Singapore Elementary School Psychology Case Study
Background
This case study revolves around John. He is a capable 11 year old pupil who is an above average ability boy. However, he almost did not make it into the standard stream in his school. His results were badly affected due to his frequent inattention in class as well as his incomplete homework.
He is enrolled in an elite primary school that has the GEP program. Based on the class grades, he is the weakest pupil in the last standard class. John is greatly unmotivated and shows no interest in his lessons or any class activities. His classmates and even other better achieving schoolmates look down on him due to his poor grades. They exclude him from their activities and frequently ridicule him due to his behaviour and differences.
John, who is maturing faster than his peers, is already in the early stages of puberty. As he did not pay attention to his lesson, he is unaware that they changes taking place is his body is natural and he is thus confused by what is happening. The biological changes in his body has caused him to become more aggressive towards his classmates. It has also caused him to grow more hair on his legs and arm. His peers have noticed this and have begun to humiliate him more. In retaliation to protect himself, he reacts unnecessarily by either finding trouble with his classmates and even banging the tables and shoving the chairs.
He comes from an increasingly more common mixed race Indian-Chinese family. He is mostly cared for by his domestic helper, as his parents, who are of the middle income financial background, tends to work long hours. John does not get to see his parents much, but when they are at home, he ends up hearing them argue and fight instead. This has impacted him negatively which resulted in his poor academic performance. His extended family did not approve of his parents’ marriage and thus has disowned them, making him feel even more out-casted.
Context of Development
Problems & Theories
John’s issues can be
This case study revolves around John. He is a capable 11 year old pupil who is an above average ability boy. However, he almost did not make it into the standard stream in his school. His results were badly affected due to his frequent inattention in class as well as his incomplete homework.
He is enrolled in an elite primary school that has the GEP program. Based on the class grades, he is the weakest pupil in the last standard class. John is greatly unmotivated and shows no interest in his lessons or any class activities. His classmates and even other better achieving schoolmates look down on him due to his poor grades. They exclude him from their activities and frequently ridicule him due to his behaviour and differences.
John, who is maturing faster than his peers, is already in the early stages of puberty. As he did not pay attention to his lesson, he is unaware that they changes taking place is his body is natural and he is thus confused by what is happening. The biological changes in his body has caused him to become more aggressive towards his classmates. It has also caused him to grow more hair on his legs and arm. His peers have noticed this and have begun to humiliate him more. In retaliation to protect himself, he reacts unnecessarily by either finding trouble with his classmates and even banging the tables and shoving the chairs.
He comes from an increasingly more common mixed race Indian-Chinese family. He is mostly cared for by his domestic helper, as his parents, who are of the middle income financial background, tends to work long hours. John does not get to see his parents much, but when they are at home, he ends up hearing them argue and fight instead. This has impacted him negatively which resulted in his poor academic performance. His extended family did not approve of his parents’ marriage and thus has disowned them, making him feel even more out-casted.
Context of Development
Problems & Theories
John’s issues can be