have a strong union. We don't need to destroy the teachers union to improve education.
Here's another interesting point about the Singapore teacher training system:
Singapore now has one of the world’s highest-performing education systems — but it was not always so. In the early 1970s, less than half of Singapore’s students reached fourth grade. Teachers were hired en masse, with little attention to quality.
Singapore soon identified teacher quality as key to improving educational outcomes — and government policy has been instrumental in identifying and nurturing teaching talent. Today, Singapore offers teaching internships for top-performing students starting in high school. It carefully selects promising adolescents from the top third of high school seniors and offers them a competitive monthly stipend while still in school.
In exchange, these teacher candidates must commit to teaching for at least three years and serving diverse students. After these bright, committed students undergo a rigorous teacher education program and become teachers, they receive 100 hours of professional development per year to keep up with changes in classroom instruction and to improve their practice.(Uncommon Wisdom on Teaching)
They also have an excellent curriculum. Good teaching is important but so is a curriculum and good instructional material which they have in spades. Good teachers in the US who are forced to use the Investigations curriculum will teach kids what they need to know "on the sly". But in schools where teachers are monitored to implement poor programs "with fidelity", being a good teacher has little to do with the outcome.
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting to know if Singapore's teacher's union is able to negotiate such sweetheart deals for their members as post-retirement medical coverage and promise them exhorbitant pensions. It would also be interesting to know what would happen if the teachers in Singapore ever walked out of the classroom, sat in a government building for weeks on end, dressed in ridiculous costumes, and participated in drum circles.
ReplyDeleteOh - and it would be nice to know if the Singapore Teacher's Union is mandatory. If not, do non-members still have to pay to be out of the teacher's union?
ReplyDeleteHey Mia,
ReplyDeleteI used this great thing called "the internet" to research exactly the questions you have. It worked quite well.
Of course, Singapore has a system of universal health care. You can find a quick explanation of it on Wikipedia by googling "health insurance Singapore."
There are English language sites for both the main teachers union and their ministry of education. It looks like all teachers get a level of benefits, and if they pay to become full members, they also get representation from the union. That's remarkably like the union in my children's school district -- a small amount is taken out of every teacher's pay, if they join as a full member, they pay quite a bit more and receive more benefits.
You do know that many states do not allow teacher unions, right? Have you looked at how they rank in terms of achievement?
On one page I noted that teachers in Singapore have up to 30 sick days per year, not including an additional 30 days for more serious medical issues. Pretty cushy!
I'm a little confused by whatever link might exist between good or bad teaching and a pension. I hope Mia will connect the dots on that one for us as I'm missing the point. If you take away pensions and health care, would you expect a teacher to improve?
ReplyDelete30 days of sick leave? Wow! Interesting information about the Singapore teachers union.
Here in my little town, I think parents would riot in the streets if class sizes jumped from 22 kids in the third grade to 35 or 40.
Im from Singapore and actually, its the attitude and the way they teach. At the age of 12, we have an intensive end-of-year examination: Primary School Leaving Examination(PSLE). Let me tell you, some of our questions are really difficult. You can check the internet for some questions. And, we have "gifted classes" where we squeeze the top 1% in the cohort. We even learn the N term and sequences at 10!
ReplyDeleteFrom primary school, we use the model method. I cant really explain it because i would have to draw. then, during secondary school, we throw it away and use algebra instead. This change is smooth as the model method is basically algebra in bars diagrams.
Our teachers are also of top quality, they dont just teach, they also mark homework, plan lessons and also stay back to answer questions by students. They usually go home at 6.
Homework is also a very important part. We don't count homework in minutes, but rather, we give tons of them, and expect them to be handed in the next day. It is VERY intensive, not to be taken by just anybody. That is why we have the first two slack years, where we gradually increase the homework rate!