The Naughty Boys

We like to say that those mischiefs the boys of Sec 3B Science did to our teachers are now looked back with fondness.  Upon deep reflections about why we did what we did to our poor teachers, we rationalise, having now grown much older, that  playing practical jokes, including verbal jokes, on the teacher was a way expressing our affection for that teacher. If it was, it is 1966 Reverse Psychology! Since we were so used to playing verbal jokes on him, Mr. Egypt treated every remark by students who had a habit of arguing with him with suspicion, even when remarks were meant to be serious. There was a amusing interaction between Chan Yau Seng and Mr. Egypt. During one lesson, Egypt said bridges were typically made of wood or metal.  Yau Seng added a very innocent comment "they can also be made of ropes" - second nature for some of us to pass comment either out of convoluted friendliness or out of love of giving him a jab every now and then.  Mr. Egypt th...

This is the official photo of the School Staff in 1966. By early 1966, Mr Philip Liau succeeded Mr E W Jesudason as the Principal of Raffles Institution. Both were very strict disciplinarians, running the School with iron fists, imposing their visions and their ambitions for the School. Although the boys feared them, we all subscribed to the need of keeping the School in shape; we believed that this would maintain RI at the pole position among all secondary schools in Singapore. Anglo Chinese School (ACS), St Joseph’s Institution, Victoria Secondary School, St Andrew’s School all stood far behind RI. Of special note was the Rafflesian Spirit then. It was palpable. It stirred us on not only to pledge loyalty to the School but also to achieve the aspirations and ambitions our principal and teachers had for us. Unlike other schools, the boys came from all backgrounds, many from families with humble means. We were chosen by merit after completing the PSLE, Primary Six Leaving Exam...

Annex E Building of Raffles Institution The Sec 3B Science classroom was in the Annex Building E of Raffles Institution which was at the junction of North Bridge Road and Bras Basah Road. The site is now occupied by the Raffles City Complex. No one knew why it was called Annex E. It started life as Raffles Girls School. By the time this photo, which is from the Singapore National Archives, was taken  RGS had moved location to Anderson Road Location of our Class Sec 3B Science Our classroom was located as shown on the first floor and faced the very large Raffles Institution field. From our classroom, we could view many football and rugby matches between class lessons.  In those days with old buildings, access to our classroom was by way of entering into another class Sec 3A Science, i.e. we must disturb the lesson in the A class each time we need to enter our classroom. This makes going to the toilet difficult. It also means that we cannot be late for any le...

The Singapore Flag The National Pledge of Singapore, an oath of allegiance, was first introduced in August 1966. It was an initiative by the Ministry of Education and approved by government. So when it was first introduced, the schoolchildren will recite the pledge at the start of the school day. This routine has stood the test of time. More than 50 years later, students are still reciting the pledge today. At the beginning of nationhood, the pledge became a rallying cry for the country and has engendered a sense of pride. commitment and faithfulness for many succeeding generations of school children.  It all started with us in Sec 3B Science, we were the first batch of Singapore schoolchildren who recited this pledge. At that time there were two sessions in school, the morning and afternoon sessions. Secondary 1 to 3 classes were in the afternoon session and Sec 4 to Pre-university 2, the morning session. It was like a rite of passage when we moved from the afternoon to t...

Class Photo Sec 3B Science. Form Teacher Mr Charanjit Singh In 1966, 44 boys wearing school uniforms of white shirts and short pants with the school badge of their famous school, Raffles Institution, affixed to their left breast pocket started their ninth year of education. This was the Secondary 3B Science class. Fifty-four years have passed and these ex-Rafflesians are still reminiscing the many schoolboy pranks and exploits in that infamous class, gleefully sharing with each other, now 68 to 70 years old,  their grandfathers' stories. This blog is an attempt to capture all our memories, many of which are still vividly etched in our minds. Wang Swee Chuang shared a song to express his sentiments. It is song by Love Affair, 'Bringing on Back the Good Times' (click on title). Recalling the good times would be a major aim of this Blog. 1966 was to be a year of hope for the nascent state of Singapore. Just the year before, on 9 August 1965 Singapore was unceremoniou...