教育王國

標題: PARENT STATEMENT OF INTENT [打印本頁]

作者: hkmoron 時間: 13-9-1 01:32 標題: PARENT STATEMENT OF INTENT

To apply for ESF, now you have to write an essay!!

It is an expectation that all members of the ESF community are committed to the education we offer. Please tell us briefly:
a) why you want the applicant to attend an ESF school; and,
b) as parents/guardians, how you would be able to become actively involved in the school community (e.g. Parent Teacher Association, sharing career expertise and guidance, school fair, class volunteer, etc.) *(7.1)

作者: FattyDaddy 時間: 13-9-1 01:57

hkmoron 發表於 13-9-1 01:32
To apply for ESF, now you have to write an essay!!

Haha, that is just the first step, both parents will then need to be interviewed. Also, ESF will now verify passports to ensure at least 70% of their students possess foreign citizenship. These are some of the changes introduced this year, as a result of their subvention being ceased.

Good news for some, bad news for others.

作者: hkmoron 時間: 13-9-1 02:18

70%? Never heard of it. Any information in their website?

作者: FattyDaddy 時間: 13-9-1 03:32

hkmoron 發表於 13-9-1 02:18
70%? Never heard of it. Any information in their website?

Quoted from their webpage ...

"In line with the Education Bureau requirements, at least 70% of the total students enrolled will qualify as ‘non-local’, defined as being holders of an overseas passport."

http://www.esf.edu.hk/policy2013#1.%20Preface

作者: tcbobo 時間: 13-9-1 07:35 標題: 回覆：FattyDaddy 的帖子

ESF Interview 時一向要check passport, 好似唔係而家先開始check. Interview 時亦一向有副校長和家長見面, 講下小孩的事, 睇下你是否當係in埋家長。

作者: Mom2One 時間: 13-9-1 09:23

Actually the parent interaction will be much more formalized. Before, the parent(s) may speak informally with the school staff and teachers in a common waiting area while waiting for their child being interviewed in another room. Starting this year, the interview is actually one-on-one in an interview room and specific questions will be posed to the parents.

作者: nintendo 時間: 13-9-1 12:52 標題: 回覆：PARENT STATEMENT OF INTENT

以我仔女䜖ESF多年的觀察，根本各間國際學校（ including non EFS) 學生大部份部係「外藉」,我估而家各國際學校一早就 70% 非本地生。其實好多人有外國護照，就算是華裔面孔都可能是英藉加藉美藉，而同時鬼仔日本仔而可能因為是香港出生可以報稱為本地人。

事實，百份百本地人（沒外國護照，沒外聯繫的本地華裔）很少會選擇國際學校，始終長遠來說，用 non jupas 入本地大學情形不明朗，沒外藉去外國讀大學有好多限制，例如部份國家不容許外地生讀醫科法律，就算如英國是容許非當地人讀醫科法律，要找實習機會近乎零。

我覺得這個甚麼 70% 也只是一個表面功夫，對是否真的對將來申請情形會有多少影響，是未知之數。我就認為冇乜大影響。

作者: nintendo 時間: 13-9-1 12:58 標題: 引用：To+apply+for+ESF,+now+you+have+to+write+

原帖由 hkmoron 於 13-09-01 發表
To apply for ESF, now you have to write an essay!!

沒大不了，其實其他學校一早就有這要求。說是寫 essay 是誇張了，只是想家長說說自己對ESF的看法。
以往的 admission process 太求其，收了很多不能融入 ESF 的家庭。

作者: FattyDaddy 時間: 13-9-1 13:19

本帖最後由 FattyDaddy 於 13-9-1 13:31 編輯

nintendo 發表於 13-9-1 12:52
事實，百份百本地人（沒外國護照，沒外聯繫的本地華裔）很少會選擇國際學校 ...

This may have been true years ago, but the way in which the government has been messing around with local education has caused many Hongkongers to loose faith, and more and more 100% local families are looking towards international schools as an escape.

