The principal of St Margaret's had made her stand crystal:""It's very clear in our mission: it's about their turnout as a young lady." She did not subscribe to the NGO's gimmicky call for shaved heads to raise awareness of cancer patients and, supposedly, empathise with their suffering. She was not inflexible, five girls were exempted from the ruling provided they wore lady like wigs to school. They can show off their bald pates and parade along Orchard Road if that's what tickles their youthful fancies. Only two of the five Secondary 3 students kept to their solemn undertaking. That's when the lesson in upbringing fell apart.
 |
| Cool! |
An animal rights activist group once wanted to make a point to protest the use of mink for ladies' fashion wear. They burned down a mink farm. Sure, they made an impact on the supply of mink fur for the business, but did they spare a thought for the lives of the furry creatures that died in the conflagration?
It was Education Minister Heng Swee Keat who used his Facebook account to announce the U-turn deal. Nobody knows if there were any midnight telephone calls to "pass the message along". While noting that the school was trying to teach how commitments are supposed to be honoured, he wrote "... there is a learning moment in every situation, in every situation we make, in every promise we pledge." And what exactly is the minister trying to teach, that it's okay to go back on your word? Youngsters should not be roped into political causes, unless they plan to be groomed as politicians with malleable principles.
Posts
Must admit I was at first aghast that the students were banned from sporting their shaved heads but realised that they were the ones who did not keep their promises. Yes, it is a shame that the poor principal had to give up her principle in the face of poor parenting. I say, shame on some poor up bringing.
ReplyDeleteDisagree. The principal should not have made the students promise to wear wigs. This defeats the very purpose of Hair for Hope.
DeleteThe German and Japanese soldiers who committed atrocities during the World War were also honoring their promises.
It is not an issue of principle. Clearly, the principal does not agree that a shaved head shows empathy to the cause. Agreeing to having her students participate and requiring them to wear a wig is delusion, and a rather muddled decision.
DeleteThe principal is an educationist acting as a dictator by imposing rules in the guise of priciples and school's mission, requiring the pupils to keep promises to her own will.
DeleteIf doing good cause without hurting anyone need to be fearful and authorisation needed, I fear the school is going to produce her students who will be self-centred and non-virtuous. The principal even stress on appearance (is it vanity!)to be respected (maybe this is our society norm acceptance)
Hope this principal is not the product of our school system, thinking success is based on appearance rather than virtue.
My opinion. Those wigs are really hot. Perhaps some flexibility during school hours like removing the wigs during PE and sports would have helped.
ReplyDeleteYes, I imagine the cancer patients must have a really difficult time in the heat and humidity of Singapore. Yet, even Ong Teng Cheong wore a hat.
DeleteI beg to differ on this matter.
ReplyDeleteHow do you expect people to honor a promise they were "made" (or coerced) to make? IF they were boys, do you think this would have been such a big issue at all with the principal? Do you expect them to consult and get permission from the authority to shave their heads just because it is the most "obedient" and "respectful" things to do? I bet is No. They would have just gone ahead. Why is the principal so insistent on the "form" and not the "substance" = noble action for a good cause instead? We are not talking about a permanent tattoo here! What are we, still living in a victorian era? She might as well make sure all girls should continue to wear skirts and petticoats for their PE activities to remain ladylike through and through!
I suppose you could also allow the girls to pierce their private parts to show support for their African sisters who have to put up with genital mutilation. The principal won't have to know.
DeleteIs there any proof that the girls have been coerced into making the promise?
DeleteThe proof is from the other students and participating schools.
DeleteDo you see them enforcing the same so called "promise"?
Why is St Margaret the only one that must insist?
Do you hear other schools accusing their students for wanting to seek fame, rebel, start a punk fad or engaging in meaningless acts?
Besides, if the students feel conscious about it after the fact, they will put on the wigs on their own accord, or even without being asked to make a promise, dont' you think? Common sense much?
You cannot compare an apple with an orange. Different schools have different rules, just like different family practises different customs and different countries have different policies. Heck, even different companies have different lunch time.
DeleteWhy would the students feel conscious about it? After all, putting on the wig is an inconvenience to the students. Without any rule governing them, our students would probably turn up in school in all sorts of hairstyles and fashion to suit their own taste.
//They burned down a mink farm. Sure, they made an impact on the supply of mink fur for the business, but did they spare a thought for the lives of the furry creatures that died in the conflagration?//
ReplyDeleteMore animals would have died in the conflagration down the road if they didn't hurt the supply of mink business. Have you seen how they were cruelly killed just to satisfy rich and bitchy woman for their vanity? Those carcasses were probably then shipped to food houses and sell off as meatballs in your supermarkets!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLcgxIGTFRs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcU2wSSsiSE
I think it was a 'dare to be different' type of hip protest statement, out of place since they are full time students. If they really wanted to do it, they can shave their heads during year end holidays AND work as volunteers for the Cancer Society.
ReplyDeleteThe principal has been quite flexible. She should not be the villain.
The principal is no villain. But certainly, she is not beyond learning.
