KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

Hi, Thanks for all the inputs and thoughts. Much appreciated. Yes agree kids to be more involved n stay back in school than waste time or get bored at home!

I have to take 2 CcA too like Esteema; And my boy is Ok to do so. Its just that my boy had mild anaemia. So a bit concerned and trying to make sure we dont over stretch him.

Will be happy to see him build his stamina over time and be a macho too! My hubby was in NCDCC also in army due to this anaemic condition that runs in family... They downgraded him after he was hospitalised.

So he recommended the same for his son.

Cheers! and thanks to this great support group!

what's the rationale behind, why some Sec schools imposed students take 2 Cca instead of just one ?

MA,
I’m also anaemic too since young. In my DNA too.

In pri sch, I was in brass band. In sec, I ended up in brass band too & heavier matching & lots of daily marching under hot sun & rain as my sec sch was amongst top 3 every year (so hv to keep ourselves in good practice & not slack). We’ve very grueling training. But guess every child is different.

Not many schools do 2 CCAs & the policy to enforce 2 is solely decision ofsch & Principal’s prerogative for many years. Every batch of students passing thro it’s gates hv done well to retain amongst top spot for high %tage of students achieving past 40 points in IB exams in Asia and many getting full 45 points.

IMO, youths shld maintain good active live to stay healthy & vibrant. Sunshine!

I wished that MOE should make all the schools put on their website how many times and when the CCA meets. This is very frustrating when they don't put much details in the school website. Then I also don't understand why CCA needs to go through test. Isn't CCA a form of social activities for teens to get to know more friends and learn skills? What is the true meaning of having CCA these days? It has seem to be like a competition. They encourage students to join CCA they like but if no slots, they are forced to join other CCA. Is there a meaning to it anymore?

mondecoinmetier wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 24, 2020 5:07 pm

I wished that MOE should make all the schools put on their website how many times and when the CCA meets. This is very frustrating when they don't put much details in the school website. Then I also don't understand why CCA needs to go through test. Isn't CCA a form of social activities for teens to get to know more friends and learn skills? What is the true meaning of having CCA these days? It has seem to be like a competition. They encourage students to join CCA they like but if no slots, they are forced to join other CCA. Is there a meaning to it anymore?

I don’t see how that information / details would be helpful on the website and why one has to be frustrated by these missing details. Different schools operate on different schedules - if you are champion school, I would think training at least 4 times a week during the season; if you are an after thought, 1 or max 2 times a week. If you are a student of the school, you should be aware of these information and if you are not a student of the school, this information is irrelevant to you. If you are a parent, you don’t get CCA points for participating, so I don’t see why you need to know. If you don’t trust your child in providing the right info, it is really just between the two of you.

CCA is a study of supply vs demand in an environment of finite resources. You can’t have every student choosing basketball but no one wants to be in the NCC. What are you going to do with 299 basketballers and 1 NCC cadet? As Schools allocate resources to every CCA, its understandable that they have to ensure that the CCA can continue to function. Hence, have to limit the size of CCA and “encourage” people to choose others.

@ floppy Think some parents searching for answers to decide which CCA they will advise their kids to take. Some parents don’t focus on kid’s interests but what they perceived as ‘time waster’. Then again, there are parents who wld expand least time & energy so their kids shld expand least for non-academic activities. Guess very bz oriented calculation lah.

Think for parents looking for more information than any sch can provide shld go for the target sch’s Open-House to ask all your specific questions. Sch hv no obligations to provide anymore details, which may be subject to changes & the respective teacher-in-charge will not hv the time to administer. Do u’stand. No need to get frustrated.

floppy wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 24, 2020 6:56 pm

mondecoinmetier wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 24, 2020 5:07 pm

I wished that MOE should make all the schools put on their website how many times and when the CCA meets. This is very frustrating when they don't put much details in the school website. Then I also don't understand why CCA needs to go through test. Isn't CCA a form of social activities for teens to get to know more friends and learn skills? What is the true meaning of having CCA these days? It has seem to be like a competition. They encourage students to join CCA they like but if no slots, they are forced to join other CCA. Is there a meaning to it anymore?

I don’t see how that information / details would be helpful on the website and why one has to be frustrated by these missing details. Different schools operate on different schedules - if you are champion school, I would think training at least 4 times a week during the season; if you are an after thought, 1 or max 2 times a week. If you are a student of the school, you should be aware of these information and if you are not a student of the school, this information is irrelevant to you. If you are a parent, you don’t get CCA points for participating, so I don’t see why you need to know. If you don’t trust your child in providing the right info, it is really just between the two of you.

CCA is a study of supply vs demand in an environment of finite resources. You can’t have every student choosing basketball but no one wants to be in the NCC. What are you going to do with 299 basketballers and 1 NCC cadet? As Schools allocate resources to every CCA, its understandable that they have to ensure that the CCA can continue to function. Hence, have to limit the size of CCA and “encourage” people to choose others.