作者: chickchick 時間: 13-9-1 13:24

其實, parent statement 只係普通的問題, 寫得好與唔好, 對入學機會沒有大影響. 要見家長, esf並無詳細提及是甚麼形式. 現階段大家亦無從得知是不是 "both parents", 是不是 "one-on-one", 是不是 "interview room"....etc.... 還是等11月各小學發信通知interview, 才會得到多些資訊. 不要猜測太多吧.

如何改變, 也是小學生的面試. 相信小朋友的表現才是最重要. 再說, 見領事, 見移民官, 也是整個family一起見的吧! 現在又不是見工.....

passport年年都check, 這不是新事. 以前是小朋友自己入interview room (group interview), 我相信這亦不會改變. 學校亦會考慮我們遞交的kinder 成績表的. 作為家長, 在新制或舊制, 角色應該無大分別. 只是比多了些報名費和寫多幾行字,現場講多幾句話罷.

作者: nintendo 時間: 13-9-1 14:10

FattyDaddy 發表於 13-9-1 13:19
This may have been true years ago, but the way in which the government has been messing around with local education has caused many Hongkongers to loose faith, and more and more 100% local families are looking towards international schools as an escape.

其實本地教育出問題，在多年前母語教育就看到，到近兩年的 dse，就更令人憂心。
但有多少家庭，可以真的一下子會由傾向選擇本地教育，轉去選擇國際學校？
國際學校學費不便宜，不是一句 "loose faith" 就可以轉校，家長一定要計好數。
就算銀根不決，本地人讀國際學校也有點隱憂，以將來謀生出路來說，如果將來打算本地就業，就要顧住中文水平。除非是讀有較強中文課程的國際學校如 ycis，isf，singapore is 等，應該中文可以 "保得住，如果選 esf 或其他，就真的要考慮孩子將來在香港工作的問題。
因此，很多對本地教育失望的家庭，較傾向選擇留在傳統小學，到中學甚至高中才轉國際學校，甚至直接出國，這樣他們覺得起碼有點中文底子。
把口話 escape，好像很容易，但也要想想往後的路向，不是這樣簡單。

作者: FattyDaddy 時間: 13-9-1 15:14

本帖最後由 FattyDaddy 於 13-9-2 01:39 編輯

nintendo 發表於 13-9-1 14:10
本地人讀國際學校也有點隱憂，以將來謀生出路來說，如果將來打算本地就業，就要顧住中文水平 ...

I agree there are difficulties. In this forum, we often see people asking whether they should opt for international schools over local schools, and my answer to that has always been ... if the child will probably be spending most if not all his/her life in the greater China area, international schools may not be the right choice.

However, it is also undeniable that international schools have seen a surge in the number of applicants in recent years, meaning that people have weighed up all the consequences and still opted for international schools despite the drawbacks.

作者: nintendo 時間: 13-9-1 15:21

本帖最後由 nintendo 於 13-9-1 15:23 編輯

FattyDaddy 發表於 13-9-1 15:14
However, it is also undeniable that international schools have seen a surge in the number of applicants in recent years, meaning that people have weighted up all the consequences and still opted for international schools despite the drawbacks.

你說的多了學生，其實好多是回流香港的外國移民，這不是今天的事，是十年前就慢慢每年增多；亦有些是有外國 connection (工作，生意，護照等) 的大陸和台灣人。
我在國際學校社群 (包括 esf 和 non esf ) 多年來認識到的，真的不多是百份百 "本地" 香港人。
我沒有甚麼實際的數據，全憑在認識其他家長後得知他們的背景。
算了，不再討論，反正我真的沒實際數字，不想糾纏。

作者: FattyDaddy 時間: 13-9-1 15:29

nintendo 發表於 13-9-1 15:21
我沒有甚麼實際的數據，全憑在認識其他家長後得知他們的背景。 ...