DeleteI give the girls in question the benefit of the doubt, it was a show of solidarity with cancer patients, demonstration of empathy rather than a protest statement. The impact would have been negligible if done during school holidays, you can call it effective advertising with fellow students and all for a good cause.
DeleteOne lesson to be taken by students is that there is no shame in how a person looks because of birth defects, medical condition, etc, but to see beyond these and look for beauty in heart and action.
I agree only extreme views will see the principal as the villain, but nevertheless, I believe she is a product of the system in place,
too many conformists rather than educators.
No, the principal is not a villian.
DeleteWe hate the sin, but love the sinner, remember?
Someone try telling all the nuns that they are un-ladylike.
ReplyDeleteNot that I think they care.
http://theindependent.sg/the-bald-truth-of-education/
ReplyDeleteShe is supposed to be a school principal, not a school nun. So why is she so stuck up to the extent that she can't even tolerate, in the name of emphathy & charity, a few bald female students in her school.
ReplyDeleteIf someone is forced to make a promise, there is no such thing as honour if someone goes ahead to break that promise. And if a few bald heads is equivalent to a punk culture, I think the school principal should also insist that only virgins be allowed to study at her school, tiok bo ?
Apparently, some didn't learn the lessons from the earlier case from Unity School where the dylexia boy was forced to cut his $70 hair just prior to PSLE exams.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't the principal not come to an understanding with the parents (who clearly supported their children's actions) on what is an acceptable expression?
I stand by the students. When you shave your head, you are trying to put yourself in the same shoes as cancer patients who get stares from people. How is wearing a wig and looking normal helping in trying to understand what the patients go through?
ReplyDeleteThe principal totally does not understand the campaign of getting heads shaved and all she focused on was getting students to conform to expectations when she made the students promise they'd wear wigs.
It also does not seem to be the case where the students are using this opportunity to look different. The girls before had long hair which obviously is to look like girls which they are. The length of their hair before shaving clearly shows that they have been looking feminine for probably the entire duration of their secondary days.
For the principal to think that the girls are taking advantage of the situation disgusts me. Her terrible opinion of the situation which came about with the good intentions from the students just shows how conformist she is. Totally lacking in judgement and understanding.
If the girls disagree with the condition (wearing a wig after shaving), they could have brought it up and negotiate for another condition before agreeing to it. What's the point of agreeing when they did not intend to follow through? Because promises are cheap, to be made only to be broken later when you have gotten your way?
DeleteWhat about all those political detainees who "confessed" to subversion? The principal was wrong to impose her personal value in the first place.
DeleteIn that case, it was a matter of life-or-death. Are the girls' lives threatened if they are not allowed to shave their head? The principal was not imposing her personal value - she was trying to do her job by implementing the school rules. Let's not get into the argument of whether the rule is silly or not because let's face it: we can always call any rule silly as long as it makes things inconvenient to us. This includes having to go to work at 8am, having to queue up, etc. But what will happen when everyone does not observe these rules?
DeleteTell me, where on the St Margaret's school rules, does it indicate that girls/students should never have bald head? I would venture to say it probably just indicate they must keep a tidy length and no colorings etc. which are reasonable. Meantime, until the hair is grown back in one or two months, does it detract away their gender or femininity in anyway just because of some missing locks?
DeleteMy point is, how does the hair(less) make the girls any less a person (or student of St Margaret) ? Are you any less a woman if you don't wear high heels which your husband/boyfriend may always prefer?
Go search in the school's rule...there is a part that states 'no shaved hair'...
DeleteThat is weird.. How are they gonna enforce such rules on their private parts?
DeleteDon't be ridiculous la...obviously only applied for hair on their head.
DeleteHow obvious is that? Did the rule book state "no shaved heads" or "no hair shaved"? The principal follow the book without exception, remember?
DeleteIf the principal follow the book without exception, she wouldn't even allow the girls to shave their head in the first place.
DeleteShe only did so because the girls consulted her..I could imagine that the girls would be barred from attending classes unless they put on a wig if they didnt ask first. And that is no different from the end result. So what exception u talking about? It will be the same.
DeleteYeah, this is the first time I have to disagree with Tattler.
ReplyDeleteagree with you
DeleteThe message we learn from the intervention of Minister Heng is that its ok not to keep promises and to not obey rules. And, who cares if the rules were set by the head of the institute!
ReplyDeleteWe just need to garner enough publicity through the media, press, Facebook, Twitter and critically through the Ministers, MPs and whatever avenues there are like workers' union, societies etc.
The more media attention the issues gets, the higher the probability of getting your way.
Never mind the fact that in this instance, there were rumours that the 2 girls actually resisted out of retaliation and defiance.
Regardless of the right or wrongs of this episode, is there a need for the Minister weigh in on this matter?
ReplyDeleteNo. Fuhrer Marion would just insist the girls put on the wigs regardless of the rashes they developed, period.
DeleteAnd the NDP 2013 would have to remove and edit out the song they played about "showing your true colors"..Because it would have been an oxymoron when Fuhrer Marion is actually saying.."self-express is really about hiding your true colors behind fake wigs."
"Regardless of the right or wrongs of this episode, is there a need for the Minister weigh in on this matter?
DeleteYou forget that you are living in a nanny state?"
