"Give offenders a chance!" - Singapore's Online Community

**violette** · 04-02-2007, 01:53 AM

	Quote:
	A Fuhua Secondary School student is very unhappy about her school grooming exercise, and how students are affected by what they see is an act of humiliation. “I am upset that recently during morning assembly the school checked the girls, and I thought offenders would be giving a warning, and get a chance to get their hair cut after school. However it was not so. The offenders were sent to the principal’s office and their fringes were cut short. These students came out crying as they looked ugly. I think this was a public act of humiliation. Everyone wants to look good but with this hairstyle, if you were them you won’t step out of the house to face other people. And these students will care more about how their hair looks now and not concentrate on their studies. I think the principal just made things worse. My friend’s two friends cried for almost two hours and couldn’t even concentrate in class and in their CCA. What’s the point of making us feel so humiliated we can’t concentrate on our studies? I thought education should come first. Furthermore, the principal should at least give the offenders a chance before doing this; the students can pin up or cut their hair themselves. I feel that the principal is in the wrong to just cut away the students’ hair like that without caring about how they feel and never even give them chances to go cut their hair after school or to pin them up. Also, the principal scolds students who wear jackets in school when it's cold. They feel we wear the jacket as a fashion statement and said that it's not part of the school’s attire and we shouldn’t be wearing them even if it’s cold or windy. We’re told to report to the office if we are really sick and they will call our parents, and then allow us to wear our jackets. But there isn’t a jacket designed for us to wear. Should we all go sew the school logo on our jackets before we are allowed to wear them? The principal actually wants students who wear coloured bras to remove them and get their parents to bring white bras for them to change into, but what happens if both parents are working? Should the girl go walking around the school without a bra? Worse, this is a co-ed school and it’s humiliation to the girls. The principal doesn’t care about how we really feel. Toilet lights are also switched off to save electricity bills and we can hardly see in the afternoons. It is almost pitch-black on rainy days. The only time when the toilet lights are switched on again is when important guests visit, which I think is really unfair to us students. The school would rather spend money building a statue and it look nothing more that a man with two thumbs up and place it among some bushes. I think it’s a waste of money and the school actually saves money from electricity bills to build that statue which is of no use at all. They should rather go spend the money helping poor and needy students. I really hope the school will concentrate more on our education than on grooming and making us feel so humiliated.”

Fuhua Secondary School's response to this issue here:

	Quote:
	"Grace period and extensions are always given," responded Mr Phor Hoay Guan, Vice Principal, Fuhua Secondary School after STOMP contacted the school following a student's email to us. Mr Phor explained that students who "fall short of expectations" are monitored by teachers to ensure they do comply with rules. This is the email Fuhua Secondary replied. "In Fuhua Secondary, discipline and pastoral care form the foundation for our approach towards a holistic education for our pupils. The school nurtures and encourages each pupil to develop a sense of discipline. One component of discipline is the observance of school rules." The students who "fall short of expectations", are monitored and advised by teachers. Should they fail to comply with rules they are warned, and sterner disciplinary action taken against the offenders. The school also explains the reason for switching off toilet lights, that these "are efforts towards energy-saving", and that this message was conveyed to staff and students when the practice was implemented in 2005. The lights, the school clarifies, are switched on during rainy days or when the sky is dark.

**Yongjin** · 04-02-2007, 06:12 AM

most sch now adays r carp... the principals r not experience n always base on "biz" concept n not "edu" concept...:devil2:

**younjin** · 04-02-2007, 08:46 AM

Offenders should alawys be given a chance to change. It's a must.

M1Garand8 · 04-02-2007, 09:06 AM

If this is bad, you should have seen my secondary school - they cut your hair right in front of EVERYBODY. At least Fuhua had good taste to call the girls into the principal office. I am getting an impression that the girls were already given chances before but they didn't treasure, I mean, even my secondary school warned a few times before the "on-stage" cutting.

**younjin** · 04-02-2007, 09:08 AM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by M1Garand8
	If this is bad, you should have seen my secondary school - they cut your hair right in front of EVERYBODY. At least Fuhua had good taste to call the girls into the principal office. I am getting an impression that the girls were already given chances before but they didn't treasure, I mean, even my secondary school warned a few times before the "on-stage" cutting.

This is too much. In Canada if this happens, taht teacher goes to jail.

M1Garand8 · 04-02-2007, 09:09 AM

Nah, OM or DM cut one, teachers do the warning. =x

**younjin** · 04-02-2007, 09:11 AM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by M1Garand8
	Nah, OM or DM cut one, teachers do the warning. =x

Whatever it is, humiliating a being in the public is wrong in Canada and I think most western countries. We are all humans and we have human rights. I think Singapore really lack of that.

M1Garand8 · 04-02-2007, 09:22 AM

Yeah, but people from the east have different views from the west. I feel that school did this as a deterence, and it was pretty effective (or that my school had more problem with dyed hair).

**younjin** · 04-02-2007, 09:25 AM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by M1Garand8
	Yeah, but people from the east have different views from the west. I feel that school did this as a deterence, and it was pretty effective (or that my school had more problem with dyed hair).

But is it worth it to risk a student's pride and ego for the sake of school's rules?

