Victoria Thy SONS are we, and we will not forget...

Just came back from a dialogue session at VS...

All in all... it was a rather emotional dialogue...due to emotions pouring out from Victorians... all the way back from 1940(Victoria primary school one... that one really old bird), to seasoned birds like me... and new birds... those just graduated one... but i think that was mainly because that everyone actually came with a different thought..... because there is word floating around of VS possibly going co-ed, or doing a merger with VJC.... but in fact... it was mainly a session for discussion of what we can do to improve VS...

Personally though.... judging from the speech of the VJC principal... who keeps reminding everyone that he is only 4 months into the job... i think they are trying to do a co-ed of VS... plus merge with VJC from there.... to do the IP....
That's my personal thought... don't quote me....

The whole session started with a rather fierce response from some of the very old boys... because everyone had a different idea of what the session is for... so alot keep complaining that the 2 principals are not answering alot of questions and beating around the bush... which i found that it was rather true....
I actually didn't have much of an idea of what they are talking about after sitting there for half an hour.... partially because i went late.... but yar... it just seem to me that they are really skirting the issue...

But after some rather straight to the point, and without the usual VS style lameness and funniness.... i think the 2 principals finally got what the whole lot of us actually wanted to know...
Examples are like what you can skirt the issues, but skirt are out for me... haha.... LaMe...

Some points to share... which i personally agree whole-heartedly...

Well... firstly...it is definitely true that there is the risk of destroying a 130+ years of Victorian tradition if the principals decides to go co-ed...for the sake of IP.. because i believe it will come naturally in order to maintain the sex balance in VJC.... i suppose... haha...
And like what 1 guy pointed out... what will happen if the whole thing doesn't work out in the end?A single mistake could ruin the tradition built up over so many years by so many Victorians... Are the principals going to take responsibility after their 4 years stint at the school? Are they going to change VS back to an all boys school, and throw the girls out?

Honestly though.... the VS spirit is what we VS guys created.... not saying that girls can't have it... but it would just be so different.... it's just so wrong.... weird.... crazy....
Can you imagine a cedar boy? Or a Crescent boy? Or St. Nic boy?
Anyway.... that's besides the point... the VS spirit is a guy's thing... just like how acting cute is a girl's thing.... ^_^ ( don't curse me for this.... it's just an example)

Alot of people also pointed out that the talks of merger or going co-ed is basically all about academic results....
To a certain extend... it is true that VS don't have very good academic results at the end...
But education... is not just all about academic.... it is suppose to be an all rounded holistic approach to nurture a a person to be successful in life... and we do have alot to show.... like our President S.R. Nathan... and i just found out from the heritage center... our ex-CDF, LG Ng is also an old boy.... cool man...

What VS is nurturing are actually people who can be successful in life.... not just academically... you can't find that else where... it's the one and only Victoria tradition...
But supporting facts from another speaker though.. is that VS academic is definitely improving... and our sports and CCA cultures remaining as strong ,if not better...

So... like 1 guy mention... why mend something that is not broken? We are definitely not lousy.... but of course.. we can be better.... which i feel should be the real point of the dialogue with the old boys... they should have mentioned from the start how we want to improve VS.. such that it can achieve well in both academically, and in CCAs... as well in life... while retaining the tradition... boy's style...

IP is one of the way.. but it is not the only way... surely there are several other academic models we can choose to take, and not just following what the other top schools are doing... we should do things the VS style...

Personally... i still believe in VS being what VS is... and always will be... an institution to nurture boys into successful leaders in life.... what they really need to do is to improve the quality of teachers in the school.... like spending money to maintain good teachers in the school...

It is common sense that by taking in only the brightest of the cohort, will eventually lead to the school to come in tops as well...
But what would be even better is that the school can take normal grades students, and them into intelligent leaders in all aspect...
I believe this would do more justice to the world.... instead of letting only the smartest get the best teachers and education system...

Co-ed is a definitely no... but merger or IP is still an option... a suggestion would be to take in girls from sister schools....

Some say VS guys are pulling down the results of VJC.... i won't comment on that... but seriously... take a look at who is contributing to the sports medals of the college? Cross country boys... where are they all from?
All from VS... definitely....
Some examples of Victorians being successful in other colleges.... SRJC 16th ODAC President... who is he? Where is he from? ( it's a fact... don't deny it.... Muahaha....)

So is the ODAC VP... health and fitness club VP...TPJC Fitness club President.... just to name a few....
Where are they all from? ( all the same one lar... haha)


The point is there.... Victorians are definitely good... in their own ways... and we excel differently.... adding girls in is definitely wrong... and you risk spoiling the blood and sweat of all of us who has done so much for the school...
Improve the academic results with good teachers.... spend more resources on an all rounded holistic education for the boys... don't bother even looking into co-ed man.... this is my personal appeal....


We are what we are.... VS boys... and i bet those who just joined VJC.... be it boys or girls... will never be able to understand what is the true Victorian spirit...

At the end of it all... we ended with the school song... and surprisingly... i remembered every single word... even after not singing it for so long.... i can't even remember the melody of my college song now.... haha....
And yep... the signature spelling cheer....

The only regret is that... i didn't start one myself... because my group there very small... only 4 of us... then like not much strength.... or else usually i would be the one to start 1....
Well... too bad.... too few of my closer friends are there.... maybe at the next forum... jio more to come... then i will definitely lead one man.... haha....

Awww.... what fond memories....

Oh yar... also bought a VS dry-fit shirt... quite nice... but rather expensive... $25.... kao.... they really know how to make money from old boys man... but well... the passion is definitely priceless..... ^_^

Some rather fresh newsjust found out while talking on the msn with Baldwin... the new principal of VS is actually Baldwin's cousin!!!!

Cool man.... from Havard one leh... don't play play... haha....
Wa... if he younger abit... then everyday no need to study also can go VJC....


This one is super lengthy.... well... my VS spirit is still burning high within me... haha.... so got to talk more... i'm not too sure if the sequence of my points go well.... and maybe i did repeat some points... but yar.... basically the main points are there....

That's all.....
Nil Sine Labore

Victoria Thy Sons are we, and we will not forget......