Please put this in perspective. We have all gone through some stage in our lives (be it school or working) that we question the rationale of rules and regulations which we need to comply with and obey.
ReplyDeleteWhy do we need to keep short hair or wear uniforms, come to work on time, fulfill our basic number of working hours per week or pay parking charges according to the exact parking durations or else face a fine etc.
These are fundamental principles of discipline in life which students need to be taught and drilled into their minds. Don't complicate matters by questioning the objectives and purposes of the rules.
It seems that those who support the students do not seem to understand this need to enforce discipline. If parents don't support this cause of enforcing discipline, its no wonder you see so many ill disciplined kids throwing tantrums in malls, bawling their heads off, disregarding parents calls, shouting back at parents and arguing as if they own the world!
Well-said!
DeleteYes! Agree on the importance of teaching discipline to students.
DeleteThe parents in this episode were very bad examples and bad influence.
//..its no wonder you see so many ill disciplined kids throwing tantrums in malls, bawling their heads off, disregarding parents calls, shouting back at parents and arguing as if they own the world! //
DeleteWow, blaming the educators for your own parenting short-fall. So easy job to be parents hor..why not include your domestic maid, grandparents or entire village too?
Please also leave your full name and IC no. I like to see you be first in line to sign up your daughter when SAF starts mandatory NS service for girls/women. Supposedly great place for discipline when you have problem kids, and your faith in north korea style upbringing.
Tatler
ReplyDeleteYou are wrong on this..........it is not wrong for the principle to go back on her words.......please we have politicians here who go back on thir word everyday screwing us.......this is pale in comparison.
KNAH, you have point here.
DeleteNevertheless, the Principal reverse her decision under dueress. The ruling party never had any. Maybe, you can say they apologies under duress and then found courage later to go back on their promises, no?
The point is that 3 of the girls did not keep to their promise, and are allowed to get off with it, by no less a person than the Minister. Do we want to encourage such behaviour? Then aren't we teaching them to go back on their word, like the politicians we have, and in the process undermine the authority of the Principal, who is forced to abandon her principles? Isn't this the very "populist" act which they so abhor?
DeleteAnd the Minister said "... there is a learning moment in every situation, in every situation we make, in every promise we pledge." Isn't this bullshit - what learning moment, in breaking the promise that you pledge.
It is so easy to dispense such "Solomonic" statements about promises. The lesson that he and his ilk never learn is that they will lose the trust of their people when they themselves don't keep the promises and commitments that they have pledged.
Aiyah, the minister bo bian.. Hot plate on his hands.. He has to get rid of it some how.
DeleteHow would it unfold if a SIA stewardess were to demonstrate support for cancer patients by going bald?
ReplyDeleteWould she be able to perform her flight duty without a wig or would she receive support from management:
" Its, ok,.. we believe in your right to go bald!!" ??
Regardless if the employee made a promise to wear a wig... before going bald
Come on. By extending your argument, would the students be unable to perform without hair on their head? Use your head first before dishing out useless analogies.
DeleteHa! ha!.. yeah! kinky man!.. shaved head, shaved arm pits, shaved legs, shaved ...... wow! pure skin!!... I like.
DeleteWhat a dill. Air stewardess are paid by the company to serve the passengers on planes. You are paid to portray an image of the company to the customers therefore as an employee you play by the company's rules.
DeleteSo as a student in a school, you do not need to play by the school rules?
Deleteanother idiot. you go to school not to make money for school but to learn things. If a school rule is stupid, then no point observing it. This is a matter of doing things right, not observing some silly promises. So many typical kuai kuai singaporeans who fear questioning authorities out there- OMG.
DeleteSeems to me the most intolerant bunch on the internet are the ones clamoring for more freedom, came callings like "idiots, dills (what that dude?) etc. Strange but true. Perhaps to much hormone treatment?
DeleteJust because someone has a different view from yours does not make the person an idiot or a 'dill', whatever that is. By doing so, aren't you proving yourself to be just as rigid in your views and thinking?
DeleteGo and get yourself an education
DeleteWhere you stand depends on where you sit of course. But just as burning furry animals together with the mink farm to help animal rights makes no sense, I doubt shaving heads help cancer patients cause. And oh, would the girls still volunteer if instead of shaving (whatever parts you wish, hum sup lo!) the schools ask them to work in national cancer centre for a week during holidays? Would you agree to let your child do that? really? I have a bridge to sell you if you answer yes.
ReplyDeleteIf I want to genuinely feel what cancer patients go through by shaving my head even if it means breaking a promise of wearing a wig that would defeat this purpose, I would break the promise in a heartbeat.
ReplyDeleteShaving their heads for a cause is a personal choice, a noble choice, which is fine. But why the need to parade it in school, and disobey a school directive? Does it make their "sacrifice" nobler and more genuine, or just exhibitionism, or is it an attempt to spread their cause? Will they allow all the girls to shave bald then?
ReplyDeleteRules are there to be followed, even if some of them may not seem sensible. Disobediance cannot be countenanced, because it undermines discipline and there will be havoc. Next you know the Muslim girls will be wearing their tudungs in school. Will Minister Heng Swee Kiat allow that?
