First graders study like "plowers", 8-9 hours a day: Not uncommon

"Many families do not consider learning foreign languages ​​or programming as extra learning."

In recent days, social networks have been spreading anonymous shares about the school schedules of first graders.

The shared content reads: "My friend's schedule in first grade: Morning and afternoon go to school, 4:30 pick up; 5:00 practice writing until 7:00 come home; 7:00 go to extra class until 9:30 come home; 10:00 pm do homework in class; do extra exercises in advanced books until 0:00 go to bed.

If there is a test, I practice until 1-2 am before going to bed.

After 1 year of study: First prize in Provincial Champion Exam; First prize in National Olympic Exam; Total of 4 gold medals at provincial and national levels in Vietnamese and math.

But that's nothing compared to my classmates and schoolmates."

Images of first graders' school schedules circulated on social media (Screenshot).

Ms. NTH, a primary school teacher in Hanoi , commented that the content shared is not reliable. The reason Ms. H. gave is that it is very rare for extra classes to be designed for 2 hours for first graders.

At the same time, it is rare for parents to let their children practice until 1-2am.

However, Ms. H. admitted that it is quite common for primary school children in Hanoi to leave home at 7:30 a.m. and return home at 7:30 p.m.

Having taught primary school for nearly 20 years, Ms. NTH said that many parents have dual views about extra classes.

"For many parents, extra classes are about math, Vietnamese and other subjects in school. Learning subjects outside the curriculum such as foreign languages, programming, dancing, fine arts, etc. is not extra classes.

From that concept, they register their children for many extracurricular courses, completely ignoring the fact that these courses also take away their children's necessary rest and play time," Ms. NTH commented.

Ms. H. observed that many students went to extracurricular classes right after school. "Some students studied English 2 sessions/week, learned math 1 session/week, learned programming 1 session/week, learned basketball 2 sessions/week, learned music 2 sessions/week, a total of 8 extracurricular classes/week. But parents said that their children studied very leisurely, did not learn anything extra," Ms. H. shared.

Parents take their children to school (Photo: Nam Anh).

From a parent's perspective, Ms. Hoang Thi Thanh Huong (Dong Da, Hanoi) said that her child only takes one extra subject, English, but goes to bed at 10 pm every day.

"My child comes home at 7pm twice a week because he studies English at the center, and the other days he comes home at 5pm. In the evening, it usually takes him 1-2 hours to finish all the homework assigned by the teacher. He writes slowly and makes many mistakes, and often makes mistakes when calculating.

I have been in first grade for almost a month, almost every day I study until 9:30 to finish my lessons. The total time I spend studying at school and at home can be up to 8-9 hours, like a farmer.

Every time I receive a message from the teacher saying that my child writes carelessly or reads poorly, I feel pressured and force him to practice writing and reading.

Many families cannot afford to educate their children, so they have to send them to extra classes, not because they want their children to become this or that," said Ms. Huong.

"Primary school children should not be sent to extra classes, especially first graders."

That is the advice of Mr. Dao Chi Manh - Principal of Hoi Hop B Primary School ( Vinh Phuc ).

Teacher Manh said that children being slow in writing, reading, and doing math is completely normal.

In the context that many students attend pre-primary classes, know how to read, write, and calculate before entering grade 1, the difference in skills and awareness between students in the same class is natural. Teachers will teach according to the standard program, not according to what students already know. Therefore, parents should not worry.

"I affirm that the children only need to study 2 sessions/day in class and not go to extra classes anywhere. By the end of the year, they will know how to read, write, and do math, except for those with health problems," emphasized the Principal of Hoi Hop B Primary School.

First graders on the first day of school in Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: Nam Anh).

Teacher Dao Chi Manh also noted that teachers should be the ones to help parents relieve their worries instead of making them worry more. In particular, teachers need to change old habits to teach in a way that differentiates students, based on the starting point of each student being different.

With differentiated learning, students with lower starting points receive individual support from teachers to achieve their learning goals. As a result, they do not need extra classes.

Ms. NTH stated that in order for children to not have to go to extra classes, both teachers and parents must take children's rest time seriously.

"Teachers need to be calm in the face of students' slow progress and not pressure students to achieve equal abilities.

Parents need to be calm before their children's development, not equipping them with too many skills and knowledge at the same time.

Learning skills is great, if children love it then there is no pressure. But it is also a psychological trap that makes parents want their children to learn more.

The consequence of this is that children spend very little time at home, have little time to rest completely, and gradually lose connection with their family and the world around them," Ms. H. expressed.

According to the regulations on extra teaching and learning, the Ministry of Education and Training prohibits extra teaching for primary school students. The new draft Circular removes this content and replaces it with a regulation prohibiting extra teaching for students who study two sessions per day.

Thus, the subjects that are not allowed to organize extra classes are expanded to include not only primary school students but also secondary school students in schools that organize 2-session teaching.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/hoc-sinh-lop-1-hoc-nhu-tho-cay-ngay-8-9-tieng-chuyen-khong-hiem-20240923150838984.htm