Victoria School

2007-03-29T22:23:00.000+08:00

Recently, both Victoria School and Victoria Junior College are in discussion about merging VS and VJC into an institution providing 6 years of education from Sec 1 to JC 2 and it will be 6 years of co-ed education for all Victorians. This will also translate to Victoria School ceasing as an all boys' school.

As this proposal is very close to the hearts of many Victorians (past & present) and will much re-define what "Victoria" means to many, the principals Mr.Low Eng Teong and Mr. Chan Poh Meng, of VS and VJC respectively, would like to invite all alumni of VS and VJC for a forum session where details of this proposal will be presented to all. At the forum, you can put forth your views/ideas/ reflections.

- So where is our alma mater heading? What's your view?! -

Venue : Victoria School Auditorium
Address : 2 Siglap Link, Singapore 448880
Date : 18 April 2007, Wednesday
Time : 7:30pm

PS: Pls RSVP by 17 Apr/1200hr to info@ova.org. sg for logistics planning

(The above was taken from the OVA Forums at http://www.ova.org.sg/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=31)

You can also have your say in the (online) Forum at http://nilsinelabore.info/forum/

ST

2005-10-29T09:15:00.000+08:00

if you were to read the editorial on page 3. the article was very badly toned.
anyway, so be it.

Victoria School Open House 2005

2005-10-23T10:51:00.000+08:00

The Victoria School Open House 2005 will be held on the 29th of October, 9am - 2pm.

More details avaliable at the website which can be found at http://openhouse.vs.moe.edu.sg

whats next?

2005-09-21T23:19:00.000+08:00

sounds like something from my written report.

anyway, thanks xiwei for a very glowing commentary.
bottom line, we have only done so little.
(sorry if this seems to undercut you wei)

in the space of 2months? we have done nothing.
we have moved Victoria, nowhere.

we are still the same as we were 2 months ago,
albeit now with a value-added rating to put on our yearbook
or in front of the school on a banner.

but reality, we have gone nowhere in this,
its was a mere side-step.
a distraction.
pussy-footing.

to the sec4s, please dont be complacent.
every person matters.

if you're a 40pter for prelims, aim to get into a JC,
it can be done. you dont want to be the one that brings VS down again.

if you're a single-digiter already,
keep going. VJC is waiting.
or if you dont want to go to a JC, make sure that you get into the Poly course of your choice.

as Mr. Ang used to write in our report cards,
"press on".

with the release of yesterday's school rankings,
Victoria has more to lose than ever before.

remember,
nil sine labore.

one last lap guys.
push.

We Did It!

2005-09-21T22:53:00.000+08:00

It's official. Victoria School is officially not going co-educational. WE DID IT! All our hard work has finally paid off! It's been a nail-biting experience for all of us, but we've proved that Victoria stands firm once again.

Throughout this whole experience, Victorians from all walks of life, at all ages, banded together to resist what would be a knife-wound to Victoria, and as such, managed to keep the tradition and flame of Victoria burning! It is amazing to see how much Victoria actually means to us, and how we, regardless of where we are now, or what we are doing, still care so much for VS. We have seen through this episode the passion, the fire, the spirit still present in Victorians everywhere, and the desire to keep VS above the quicksand.

However, the problem my friends, is still at large. We have not as yet solved the issue at hand, and as such, i would like to urge all of you, every Victorian out there, to continue serving Victoria, and to help out in any way possible. Please do not give up the fight for VS, and continue to keep her torch burning brightly, and the legacy of Victoria School to keep on shining!

We welcome all the help we can get, and we would once again like to urge all Victorians, to volunteer their services in anyway possible. Thanks to everyone for their help, their support, and we couldn't have done it without you. Thank you, Victoria.

Victoria In Singapore,
There are other schools we know,
Victoria is something more,
The school that watch'd us grow.

For here we've learnt and striven too.
And played the sportsman's game;
Victoria, we give to you
The honour that you claim.

Victoria thy sons are we,
And we will not forget,
Victoria thy triumphs see,
And victories we share yet.

For others came before and went,
And carried to the world,
Victoria's fame and our intent
To keep her flag unfurled.