Are Sikhs allowed to wear their turbans in school or have their hair tied up according to tradition ?
DeleteAre Sikhs allowed to wear their turbans in school or have their hair tied up according to tradition ?
DeleteWearing tudungs and wigs are both a cover up, (amidst one is religious base reason). So what is your point?
DeleteOppression - the elephant in the room. Nothing has change since the good old "stop at two or else" days.
ReplyDeletedid the young girls shave because of charity? or did they do it because they are renegades, trying to make a protest statement? there are mothers who told me these girls are possibly outrageous and defiant as they themselves have gone through the rebellious teenage before.
ReplyDeleteyou can see that the form teachers didn't vouch for the girls and the principal knows (right in the beginning) they are the naughty lot!
she should have stuck to her guns and not let the minister of education intervene. I feel bad as she has to reverse her decision now.
how presumptuous. Even if you can prove that they are naughty, you mean naughty girls do not have the right to want to feel what cancer patients go through?
DeleteForm teachers didn't vouch for girls- can it be every one is scared of the top down approach of the principal instead.
the deciding point is the intention or motive of the girls shaving hair. the teachers and principal are well aware of their constant rebellious behaviour that creates a lot of trouble for the school. can you prove beyond reasonable doubt that girls did it with the SOLE intention of charity? obviously you and me can't, but the form teachers and principal know best.
DeleteI agree. it is the intention that counts and that determine the verdict. when someone is found dead, how do you deal with the "killer"?
Deleteif proven accidental - jail. if proven premeditated move - hang.
in this instance, the "judge" will be the principal who had gathered all the evidences against the 5 girls.
//..in this instance, the "judge" will be the principal who had gathered all the evidences against the 5 girls.//
DeleteReally? You have a dossier of evidence to share?
Or are these just your noisy DRUMS?
then can you prove they did it REALLY ONLY for charity and nothing else? before you speak up for them.
DeleteThey shaved in support of cancer victims but wanted to be accorded full glory for as long as it lasts.
DeleteWhen they were denied this pleasure, they rebelled and got the support of their parents for this.
These 2 girls are just fake martyrs who want to squeeze every drop of pity, honour or benefit they can from parading their bald heads. These are not genuine, full-hearted supporters.
Who are you to judge? Put down your name and don't be a coward hiding behind the keyboard to make such personal attacks.
DeleteSays someone who is also called anonymous himself/herself.
DeleteInnocent until proven guilty but someone just demanded the girls to prove their sole intentions- how ludicrous.
DeleteNo one should be sitting behind their keyboards judging the girls when we ourselves did not volunteer our own heads to be shaven in the first place.
You are making a statement of fact, not opinion. When making such accusations, you have to come out of your coconut shell as proof of integrity, especially if your are a teacher of the school.
DeleteOtherwise your accusation is pure hot air and borders on defamation, to which the parents of the girls reserve their rights to sue. The benefit of doubt should always be given to the girls until proven otherwise.
obviously all comments here in this blog are based on OPINIONS. Analogy like "judge" and "evidence" are used to illustrate a point. is there a real court case on this issue with concrete findings yet? anyone with a simple coconut head can understand that.
Deletenow, my OPINION on those who support the girls behaviour - they are ignorant, inexperienced in life and lack wisdom.
Get your coconut head open
DeleteStatement of Facts:
"When they were denied this pleasure, they rebelled and got the support of their parents for this."
"These are not genuine, full-hearted supporters."
If you want to say these are opinions, please put "I think" in front of these.
From what I have read so far, the girls have not be coerced into making the promise or agreement. They were set a condition yes, but they went into it out of their own free will. Of course, if they do not agree with the condition, they could have brought it up at the time it was stated, or asked for time to reconsider or rejected it there and then. They just wouldn't get to shave their head, that's all. Why must we let our children get their way all the time? Is it so hard to say no to them? If we say no to these girls, does it mean that they will get another chance to be charitable again? Answer is no! There are still hundreds of other charities, some equally, if not more meaningful than Hair for Hope, which they can participate in without needing them to clash with the school rules. Whether the rule of the school is silly or not, that's a story for another day. There are many times which other people see certain rules in this country as silly (eg. banning chewing gum, no eating/drinking in MRT stations, etc) but does that give us the right to just go against them. I am truly disappointed with the outcome of this incident.
ReplyDeleteThe principal is one of high authority. If your principal set you a condition, do you dare to defy? The girls made the promise, but renegade only after they realise it is too uncomfortable to wear the wig. Someone if her "calibre" should be able to use her brain rather than force compliance of some stupid rules. The worry that others would follow suit and shave their hair is absurd and totally unfounded.
DeletePrincipal makes it a condition to wear wig before students decide to proceed with shaving heads. Basically the principal has undermined the purpose of the students trying to go through what cancer patients go through and by looking normal with a wig, the whole purpose has turned into a sham by the principal herself.
DeleteI am proud that the students have decided that compassion and empathy is more important than obedience. Upholding our values should not be compromised in any situation.