We both agree that international schools is perhaps not the right choice for families who plan to stay put in this part of the world, the rest are just differences in perception, lets leave it at that.{:1_1:}

作者: 紅紅 時間: 13-9-1 15:38 標題: 回覆：PARENT STATEMENT OF INTENT

其實呢幾條問題都好普通，好多學校（不止是IS）都有問。

至於純本地冇外地護照的學生又真的不會多，老實講，IS收費不低，相信很多收入較高的家庭很多都有海外居留，而ESF純本地的學生大多是公務員子女？因為好似有資助（我都是聽返來，有錯請指正）？

作者: shadeslayer 時間: 13-9-1 17:51 標題: 引用：Quote:nintendo+發表於+13-9-1+15:21+我沒

原帖由 FattyDaddy 於 13-09-01 發表
We both agree that international schools is perhaps not the right choice for families who plan to st ...

What kind of good education is not suitable for families planning to stay out in HK/China?

作者: FattyDaddy 時間: 13-9-1 21:11

本帖最後由 FattyDaddy 於 13-9-1 21:26 編輯

shadeslayer 發表於 13-9-1 17:51
What kind of good education is not suitable for families planning to stay out in HK/China?

I don't know, what kind of good education is not suitable for anyone? Not sure I understood your question.

If you're asking why an international school education may not be suitable for local families planning to stay put in Hongkong, I believe our friend nintendo had already elaborated on that.

作者: pppwong 時間: 13-9-1 21:18 標題: 引用：+本帖最後由+FattyDaddy+於+13-9-1+13:31+

原帖由 FattyDaddy 於 13-09-01 發表
本帖最後由 FattyDaddy 於 13-9-1 13:31 編輯

Exactly

作者: pppwong 時間: 13-9-1 21:22 標題: 引用：Quote:hkmoron+發表於+13-9-1+02:18+70%?+N

原帖由 FattyDaddy 於 13-09-01 發表
Quoted from their webpage ...

"In line with the Education Bureau requirements, at least 70% of the ...

70% non local...bad news for me!!

作者: fanfanbb 時間: 13-9-1 21:37

nintendo 發表於 13-9-1 12:52
以我仔女䜖ESF多年的觀察，根本各間國際學校（ including non EFS) 學生大部份部係「外藉」,我估而家各國 ...

Other than the future prospect, the training means in international school also counts. Happened to discuss with my hubby this afternoon regarding IB, we buy IS instead of the traditional "duck feed".

Declare, my boy is holding a foreign passport

作者: shadeslayer 時間: 13-9-2 01:07

FattyDaddy 發表於 13-9-1 21:11
I don't know, what kind of good education is not suitable for anyone? Not sure I understood your qu ...

Truth is, when the children grow up, parents have no or little influence on where the children will work, regardless of the passport they hold, or the intention of the parents. The only thing I am sure is that good and appropriate education will benefit a child for life.

作者: FattyDaddy 時間: 13-9-2 01:34

本帖最後由 FattyDaddy 於 13-9-2 01:49 編輯

shadeslayer 發表於 13-9-2 01:07
Truth is, when the children grow up, parents have no or little influence on where the children will ...

True, children have their own fate and destiny, which may or may not turn out to be what we predict, but then we can't plan on unknowns, so we deduce what is most probably going to happen and base our planning on that.

If a family will most probably stay put in Hongkong, but opts for international schools over local schools, then the children will probably face the difficulties described by our friend nintendo, right? No one is saying "good" or "bad", just "suitable" and "not so suitable", depending on the society which the family will spend most of their time living in.

作者: jolalee 時間: 13-9-2 07:53

本帖最後由 jolalee 於 13-9-2 08:13 編輯

shadeslayer 發表於 13-9-2 01:07
Truth is, when the children grow up, parents have no or little influence on where the children will ...