Perhaps you don't see the way I do. I just don't want my child to spent too much time on CCA. If a CCA have activities three times week or even more. Especially for uniform group, they spent alot of time doing alot of activities. I know coz I was once in the uniform group myself. My child get exhausted then where does he have the energy to keep up with studies? Plus, "encourge" these days seems more like force the students to pick other CCA which they don't like and have to be stuck to it for next 4 years. Besides, MOE states "CCAs are an integral part of our students’ holistic education. Through CCA, students discover their interests and talents while developing values and competencies that will prepare them for a rapidly changing world. CCA also promotes friendships among students from diverse backgrounds as they learn, play and grow together. Participation in CCA fosters social integration and deepens students’ sense of belonging, commitment and sense of responsibility to school, community and nation." It is nothing like what you say as "a study of supply vs demand in an environment of finite resources."

Estéema wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 24, 2020 7:28 pm

@ floppy Think some parents searching for answers to decide which CCA they will advise their kids to take. Some parents don’t focus on kid’s interests but what they perceived as ‘time waster’. Then again, there are parents who wld expand least time & energy so their kids shld expand least for non-academic activities. Guess very bz oriented calculation lah.

Think for parents looking for more information than any sch can provide shld go for the target sch’s Open-House to ask all your specific questions. Sch hv no obligations to provide anymore details, which may be subject to changes & the respective teacher-in-charge will not hv the time to administer. Do u’stand. No need to get frustrated.

Esteema for understand where I am coming from. You are correct. As a parent, aren't we all there for our children; to advise the best step? Or do we let them fall and pick up the pieces for them? Yes you are right! We have no time! School have no obligations!

Just sharing again, I’ve shared a few years previously.

My child currently takes 2 CCAs. Both his choices, tho he was more keen with one other UG.

P1 CCA activity was my choice, but thereafter, we always go thro all the various CCAs for kids to discuss & ponder the activities before they sign up. Each year, they take on diff CCAs, but DS in P4 took up tennis & repeated same CCA for P5 and tried Soccer & repeated soccer in P6 but dropped tennis. By P6, most parents very kanchiong to get their kids off CCA bcoz want to squeeze all time for PSLE prep. DS wanted to continue tho w/o his peers, he was happy to kick ard with the lower Pri kids. By sec sch, CCAs itvis all kids’ choices. We don’t dictate coz they’ve to take responsibilities for their choices.

I’ve shared that for us parents, we look at CCAs as part of their develop to balance their heavy academic ‘burden’. When they’re well stretched, esp sports activities, it helps in their blood circulation & brings more endorphins which helps them focus better in their studies.

The other thing I’ve shared was the peace of mind we get as parents, knowing they are safe within sch compounds then hv too much ‘idle’ time on their hands & the last thing I hope they’ll get into too much gadget time. In fact, we’ve signed up additional PathFinder enrichment learning that the sch made available & those additional skills help with Presentation skills in their project work; robotics that adds to their logical thinking skills; Time Mgt which hopefully helps too.

Today, I’m thankful to see my kids lead purposeful & active school life. Always kept busy with both studies & competition (in sports, Math/Biology/Chemistry/Physics Olympaids, sports meets & national competitions, etc). DS knows he’s got proj & hmwk to balance & recently he learnt to complete his Chinese tuition work right after tutor assigned so he hv time for his proj meetings with peers. When there is long sch holidays, DS took on an extra language outside fr MOELC bcoz of interest. I’m more than happy to see such busy schedule & yet he’s kept to his early sleepings hours at 9/9.30pm latest. Weekends he nvr missed family dinner with grandparents.

I don’t suggest every child do 2 CCAs, but it’s all abt training the child to make their own choices & enjoy everything they do. That, I feel helps them succeed in a wholesome sch life.

I believe most schools would have conducted CCA-open-house or some equivalent in which all the sec1s can go and see and ask whatever questions they want. Your child should have had the chance to go and try out (for interest) or find out the weekly frequency (if the intent is to not "waste time" on CCA).

Typical secondary school procedures are to let the students go handle things on their own; and discourage parents from micromanaging. This is unlike primary schools, so you're probably going to have to adapt to this way of working going forward. If you want to get the info to advise your child, then you need to tell him/ her to go and find out certain info before the decision.

As for Floppy's comment on demand/ supply - that's absolutely accurate in that the schools need to have a spread of CCAs (sports/ performance arts/ clubs/ uniform groups) but it is simply not possible for them to have unlimited number of students opting to go into a particular CCA - space/ coaches/ time restraints. They also need to have at least a critical mass of students in other CCAs.

And yes, we are all here for our children and there are differing views on how to manage that, which is fine. Some prefer to manage and plan things out - some prefer to let the school manage it and allow their children to experience failure. Same with how parents view CCAs - I am of the view that it is not a waste of time and my daughter enjoys her training plus I think it will add to her memories/ attachment/ growth in the school. But you're also not wrong nor alone in wanting to lessen time spent on CCAs and focus on academics. To each his own.