Why is compassion and empathy more important than integrity? I thought all three should be equally important? If we are saying that the first two trump the latter, are we giving a green light for everyone to behave in whatever way they want as long as it is in the name of a good cause? What do you think if one day someone breaks into your house to steal all your things and get away with it because he is stealing to feed the poor people in his village?
DeleteIf you do not agree with the condition and do not have the courage to defy, just do not participate in the first place! Is it more courageous to give your words and then back out later on? Then get the media to put pressure on the principal so that they can continue to get their way? I don't see this as courage but cowardice. The girls and their parents are backstabbing the principal through the media and public pressure and worse still, they are being lauded for doing so.
If the girls really want to show empathy and solidarity for cancer patients, do their act just stop at shaving their heads? Why don't they experience how uncomfortable it is for the cancer patients who have to wear the wigs on certain occasions?
If you like rules and rigidity so much, the next time your child is asked to return to his corner despite having been hurt and abused by his skoolteacher, you can tell your child that he should follow his teacher's instruction, whatever is the the circumstances.
DeleteIf you like obey and blind obedience so much, the next time the teacher denies your bladder full child to take a loo break, you should tell your child to just pee on the spot, in his pants. Because the educators always know best.
The next time anything unbecoming happened to you child, whether they are hurt in childcare or prison or NS, you shouldn't demand for transparency, and ask to see any recorded CCTV footage. Because you explicitly trust the system that is instill disciplines and orders to be infallible and uncorruptible. You shouldn't question their integrity and just accept that is the bad lot in your life. You will never find out the truth, because in your simplistic world, rules are there to protect and keep your children safe. Especially if they are run by highest-paid and self-proclaimed honest politicians or bureaucrats.
The girls are asked to wear wigs, hardly a punishment. How does that equate to a child being abused?
DeleteJust because of a few black sheep in the society, parents no longer trust educators but still insist that teachers teach their children values because they are too busy to do so. When educators try to do so, they question every single action, big or small. If you are so worried about your child being 'tortured', why not take them out and homeschool them at home? No wonder there are so many helicopter parents around nowadays and children cannot find a way to grow up on their own.
Why don't the principal go wear a wig? Or force her mother to wear one.
DeleteWhy does the principal have to wear a wig? She is not the one who initiates the support for the Hair for Hope in the first place. People just cannot accept the fact that others do not have to support whatever you deem is good. You might want to go all out to support it but please don't force it down others' throats.
DeleteWhy does she need to force her mother to wear one? Her mother is not her student. She has no right to discipline her mother. But as an educator and principal, yes, she has the right to ensure those under her charge to follow the rules in the institution.
Yes, then, please don't force your stupid rules onto others too.
DeleteIf you are part of an organization, no choice but to follow the rules and regulations set. Not happy, can always leave. No one is asking you to stay.
DeleteOnly if education is not compulsory.
DeleteThey can always ask to transfer to other schools. There are schools which support this charity openly every year. The fact that they choose to be in St Margaret's means they subject themselves to the strict discipline that helps the school to gain the reputation it has today.
DeleteYeah, now the school truly has a "reputation."
DeleteThese young ladies are brave to go bald. What's so wrong about going bald? Should we ban artists like Michael Jackson, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Kitaro disagree with their hairstyles etc? Should we denounce LGBT kids in the hope that they will become "normal"?
ReplyDeleteBy imposing restrictions before allowing the girls to go bald for charity was a BAD decision in the first place. The school is raising kids who will conform to social norms and expectations, and who will not challenge them. How can a society move forward with time?
It is high time that society tolerates "different" people and ideas. You don't want to live in a sterile society when everyone is boring and unimaginative.
More power to the young ladies!
Yes, I say let them remove their bras in public and burn them, I'm sure alot of horny men would support them (NCC is another matter hor!) I love a dollop of feminists everywhere, they just sex things up with pure passion... wonderful bimbos
DeleteYes, and make sure they shave their pubic hair.
DeleteSo when u were demanded by an authoritative figure for some commitment, no matter what it was, how unreasonable it was, and how insensitive or thoughtful it was based on the notion of total compliance deemed necessary, everyone should have to follow that commitment through and through? You are a total ignorant fool when you keep a unreaosnable promise that demand you to say hold total silence for the rest of your life when you were young, uninformed or worst ill-advised, and you would do it? It is not a matter of keeping promises. It is a matter of doing what is right.
ReplyDeleteWell said !.....it is a matter of doing what is right.
DeleteToo little in SinCity and hopefully not too late.
STForum 10August
ReplyDelete[On Facebook -
Should all schools allow students who shave their heads for charity to sport the bald look?]
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/forum-letters/story/facebook-20130810
I like this comment from the link:
Delete"Let us look at it another way: Are we also condoning theft by students to support their poor families? If the most fundamental condition of living in a society cannot be followed, I fear for the integrity of society. A promise is to be kept and a rule is meant to be inflexible. There is no other way around it."
Another poor analogy here. Theft is obviously a crime. We don't live in the dark ages of robin hood. Please use a better analogy.
DeleteTo counter yours, what do you say about those who join secret societies so that they do not get bullied by others, ending up committing crimes just to honour their "integrity"?
Is keeping integrity more important here?