M1Garand8 · 04-02-2007, 09:37 AM

Ego, yes. Pride, no. If you factor ego into everything you do, you're going to have a lot of problems with everyone and everything. The cutting was more of a "last resort" by the school. I mean, those guys/girls get their fringes cut off during assembly were those who refused to listen to the warnings, they just don't care. In fact, one of my friend (who always got into trouble regarding his hair) got countless warnings, called up a few times during assembly (thankfully always on the days we were on the quadrangle, so they can hide a bit, althoguh visible to many). I know it's not an effective punishment, but there are people who just don't listen and don't care. I wouldn't mind strict school rules if they turn out humble and responsible students.

P.S. I forgot to add, the "on-stage" punishment were given only after repeat offenses, including after getting caught first time and asked to go to the barber for haircut before rejoining school.

**younjin** · 04-02-2007, 10:07 AM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by M1Garand8
	Ego, yes. Pride, no. If you factor ego into everything you do, you're going to have a lot of problems with everyone and everything. The cutting was more of a "last resort" by the school. I mean, those guys/girls get their fringes cut off during assembly were those who refused to listen to the warnings, they just don't care. In fact, one of my friend (who always got into trouble regarding his hair) got countless warnings, called up a few times during assembly (thankfully always on the days we were on the quadrangle, so they can hide a bit, althoguh visible to many). I know it's not an effective punishment, but there are people who just don't listen and don't care. I wouldn't mind strict school rules if they turn out humble and responsible students. P.S. I forgot to add, the "on-stage" punishment were given only after repeat offenses, including after getting caught first time and asked to go to the barber for haircut before rejoining school.

I think that teachers should try every method with a student before really resorting to such extent of public humiliation. I mean, the teacher first has to really understand why the student is doing something like that and work from there. Some teachers I know, they really don't give a flying shit if you like it or not. They'll just punish you according to the rule that the 3rd strike and you're gone.

Hair problems are small matters. Why go to such extent? Are they stealing? Are they fighting? Nope. It's just HAIR.

For hair, the teacher cut their hair for them, how can they go home with it looking so ugly (in their own opinions and friends)?

This way, some students might even HATE coming to school until their hair grows back. I'm sure you have seen students like that before.

Yes, it DOES prove to show that the method will mellow other students down. But did you push the real motive into the students' heads? Did you pass the right message across? Or did you just pass the message that, "if you don't do something about your own hair, you are going to come on stage with me to cut off your hair. 3 warnings ya. 3 warnings and your hair will be gone infront of the whole school."
That way?

Most students don't even care. So what makes you think cutting their hair will do much difference? Some get their hair cut infront of the school for the whole of their high school years.

Most imp. is to pass the right rule and message across to the students instead of implementing public shame. Private talks and private punishments are better off.

PS: [If you factor ego into everything you do, you're going to have a lot of problems with everyone and everything.] -

Wrong. If you factor ego in everything you do, you will not hurt other people's egos and you would work much better with everyone else. Don't you think? Ego is very important. W/out ego you are nothing as well.

Fool · 04-02-2007, 12:49 PM

if those students cant keep to the rules, serves them right isnt it? then again, jacket thing is totally retarded, and coloured bras, students should know that they should only wear white ones, i mean they know the rules and they still break it? and that student said "It is almost pitch-black on rainy days." really lame in this way of saving money

M1Garand8 · 04-02-2007, 01:23 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by younjin
	I think that teachers should try every method with a student before really resorting to such extent of public humiliation. I mean, the teacher first has to really understand why the student is doing something like that and work from there. Some teachers I know, they really don't give a flying shit if you like it or not. They'll just punish you according to the rule that the 3rd strike and you're gone. Hair problems are small matters. Why go to such extent? Are they stealing? Are they fighting? Nope. It's just HAIR. For hair, the teacher cut their hair for them, how can they go home with it looking so ugly (in their own opinions and friends)? This way, some students might even HATE coming to school until their hair grows back. I'm sure you have seen students like that before. Yes, it DOES prove to show that the method will mellow other students down. But did you push the real motive into the students' heads? Did you pass the right message across? Or did you just pass the message that, "if you don't do something about your own hair, you are going to come on stage with me to cut off your hair. 3 warnings ya. 3 warnings and your hair will be gone infront of the whole school." That way? Most students don't even care. So what makes you think cutting their hair will do much difference? Some get their hair cut infront of the school for the whole of their high school years. Most imp. is to pass the right rule and message across to the students instead of implementing public shame. Private talks and private punishments are better off. PS: [If you factor ego into everything you do, you're going to have a lot of problems with everyone and everything.] - Wrong. If you factor ego in everything you do, you will not hurt other people's egos and you would work much better with everyone else. Don't you think? Ego is very important. W/out ego you are nothing as well.

Actually, the teachers were pretty lenient (for my school), my form teacher actually gave chances on spot checks, only sending us out after the second time (I had no much trouble with school rules anyway, only for fingernails, which my form teacher is very lenient about it). It was the DM and OM who did the cutting, and as I said, it was done as a last resort (ususally they just get the students to go to the nearby barber to cut the hair and return to school).

I do agree with you, rules and punishment don't always convey the right message but what school wants is to just make sure that their student conform to the requirements the school had stated, and of course to prevent the students from looking too outlandish (what schools want their students to look "fashionable" or "outlandish"? To them, the students are here to study and all they want is the students to look presentable) and the school basically use the punishment as to say "No, you can't do this".

I think both of us is talking about the wrong "ego", you're talking about motivation by self-interest and I'm talking about self-centeredness. Seriously, how are you going to work with others when you go "me only" or "I am right, you are wrong" attitude?