Future for VS

Sure many of you saw the article in the Straits Times and Today Online
Here is the link to the article

Well, many thoughts and voices are up and about on the net. However, here is a little light of the issue shed by a VS alumni and fellow educator that I believe sheds a new insight on the issue. Beyond the issues of the Integrated Program, the Co-ed issue, or even merger; his view on what it means to teach and educate in Victoria School (or for that matter, any school) strike a chord deep within me.

So here it is from fjmv, Victorian- Class of 83
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My Dearest Fellow Victorians,

I am not good in my English Language but I shall attempt to write something from my heart. This is more meant for those who walked through both VS and VJC. For my fellow VJ friends who had not come from VS, feel free to also read it. Perhaps it may give you some insights into why VS students fight so passionately about this issue. Let me begin….

Remember a day in 1983, we were told that there will be a college soon to be named after Victoria. Recall the joy and jubilation in our hearts….the hearts of young 16 year old boys who knew nothing much about the world outside but all eager and ready to do what it takes to keep another Victorian flag unfurled (the VJC flag that is).

Without much hesitation, almost all of us chose VJC as our first choice. At that point of time, we did not know if VJC would ever emerge as a top college. The thoughts in our minds then were not whether in future, we could name a top college in our resume or whether we belong to an elite school that rule or own Singapore. All we wanted was to be able to help her grow because she carries the name we loved.

Have you ever thought why we had behaved so ‘senselessly’ during that time? Why had we not gone to the top colleges at that time so that we can be associated with the elite of Singapore?

What had Victoria done to brainwash us to do such a ‘senseless’ act…that is to go to a totally new college…with no reputation to begin with?

Did Victoria taught us to be the top academically…otherwise we do not deserved to be a Victorian? Did Victoria insisted that we must obtain GOLD in uniformed groups, sports and the aesthetics…..otherwise we do not deserved to be a Victorian? I would like to believe not. We had behaved so ‘senselessly’ because we came from a school who loved us no matter what, spur us on even when we fail, reprimand us when we do wrong, teach us to grow up with a heart.

We had given two of the best years of our lives to help build a NAME we believed in, a college which we hope to pass on to our fellow junior Victorians. Many Victorians, who came before us (but did not have the privilege to be VJ students), also contributed much time and money to the college for the same believe. But each year, as the cut-off point for VJ goes lower and lower, fewer and fewer VS students qualify for VJC (about 100 out of 320 a year). Imagine you are a true-blooded VS student who worked hard, wished to continue to keep the Victoria flag unfurled but could not.

Have we given birth to a college, only to have it squashed the ‘mother’ to death?
Is being the best and the most renowned the only way to keep the Victorian flag unfurled?

Do spare a minute to reflect on the poem written by Prof Edwin Thumboo (see your yearbook), which we all loved so much. Think of what drove him to write these words:

‘We did not returned to you mother, because we never really left’

Would we not love Victoria if she had dropped from 10th position to 50th position in ranking? No way, we would still love her because she first loved us!

VICTORIANS, FIGHT ON!!!!


From a humble VS boy of the 1983 batch, pioneer VJ student,
Who did not make it big in society today
But believed that Victoria loved him nonetheless
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Look deep enough beyond the murky surface and we can see that our Victorian here has pierced the veil of ambiguity and hit the nail right on the spot.

In short, we are not mere Sons of Victoria
We are Suns of Victoria because we shine, now and always for her.

Nil Sine Labore