Who decides that theft is a crime? The rule isn't it? If everyone is going to challenge rules, why not challenge this one and say that as long as the intention is good, this action can no longer be considered a crime instead?
DeleteObviously you are programmed to see things only in black and white. Rules are made by humans to control other humans. People who conform to rules whether they are ridiculous or not are no different from robots.
DeleteWhy not have no rule at all? That would suit you, wouldn't it?
DeleteOr do you just want rule that cater to yourself? If it is convenient for you, then follow. If it is not, question and challenge?
Sometimes one has to commit a crime in order to bring justice to a much bigger crime.
DeleteFor example, the attempt to assassinate Hitler was a crime to any German but definitely it was with good intention.
Let's say some wiseguy decides to release official documents that reveal the actual cost in building HDB flats to wikileaks....
it will be a crime committed no doubt, but you and I know that 85% on this island who live in HDB flats will embrace it as good intention.
Assassinating Hitler is a necessary crime because otherwise, he will continue to cause harm to the masses.
DeleteBy asking the girls to wear wigs or asking them not to participate if they refuse will hardly hurt anyone. Will Hair of Hope suffer any losses if these girls did not participate? Hardly, they can always tap on the support of students from satellite schools or adults. Will it hurt the girls in anyway? No, it just means they won't get their way but they can always find another way to be charitable.
What a strawman argument. The point here is applying flexibility to a stupid rule. The one in authority is expected to make such judgment. Even law has its exceptions as pointed out by yourself. So why not make an exception, for the sake of showing solidarity to cancer patients?
DeleteAiya, she makes an exception already la. If no exception, she wouldn't even allow an 1% chance for the girls to shave in the first place.
DeleteAs a school principal, she could have turned this into a teaching lesson for her students, but she turned it into a fiasco instead. LOL
Delete@ anon 3:04pm,
DeleteThe controversy created by the students and their principal itself has brought great publicity to the Hair of Hope cause.
I tend to view the end result as a win win situation all round.
The students, parents and the principal can now reflect on how they could have interacted better and done things differently.
It is all part of learning and trying new stuff, no real harm done.
Imparting values to younger people is a duty of the elders.
ReplyDeleteThere is agreement on this fact.
What are the values explored and imparted here in this episode?
A) The value of supporting cancer patients and in a larger context, people who are not as well as we are.
B) The value of integrity, keeping to a promise.
C) The value of supporting the school, the fellow students and what they and the school stand for.
D) The value of respect for other people's values.
Yes, it was a "learning moment".
I am uncertain who, and what was learnt and more importantly, how the learning is to be applied in the future.
I suspect that certain parties wanted this episode to be publicised, and the ST obliged. It would be difficult to keep it within the school, since cyber space would escalate it to viral proportions too.
Yet, it is useful in the context of a country that is beginning to test its maturity in dealing with opposing views:
A) To live with rules
B) To live without rules
C) To provide space for individual expressions
D) To be reactive or to be interactive
The school and its values have been in place for longer.
It either stands by it or not.
The parents can instill the value of respect or instill the value of belief in their children. They can achieve both by demonstrating the value of compromise.
If values are mismatched, then a divorce is the best option. Leave the school and find one that does.
Oh please, do they have a choice in the first place? Are you suggesting that the secondary school girls scheme this to set a trap for the principal? Why don't you go write a book on 911 conspiracy theories. It could be a best selling fiction of all times :)
DeleteThey cannot take for granted that seeing the principal means whatever they wish for will be granted. If they don't have a choice, then don't participate. Let's give our secondary school girls more credit: they are capable of more schemes than we can think of, if they want to ;)
DeleteIt takes a scheming person to know one. Please go write a book about it.
DeleteLet's not make this personal when you are at the brink of losing your argument :)
DeleteWho is getting personal? The one insinuating the students to be troublemakers or the one trying to wake up the conspiry theorist?
DeleteThe one that replied 'it takes a scheming person to know one'. Does this person know the previous commenter previously to be able to make such remark conclusively?
DeleteAnd does the person who wrote "they are capable of more schemes than we can think of" know the students to be able to make such remark conclusively?
DeleteMaybe? Who knows he or she know the girls or other teenage girls who are scheming?
DeleteDitto the above.
DeleteBest to remove wearing uniforms for schools.
ReplyDeleteCome as you are.
You can wear whatever you like
You can wear whatever symbol you like to display support.
You can wear a Worker's Party badge ( because you support)
You can wear a tudong ( because you support a belief)
You can wear slippers ( because you support poor )
You can wear yellow,blue,red wrist bands
You can wear a Republican tie-pin
You can wear a Democrat tie-pin
You can wear anything you like. or nothing at all.
But all this is useless if your actions does not stir others... no audience, no effect.
So, being individualistic, independent is not recognised unless you do it within society.
Well, girls, parents you got your 15mins of fame!
Now what?... go for equality and allow boys into the school??.. how about that?
How about being less secular and rename the school? Saint Margaret has too much association with religion.
How about disputing the curriculum?
People already are disputing the curriculum lol.
DeleteToday's Saint Margaret is very different from 60's Saint Margaret. The curriculum has changed. Rules evolves. Spanking is history. It may even become a co-ed school some day.
