The case for quality early childhood education
Straits Times, 28 July 2006
INDEED, our children of the society deserve the best educational opportunities we can afford to give them as childhood comes only once. This writer has proven that studies show that children are better educated from a young age, they are also more productive as adults and are less likely to require welfare and other public assistance. However, i disagree with him that we should all begin sending children to kindergardens at earlier ages than the usual 5 to 7 years old. I do not support his view that in order to achieve the best outcomes for our future generations and country with limited resources and talent, we push the child to have structured early learning. I feel that this deprives the children of their childhood. Where has all the past times for children gone to? The memory of these new generations will only have memory of their past time as studying and more studying. Yes, it is good to nurture the child in different aspects such as music, arts, sports, science, math, history, but aren't they too much for such young and naive beings?
INDEED, our children of the society deserve the best educational opportunities we can afford to give them as childhood comes only once. This writer has proven that studies show that children are better educated from a young age, they are also more productive as adults and are less likely to require welfare and other public assistance. However, i disagree with him that we should all begin sending children to kindergardens at earlier ages than the usual 5 to 7 years old. I do not support his view that in order to achieve the best outcomes for our future generations and country with limited resources and talent, we push the child to have structured early learning. I feel that this deprives the children of their childhood. Where has all the past times for children gone to? The memory of these new generations will only have memory of their past time as studying and more studying. Yes, it is good to nurture the child in different aspects such as music, arts, sports, science, math, history, but aren't they too much for such young and naive beings?
posted by Ria~ @ 8:13 PM
2 Comments:
At 12:46 AM,
Charmaine said…
A child is at an impressionable stage in life, and thus must have important values ingrained in them early. This does not mean however that we have to force feed them an intense programme "designed by experts" to ensure that they have the best possible education.
The best education, after all, may be letting them learn by themselves and encouraging their natural curiosity.
At 11:11 PM,
Elizabeth said…
The society have always believed in early education. However, they failed to question why is there a need to education? Education were being brought forward to broaden our minds by allowing us to gain better exposure to the world. Education is not only about factual learnings but moral learnings too.Unfortunately, the government has reconstructed a one way track education where they focuses highly on academic achievements and not moral teachings, in order to gain a efficient workforce which will boost the economy. In my opinion, education has fail it's purpose when people are unable to adhere to their simple manners. Whatsmore, believing early education is beneficial.
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