NIL SINE LABORE

The Team

We Never Really Left

2005-09-20T21:25:00.000+08:00

if you cant see it. go here, MOE PRESS RELEASE

if you can, rejoice that we are a Band 1 school.

more importantly, look at the Value Added Ranking (3rd column with a white star).
We used to be a value NEGATIVE school.

this says alot.

who told us that we cant do it?
who said that we cant?
who said that the Victorian Spirit does NOTHING for our grades.

we say, Victoria thy sons are we.

thank you Victoria.
you have made us who we are.

for those who know me.
i personaly owe her all.
if anything, that is a testament to everything.

lets hope for more good news soon.

Mass Mail

2005-09-18T20:56:00.000+08:00

Dear Victorians,

Thank you for signing the petition; it has come a long way in charting the response and direction in which Victorians want to see VS go.

For those who have signed up for the Sec 4 mentoring program, we thank you once again for volunteering your time and effort back to Victoria. As of now, we’re finalizing the roster and we wish to inform all that those who have signed up that you have to state the specific times you are able to come down before we are able to roster you in. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

The roster can be checked at http://roster.jonaize.com. For those who still wish to sign up for the mentoring program, the form can be found at http://vs.jonaize.com/. We hope that more Victorians from the 2004 batch can sign up for this program, especially during the period after your promotional exams (for those in a JC or CI).

Thank you

The Team

rosters

2005-09-17T12:56:00.000+08:00

alright, people.
we have news.

our long awaited roster is out!
to view which days you are rostered to come down please view the calendar here.

the roster has only been updated for those who have replied to us this past week.
the rest, please email us again, or sms us. thanks.

lets get it started.
i hope people are still visiting this blog.
although i doubt it.

mass emails team?

Updates

2005-09-13T18:35:00.000+08:00

we're sorry that there have been no updates since EMD. but we've all been incredibly busy with school since most of us are in JC, and the rest in Poly, that we really didnt have time to update anyone.

well, now that we do.
we have compiled a list of 40 names that have sent in their details
for those that want to help in the program.
for those of you who want to sign up, click here.

the actual date of the forum will be set soon.
check back here for more updates.

seems that the initial hype has died down alot.
but now that the fervour has died
we'll get down to doing the real stuff.

bcos thats what gentlemen do.

we'll see you guys at the help program for the Sec 4s.
as well as at the forum.

Thanks!

2005-09-02T23:49:00.000+08:00

Thanks everyone for an excellent night at The Evening Of Music and Drama tonight! It was a great success, and kudos to those who help organise and prepare such an excellent event! To John Cheo, Nicholas Kang and the whole gang, to Miss Koh and the rest of the teachers, great show, and a job well done! This event really did help us see more clearly what VS is to us, and given the cheering at the end of the performance, it was one of the best we've ever seen in VS. It was really amazing to see adult Victorians with their children and families coming down to watch the event, and to see us cheer! Thanks once again, and keep the Victorian spirit alive!

Cheers!

Evening Of Music and Drama

2005-08-31T01:30:00.000+08:00

Date : 2nd September 2005 (Friday)
Showtimes : Matinee ($4)
Evening ($8)
Venue : VS Auditorium

Proceeds for the evening show will go to the Citibank Youth for Causes Fundraising Project

i have another photo for you guys. Speech Day 2005. take a look at this photo. look at the only person wearing a Victorian tie, and he is actually singing the Victorian Anthem. Our Anthem.

there is no enemy.
there is only Victoria.

lets keep her flag unfurled.

New Paper Article

2005-08-29T20:32:00.000+08:00

the mission should be to help the school push its academic standards to the point where parents will clamour to put their kids in Victoria, and where only the best will qualify for places.

- Mr. Santokh Singh

this is the mission. lets keep working at it. to see the full article, click here.
we still need more volunteers, we have about 30+, we need a 100 or more. dont be afraid to help in any way you can. just drop us an email, or fill in the form here.

i saw a quote on the forum, " support them yes, support their decision, no."

remember the bigger issue guys.

A Class of Its Own

2005-08-28T22:27:00.000+08:00

" I have come to realise that the Victorian tradition is in a class of its own.
We get it. Outsiders, they either like it, or are oblivious to what is going on."

respect.

Letter

2005-08-27T00:01:00.000+08:00

Hi..

I applaud your efforts in setting up the blog, petition and trying to come up with a counter proposal against the co-ed proposal. From the flood of entries that came along when the blog first started, its now a bit inactive.

