onSponge recently interviewed our journal panelist Trevor who pulled all four of his kids from mainstream schools and placed them under a home schooling system. Trevor describes how he and his wife San San decided to do it, touches on the challenges, rewards and offers advice to others who might be thinking of doing the same!
onSponge: Please provide a brief introduction of yourself and family.
Trevor: I am a Financial Planner and my wife San San is a stay-home mom who also teaches piano from our home. We have four kids: our eldest Rebecca who is 15, followed by 13-year-old Reuben, 11-year-old Rachel and our youngest, five-year-old Ranice.
onSponge: We understand both you and your spouse decided a few years ago to move your four children into a home schooling system. Please share with onSponge readers your thoughts that led to this decision.
Trevor: It was primarily the stress of the mainstream education system for the kids and us as parents. Our family lifestyle revolved around the kids' education. The kids were constantly occupied with school work, tuition and exams. They had no leisure, no time even to learn music from mummy. So we started exploring alternatives and seeking God for a wholesome approach to education. Christian home schooling had been on our minds for several years before we took the step of faith to move the three older ones into the system.
onSponge: What are the major challenges, if any, that you faced then, and how did you overcome them?
Trevor: Major challenges were from our parents especially my in-laws who were retired teachers. They felt that home schooling has no proven track record and will not be recognized. We had to reassure them by exposing them to the system and the changes for the better that they can see in our kids. The achievements of the kids under the new system also gave them assurance that we are on the right track.
onSponge: Looking back, would you have done anything differently? If so, what would that be?
Trevor: We may have started our kids earlier! That would have saved them plus ourselves of at least one to two years of stress and anxiety.
onSponge: Do you have any advice to give other parents who might be thinking of doing the same for their children?
Trevor: Have an open mind. If you are Christian seek God for directions. Explore the alternatives to get a better understanding. Talk to parents and even educators on the options. The system works well for kids who want to learn and excel at their own pace. Kids can set their own pace, learn faster in their strong areas and take more time for their weaker subjects.
Tom: Appreciate further guidance
Jolene: Very brave
Trevor Tan: Guidance for alternative options
onSponge: Please provide a brief introduction of yourself and family.
Trevor: I am a Financial Planner and my wife San San is a stay-home mom who also teaches piano from our home. We have four kids: our eldest Rebecca who is 15, followed by 13-year-old Reuben, 11-year-old Rachel and our youngest, five-year-old Ranice.
onSponge: We understand both you and your spouse decided a few years ago to move your four children into a home schooling system. Please share with onSponge readers your thoughts that led to this decision.
Trevor: It was primarily the stress of the mainstream education system for the kids and us as parents. Our family lifestyle revolved around the kids' education. The kids were constantly occupied with school work, tuition and exams. They had no leisure, no time even to learn music from mummy. So we started exploring alternatives and seeking God for a wholesome approach to education. Christian home schooling had been on our minds for several years before we took the step of faith to move the three older ones into the system.
onSponge: What are the major challenges, if any, that you faced then, and how did you overcome them?
Trevor: Major challenges were from our parents especially my in-laws who were retired teachers. They felt that home schooling has no proven track record and will not be recognized. We had to reassure them by exposing them to the system and the changes for the better that they can see in our kids. The achievements of the kids under the new system also gave them assurance that we are on the right track.
onSponge: Looking back, would you have done anything differently? If so, what would that be?
Trevor: We may have started our kids earlier! That would have saved them plus ourselves of at least one to two years of stress and anxiety.
onSponge: Do you have any advice to give other parents who might be thinking of doing the same for their children?
Trevor: Have an open mind. If you are Christian seek God for directions. Explore the alternatives to get a better understanding. Talk to parents and even educators on the options. The system works well for kids who want to learn and excel at their own pace. Kids can set their own pace, learn faster in their strong areas and take more time for their weaker subjects.
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Comments (3)
1. What is a home schooling system?
2. Does it require education authority approval?
3. What kind of costs are involved?
My questions presuppose that home schooling is not simply parents teaching their kids at home because that would mean only qualified parents can do it...those with the necessary content and teaching qualification to do it effectively.
2. Does it require education authority approval?
3. What kind of costs are involved?
My questions presuppose that home schooling is not simply parents teaching their kids at home because that would mean only qualified parents can do it...those with the necessary content and teaching qualification to do it effectively.
1
September 08, 2008
cannot imagine overcoming the odds in singapore. and all 4 kids! are the curriculum tested elsewhere that gave you the confident. i don't think i can ever do that 
i very singaporean - kiasu
i very singaporean - kiasu 2
September 13, 2008
What is home schooling?
most home schooling systems are Christian education based. made popular in the U.S. where many parents do not want to send their kids to public school system where there is plently of violence and bad influences. our kids are on ACE by School of Tomorrow, one of the most popular system in Singapore. School of Tomorrow in the US designs the curriculum and the education materials are available thru' Teach Asia in Singapore. Some parents choose to 'home school' their kids at home while we send our kids to a education centre where there are 'professionals' to supervise their learning. if you need more info, check out the Teach Asia website or school of tommorrow site.
Do you need approval from MOE?
yes, if your child is borned in 1996 or after because they are affected by the Complusory Education Act. For our no. 3, we needed to seek approval from MOE. She also needs to sit for her PSLE next year when she is 12, which is required by law. Therefore, extra effort is needed to prepare her the exams. Both our older ones did not suffer the stress and anxiety of PSLE. Our kids will be preparing for the International Certificate of Christian Education (ICCE)in the UK which has been benchmarked against the Cambridge International Exams "O" and "A" levels. check Teach Asia website for details.
What is the cost?
Cost varies from $950 to $1,500 per term for fees (similar to public school system) depending on the centre (currently 3 in Singapore). Subject materials cost is about $650 annually depending on the child's pace. Comparing to public primary school, this is much higher. but if you included the cost of tuition, which was about $400 to $500 mthly, it works out to be cheaper. Secondary school fees for independent school is about $300 mthly and forgetting tuition which is at least $150 per subject.
Trevor
most home schooling systems are Christian education based. made popular in the U.S. where many parents do not want to send their kids to public school system where there is plently of violence and bad influences. our kids are on ACE by School of Tomorrow, one of the most popular system in Singapore. School of Tomorrow in the US designs the curriculum and the education materials are available thru' Teach Asia in Singapore. Some parents choose to 'home school' their kids at home while we send our kids to a education centre where there are 'professionals' to supervise their learning. if you need more info, check out the Teach Asia website or school of tommorrow site.
Do you need approval from MOE?
yes, if your child is borned in 1996 or after because they are affected by the Complusory Education Act. For our no. 3, we needed to seek approval from MOE. She also needs to sit for her PSLE next year when she is 12, which is required by law. Therefore, extra effort is needed to prepare her the exams. Both our older ones did not suffer the stress and anxiety of PSLE. Our kids will be preparing for the International Certificate of Christian Education (ICCE)in the UK which has been benchmarked against the Cambridge International Exams "O" and "A" levels. check Teach Asia website for details.
What is the cost?
Cost varies from $950 to $1,500 per term for fees (similar to public school system) depending on the centre (currently 3 in Singapore). Subject materials cost is about $650 annually depending on the child's pace. Comparing to public primary school, this is much higher. but if you included the cost of tuition, which was about $400 to $500 mthly, it works out to be cheaper. Secondary school fees for independent school is about $300 mthly and forgetting tuition which is at least $150 per subject.
Trevor
3
September 21, 2008
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