DeleteI think the girls can soon come to school without bra to support feminine freedom! After all, there is such thing as no bra day celebrated in US.
ReplyDeleteIt should be optional for girls. Practical for those who are flat.
DeleteBy the way, any rules regarding bulge enhancement type of bras for school girls ? How much enhancement is allowed ? Something to post on Heng Swee Kiat's facebook ?
I would expect the teachers going to inspect pubic hairs from now onwards to ensure their stupid np shave hair rules. Hahaha
ReplyDeleteTeachers have more to do that this. Obviously the rule is referring to hair on the head, no pubic hair.
DeleteIf the one upholding the rule does not use her head to make judgement and insist on enforcing everything by the book, then why not, if the rules did not specify it clearly?
DeleteActually, it is stated clearly if you read the entire rulebook:
Deletehttp://www.stmargaretssec.moe.edu.sg/wbn/slot/u1654/School%20Rules%202009.pdf
The principal is not being entirely rigid or inflexible here. She did give the leeway to the students to shave their head if they follow the condition set.
So would an actual St. Margaret student who contracted cancer be allowed to attend the school without a wig? Or would she be coerced into making a promise to wear a wig, no matter how much pain she is already suffering? Would the principal bar other students from showing their shaved heads to express their support for this hypothetical student?
DeleteSomeone who has undergone chemotherapy and experienced loss of hair deserves our sympathy because he/she has no choice because its a side effect of the treatment. Participating in this charity is a choice.
DeleteOh, I see.. so you will only participate in charity if you have no choice. Well done. The society can do without you then.
DeleteThe girls are spoilt for choices if they really want to contribute to charity, unlike cancer patients who have no choice but to lose their hair during chemo treatment. There is no comparison to be made here.
DeleteIf one has cancer (depending on its stage and severity), treatment option (be it chemo or otherwise) is still the patient's or the patient's next-of-kin's choice.
DeleteFor instance, if the patient has Stage 4 cancer, chemo has low likelihood of 'curing' it and hence, the patient still has a choice to not do it.
Come on, if u have to go through chemo to survive, u have to go through chemo.. it is very lame to talk about choice when the other alternative is certain death.
DeleteI know these issues personally because my father died from it - there are no absolutes in treatment. No doctor will tell you that going through chemo or any other thing has a 100% chance of 'curing' cancer.
DeleteUltimately the choice is still the patient's - all the doctor does is to provide the information so that the patient can make an informed decision. BUT it is still a choice.
Oh would the students be required to wear wig on their pp if they shave? Hahahaha
ReplyDeletelol, this is really funny.
DeleteIt would be better if the minister tells the principal to let the girls wear hot-pants. It would be even cooler!
ReplyDeleteOppression. Still don't get it?
ReplyDeleteLook guys ( and gals ) pick an issue worth fighting will you?
ReplyDeleteThis is school.You've done that already. ( havent you?)
Pick the 2016 elections lah..
Pick the CPF
Pick the ERP
Pick the COE
Pick the NS
Pick the GRC
Pick the salaries
Now, those are issues worth the time and spit!
Wigs? Bald heads?.. awww... come on man!
Exactly. This debate is getting a bit tiring now. Move on guys.
DeletePick on AIM
DeletePick on the President that does nothing useful.
If you look at the whole picture with clarity of mind, the hairless episode began with the principal demanding the girls to make a promise to wear wig after they shaved their hairs. This is absolutely unnecessary and uncalled for. The principal’s was blinded by dogmatism about ‘proper’ image of girls and not letting them stands out among other students. She was obsessed with the need for conformity. I am saying all these based on her actual action and reported news. I am not making wild allegations. Nevertheless, I am prepared to give the principal the benefit of doubt that she had the interest of the school in her head.
ReplyDeleteThe spirit behind the school rules is about proper behaviour and decorum hence guidelines on hair length, style, colour, etc. Therefore, any students who intentionally go against these guidelines are breaking the rules. However, if you use just a modicum of common sense, would the same rule apply to someone whose religion requires her to wear her head bald? Or if the student is a cancer patient? Interpreting the rule to the letter means that both cannot be bald-headed! Now, if the rule does not apply to both, would you not say there is an EXCEPTION to the rule?
By extension, the 5 girls did not intentionally violate the school rules. They went bald because the fund-raising event required them to shave their hairs for good reasons. I do not for one moment thinks the other students will link the girls’ action to breaking school rules.
Rules aside, the students made a promise. Did they voluntarily make the promise or coerce into it? Who required them to make the promise? Was the promise the girls’ own VOLITION? Those who hold that a promise must be kept failed to realize the context and circumstance and go strictly by the letter. Again, it is dogmatism - not looking at the context and how the promise was made. A promise is an agreement. In law, an agreement can be VOIDED. I shall not launch into a lecture on contract law but the promise made by the girls can be voided!
Do you then know exactly how the promise was made? Do you have a recording of how the girls were being forced into making it?
DeleteHahaha.. then do you have a recording that a promise is ever made?
DeleteThe girls themselves admitted to making the promise; the parents backed them up in this case.
