'Us vs them' view of students disturbing GEP a boon for talented
pupils
Tuesday November 22, 2005
Letter from Kelly Koh Ben-Lin
Letter from Chaitali Tarafdar
In her zealous defence of Gifted Education Programme (GEP)
students, Michelle Qiu ("A second look at the gift", Nov 21)
displays a sense of, at best, brash arrogance and, at worst,
condescension and a superiority complex.
While I do not want to believe she represents the typical GEP
student, it would be worrying if many "GEPers" (as they call
themselves) had such an "us-them" mentality.
Aside from proclaiming "mainstreamers" (what a patronising term!)
to be immature, she is thrilled the programme allowed her to
interact exclusively with "people like us".
For a "gifted" student, she is quick to make sweeping
generalisations that "everyone" in the mainstream follows trends,
almost insinuating that "ungifted" people have no minds of their
own.
It is fine if Michelle and her group of like-minded friends
continue to live in their ivory towers, associating only with
members of this chosen fraternity, keeping out of the lives of the
"mainstream". Unfortunately, many may end up with scholarships and
eventually hold public office, where their policies will affect the
"mainstream" and the "masses".
I shudder to think what kind of empathy there can be when, from the
onset, these young people display such an elitist "us" versus
"them" mentality.
This is probably an alarmist scenario, but picture this: A group of
key decision makers decide that the general population is rather
immature and cannot possibly have minds of their own.
As such, everyone with an IQ below 150 should be systematically
eradicated. Such a mentality would please Adolf Hitler.
My daughter will join the GEP in January. The GEP branch sent us
materials highlighting the curriculum. The briefing was also
elaborate, giving a clear idea that students would have to work
hard.
I asked my daughter if she was still willing to go for it she
enthusiastically and repeatedly nodded.
Five other parents I know whose children are joining the course
likewise did not pressure their children. Another parent of a child
who is in his third year of GEP says he enjoys it.
Strangely, though the programme is criticised as a heavy burden for
small shoulders, there are many siblings in the programme. If
parents felt it was a nightmare, it is unlikely they would allow
another child to enroll.
As Singaporeans, it is easy to overlook the plight of talented
young people in other countries who, lacking the chance to nurture
their talents, are forced to leave their homelands. Here, talented
children are identified and nurtured.
So let us try to see the merits of the programme, rather than only
the demerits.