I agree with Nintendo & Fattydaddy that it really depends to suitability. Of course there are schools that teaches and operates well, and are quite popular (can still be mutually exclusive though), but I too do not believe in the 'best' school, only those that are more suitable for the child / family. Even amongst non-local schools, the diversity is huge. For example SIS and ESF are very different in terms are language teaching, view on discipline vs. exploration, cirriculum etc. Even local prestious schools have a diff student body (ie DBS and St. Paul kids have very different characters).
One should need to know one's own family needs, the child's characteristics and what we're looking for in education to find the best FIT for the child. As the Chinese saying goes: 甲之蜜糖，乙之砒霜。 Even now, I am still looking (both at my child's development as a person and what kind of schools that suit him), even my own child's characters surprised us as he turns out to be quite different from what we envisioned (before he was born, heehee), so I am now looking at schools that I may not have considered in the past, but are more suitable for his temperament.

作者: shadeslayer 時間: 13-9-2 08:36 標題: 引用：+本帖最後由+jolalee+於+13-9-2+08:13+編輯

原帖由 jolalee 於 13-09-02 發表
本帖最後由 jolalee 於 13-9-2 08:13 編輯

You missed my point, note the word Best was in quotes. I was saying I would not factor in where I think/wish my child will work in the selection of the "best" quality school for her. That includes consideration of the child's temperament. If parents think because the child is likely to work outside of Asia, he/she can forget about Chinese (for example), think again.

作者: FattyDaddy 時間: 13-9-2 10:21

shadeslayer 發表於 13-9-2 08:36
If parents think because the child is likely to work outside of Asia, he/she can forget about Chinese (for example), think again. ...

Chinese is a poor example, because it is not an easy language to learn, especially when it comes to read and write, it requires far more time and effort compared to an alphabetic language. Of course, knowing one more language is always better than knowing one less, but then there are only 24 hours in a day and one can only do so much.

Every family's plans and priorities are different, if a family can't see a real need for something in their probable future, their time and efforts are better spent on something else. No outsider can tell them to "think again" as if they have made a wrong decision.

作者: honeybunny7 時間: 13-9-2 11:46

回復 FattyDaddy 的帖子

I agree with your point. For families that are rooted in HK, there is a higher probability that their children will stay in the Greater China / HK region for work in the future. Hence, sending their children to English-focused ISs may put their children in a significant disadvantage if they indeed stay here for work. That is why the more Chinese (language)-focused ISs are gaining popularity these days.
Talking about the parent statement of intent, I had to write about my views on education when I submitted the application for ITT playgroup...

作者: shadeslayer 時間: 13-9-2 11:46 標題: 引用：Quote:shadeslayer+發表於+13-9-2+08:36+If

原帖由 FattyDaddy 於 13-09-02 發表
Chinese is a poor example, because it is not an easy language to learn, especially when it comes to ...

You have to put things in perspective.

We are discussing here in EK because our children are currently studying in HK, which has a rich Chinese environment to offer. Not everyone has to achieve 5* level of Chinese, but some capability of spoken and written Chinese is within each reach, whatever school the child goes to. One Aussie I know spent 9 years in HK and now he understands HK local TV drama and speak some Cantonese.

Needless to say with the economic success of China, Chinese is not "just another language". If we aim to equipment our children for the next 50 years, can we ignore Chinese as an language?

I am entitled to my own opinion of decisions other people make, right? Same goes to you.

作者: FattyDaddy 時間: 13-9-2 12:04

shadeslayer 發表於 13-9-2 11:46
I am entitled to my own opinion of decisions other people make, right? Same goes to you.
...

Well you see, this is where you and I differ. I very very rarely question someone's choices and beliefs, unless it is something factual, like the sun rises from the East. I recognize the fact that every family's situation is different, and they make their decisions based on their own circumstances and I'm in no position to doubt them.

Sure, Chinese / China may mean everything to you, I don't doubt that, but I also accept that there are families in Hongkong who think Chinese / China is nothing. You may ask if Chinese / China is nothing to them then why are they in Hongkong? Well, they may not plan to stick around for long, right?