DeleteYeah... wait till your daughters come home with a tattoo, highly visible and they claim that its in support for Greenpeace to ban whaling by the Japanese.
ReplyDeleteYou gonna like that right?
You gonna support them right?
You gonna tell the world you are proud of your kid's
stand and beliefs yeah??
There are certain things in life where an adult should weigh with wisdom and pass that wisdom on. This is that moment.
Most will say they are ok with it. Most probably they have yet to experience it themselves. Until one day their own son comes back in skirt or dress and say they do it in support of the gay movement :P
DeleteYou are most certainly mistaken. Many people who are against LGBT change their beliefs when they realize that their children are one of them.
DeleteYou will grow wiser with age/maturity. Few things are absolute in life...
Wait to your sons join the secret society to fight for honour. Encourage them to keep a promise and leaving the gang will mean cutting off their pinkie.
DeleteJoining secret society to fight for honour? No thanks, I will teach my children to channel their time and energy into something else where they can fight for honour. They are not limited to just joining secret society if they want to fight for honour, just like how they girls are not limited to Hair for Hope if they really want to fight for the cancer patients.
DeleteJust read the school's website. Says "Our Motto - Charity, Devotion, Patience".
ReplyDeleteYet Mdm Marion Tan is telling her students "I support your charity act but on condition you put a wig after the shave". In other words, just do 50%, no need all the way. Instead of Bald is Beautiful, is becoming Cancer & Cover Up.
Everything else on the webiste is 'so lovely', self-congratulatory and idyllic....Usually academy self-promoting twaddle. It is glowing with self-adulation and aspirational values such as
Upholding Integrity
Learning Continuously
Taking Pride
Being Resilient
Showing Care
So much for showing care. The kind of mixed messages we send to our kids these days, they must be very confused.
I support your desire for knowledge.
DeleteJust make sure you "Read the right things."
THe principal needs a new principle!
DeleteLet's look at what she missed out on a teachable moment, where she could have easily said "5 girls went in for a barber shave, 5 ladies walked out".
http://fox5sandiego.com/2013/06/12/kids-shave-heads-to-support-friend/#axzz2bcriQktG
If the kids are confused in school because of their teachers and principal, they will soon be "enlightened" when they join the work force as a non elite. They will learn new stuff like nepotism, cronyism, underhand tactics, gerrymandering, misinformation, character assassination, lawsuits, lying , speaking with forked tongue, etc, etc....so many topics not covered in school.
DeleteIn fact, those kids who have been encouraged to read S.T. must be wondering why their teachers never mention about the 149 ranking.
Surely, they ought to be reading from more reliable sources for reference, right ? LOL
This incident shows two things:
ReplyDelete(i) How even leaders in schools are that stupid - here a principal actually regards the Act itself (shaving bald) without regarding the REASON behind the act. In other words, shaving bald as a form of social protest and shaving bald as a form of charity.
If a principal can be that stupid... you expect the VP and teachers to be better?
(ii) It also shows how much control the PAP has in appointing the leaders, dictating the policies in education - one word from the PAP and things can be turned from black to white.
So the current lack of significant address to Singaporeans' problems shows a lack of motivation from the PAP, rather than the lack of ability - the PAP can do it FAST, but they chose not to.
Just to generalise how the entire teaching population behaves based on this one principal also shows how much wisdom you have. It's like if your father is a criminal, then you are also no better. But we have known otherwise.
DeleteIf you have so little faith in the teaching population nowadays, may I suggest you homeschool your own children next time. You can then ensure they are never exposed to such 'stupid' teachers and principals in the future. People like you make educators question why they want to remain in the profession in the first place.
Singaporeans, students and teachers alike, are well-known for being docile and subservient. While I agree that generalisations are wrong, the fact that none of the principal's subordinates actually advised her the contrary is quite telling.
DeleteSingapore's educational system helps to foster this via the model answer regurgitating approach. Singapore's 'educational' system is about getting qualifications, it's not about education.
It has been remarked before - Singaporeans are well-qualified but poorly educated.
Teachers nowadays are more like administrators than teachers. And teaching nowadays is more like practice drilling to handle exams rather than learning for learning's sake. It's all about exam performance. As teachers, we know exam performance of the students we teach affects our performance evaluation.
DeleteIs it true to say that you can't be a school principal unless you are a card carrying member of PAP?
ReplyDeleteShould all school principals be required to publicly declare their political party affiliations?
STForum 12August
ReplyDelete[Respect autonomy of school principal]
Marietta Koh (Mrs)
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/forum-letters/story/respect-autonomy-school-principal-20130812
STForum Online 12 August
[Matter resolved but reflects badly on all]
Leng Kok Meng
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/forum-letters/story/matter-resolved-reflects-badly-all-20130812
[U-turn on wigs a win-win for all]
Clinton Lim
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/forum-letters/story/u-turn-wigs-win-win-all-20130812
I guess a contract made by minors can be voidable. Hence the girls do not have the legal obligation to fulfill the contract terms and conditions. Lesson learnt: pls get the parents' approval and consent together with the students' signature whenever you want to set any condition for them.
ReplyDelete