Do children get a Left Brain Education?

In case you're wondering - this is a blog from Singapore.  And yes, we want a left brain educated citizens in Singapore.  I sound rather tongue-in-cheek but it is true!

I was speaking to an expert the other day and she confessed that all teachers in her school are left-brain products.  Except for the principal, of course...she had to relate to both the teachers and parents in double quick time every day and she's whole-brain...other reasons for her promotion etc

To recap, a left brain dominant person would be good at details, extremely verbal, thinking easily in sequence etc... as opposed to a complete pictorial view and thinking in visuals, music and other non-verbals - in other words... imagination.  The right brain function is open to new ideas and exploration whereas the left brain is completely statistical and stepwise in approach to anything.  If you ever have dreams and can remember them, your mind is accessing imagination.

In truth, we need both.  We need to be whole-brain in approaching any subject.

But are your children getting a left brain education primarily?  Definitely so in Singapore...may be your country is different...When they enter the formal school at age 7, the left brain training begins.  For example, questions are not encouraged...It is common for a child not to put up their hands as they are afraid to ask a "silly" question.  How would you like to be reprimanded for asking what the date is at 7 years old?  You need to write it down as part of the written assignment of the day and you are not quite sure.  A bold child would but will your friends consider you 'stupid' or even worse have the teacher tellings you off for that?  If you did not hear clearly, do you ask the teacher to repeat herself...of course not! You ask your friends...it is safer that way.

The parent who buys up each and every assessment workbook for the child to practice on so that she is well prepared for the exam is only encouraging the child to store up standard answers.  When a non-standard question is set, panic and frustration that sets in is enough to force the exam mind into disarray...I am not saying that we don't need the workbooks but how many of you think that the only way for the child to improve is doing more homework