作者: shadeslayer 時間: 13-9-2 12:32

I don't usually comment specifically on one child or one family. Like you said everyone 's situation is unique and forum like this nobody is to disclose full details of their family circumstances. Without specific details, one cannot comment. Therefore my comments are usually directed at the action, the behavior, the in-general principle, etc. but some people take my comments personal. It is never my intention.

Can anyone deny not picking up decent Chinese during the upbringing in HK is a missed opportunity? Again, I am not saying under all circumstances children must learn good Chinese, but as a general statement, does it sound reasonable?

作者: FattyDaddy 時間: 13-9-2 18:23

shadeslayer 發表於 13-9-2 12:32
Can anyone deny not picking up decent Chinese during the upbringing in HK is a missed opportunity? ...

No, personally I won't make such a sweeping statement, it depends on the length of stay, how difficult it is to pick up Chinese, and how much interest there is.

I'm thinking outside of that Chinese / China box. Say I'm assigned to a project in Mumbai (Bombay) and I need to be stationed there for 5 years so I'm bringing my family along, in fact that almost happened to me so it is not some far-fetched situation I dreamt up. Would I see those 5 years as an opportunity for my child to learn Hindi or Marathi the local language? Well, may be, may be not, hardly a definitive yes. Will my Indian colleagues think my child is missing out on a golden opportunity? I doubt so. Some Chinese Hongkongers seem to have an almost religious conviction regarding the Chinese language, much like a Muslim might think anyone who lives in Mecca for a few years and not learn about Islam is a shame, these are dangerous thoughts.

Anyway, we have drifted far enough, coming back to this "Parent Statement of Intent", if one were to say the intention of studying at an ESF school is to pick up decent Chinese, I doubt if the school will regard that intention as being inline with their aims.

作者: HKTHK 時間: 13-9-3 11:33

回復 shadeslayer 的帖子

I think parents have some influence on where their child will work though not a lot. Learning Chinese is about flexibility. If one doesn't know Chinese well, the flexibility to come back and work in HK is significantly reduced.
Not a statement of fact but my personal opinion is that for Chinese who lives in HK, it is irresponsible not to let the child learn Chinese.

作者: shadeslayer 時間: 13-9-3 14:52

FattyDaddy 發表於 13-9-2 18:23
No, personally I won't make such a sweeping statement, it depends on the length of stay, how difficu ...

I thought I just said the statement "Students should learn Chinese during their upbringing in HK" is not meant to be sweeping, as each family circumstances are unique. The statement is no more sweeping than, say, government warning they put on each and every cigarette box "Smoking Kills". The fact that there are people who smoke but live a long and happy life does not make the warning "smoking kills" less reasonable.
If you object to my statement, you have to object to "smoking kills" type of warning too.

作者: shadeslayer 時間: 13-9-3 15:16

HKTHK 發表於 13-9-3 11:33
回復 shadeslayer 的帖子

I think parents have some influence on where their child will work though n ...

Agree. But to what extent Chinese (and English) is enough is less obvious.

作者: annie40 時間: 13-9-3 15:39

开头讲开家长填IS申请表要写番两句,何解会变成'中文'十分重要?

个人的体会是做事有缓急先后, 首次顺序, 在策划孩子的blue print 时, 不须把'应该' 变成不能动摇的人生框架.只要遇到是好的东西, 好的转变,
blue print绝对可以更改, 重写, 与时並进.

作者: FattyDaddy 時間: 13-9-3 15:41

shadeslayer 發表於 13-9-3 14:52
The statement is no more sweeping than, say, government warning they put on each and every cigarette box "Smoking Kills" ...

You have used a very poor parallel between Chinese and smoking, there is an abundance of solid evidence to show the harm in smoking. Anyway, off topic.

歡迎光臨教育王國 (/)