Hopefully we can see more updates and more quality posts on the blog, because I believe many people do refer to it as a convenient point for update.

Even when it is confirmed that VS is not going co-ed, please do not stop all this effort. We can maybe convert the blog to one that brings out Victorian experiences, shows the Victorian tradition and culture, as well as continually giving suggestions for VS to improve holistically as a school, and calling for help if needed.

Hopefully, we as Victorians can play a pro-active role in the progress of our beloved alma mater.

I seriously hope this saga will not be a be a one-off passionate outburst that does not last.

-wilbur
vs 4H 2004

we won't. we'll pass the torch to our juniors once this is over and when we have to face A's / NS. =)

Updates

2005-08-23T19:46:00.000+08:00

The Team has been busy the past few days.
We have met up with the OVA and given them our suggestions.

Past Victorians, please continue to submit your particluars at the form.
We are still in need of volunteeers to help us.
We need more volunteers for maths and all the sciences currently.

On an even more pressing note.
We have only had one victorian who has asked us for help so far. Current VS guys, please do not be afraid to ask for help. the alumni is here for only one purpose and thats to help you. We want to help, but you have to ask.

at the form as well.

The Flickr Project has seen some activity. "Reivaj" has posted some interesting photos recently.

For the many people who have been emailing in your comments on this situation to be published on the blog. we want to thank you for your display of the Victorian Spirit. On average we receive about 7-8 posts a day.

However because we have moved away from the focus of just the single-sex issue and started focusing on the issue of VS viability, we are now looking for:

members of the public / people from other schools (esp Girls Schools) to give us your comments on VS and also on this issue.
old VS and current VS boys to email us your suggestions on how we can improve VS. The principal has said that VS is not sustainable in the long run. The Team agrees with this on all counts. We need your suggestions.

thank you Victorians.
Keep the flag flying.

Letter to ALL Victorians

2005-08-21T23:57:00.000+08:00

announcement: for those of you who are still in VS, please remember to behave like gentlemen during tommorow's assembly.

Dear Victorians,

The blog, the petition, and the forums, thanks to you, have experienced such a massive show of input and support. We have reached a point of critical mass where almost every viewpoint has been expressed at least once, and thus with the knowledge that the Victorian Spirit is blazing brightly and that we have the general support of Old Victorians, we will archive everything and move on to the next step.

Expressing our viewpoints and debating the pros and cons can only go so far in this effort. If we really want to make a difference, we should be prepared to get our hands dirty, and play an active role, not in preventing VS from going Co-ed, but keeping Victoria School relevant (academically). Let’s face it, the decision whether to go co-ed isn’t in our hands, and no matter how much noise we make, the decision can still go either way at the end.

So let us focus on what we can do. It’s statistically clear that the academic quality of VS is slipping, and this year, we are in a unique position to make an effort to reverse that trend, since last year was our bumper crop of “O” level graduates, “the best results achieved in more than a decade”.

What we want to do is to gather Victorians from every arena, be it if you’re in a JC, poly, or currently teaching, or a retired teacher or lecturer, to return to our alma mater and give academic support to the Sec 4 Victorians currently studying for the “O” levels. We understand that some Victorians have long “given everything back to their teachers”, but that does not render your contribution useless, such people can help us by giving us referrals, or providing us with contacts to parties that might be willing to help.

Somebody posted on the forum a day ago. “Victorians never fail to rise up to meet a challenge,” This is a challenge to all Old Victorians. Will you return to the mother that you never really left to help in an effort to restore its glory? Will you be willing to volunteer a portion of your day, at your choosing and discretion, to come back and show Victorians how to keep the flag unfurled? Her need has never been greater. This is a time where you find that 25 pointers are in the top quarter of the cohort.

If you are willing to rise up to this challenge, please submit your personal details at http://vs.jonaize.com/form_mailer.html, and a member of our committee will contact you as soon as we have finalized the details of this plan with the administration of Victoria School. We hope to carry out this program such that it is of maximum convenience to you, so please do not let fears of commitment issues stay your hand in volunteering your services.

For those of you who feel that you need help, this is also a place for you to submit your particulars so that old-Victorians can help you .

Nil Sine Labore

and this has never been a better time to remind us of it.

quote

2005-08-21T09:01:00.000+08:00

Our lives begin to end, the day we become silent about things that matter.
- Martin Luther King Jr.

does it matter to you?

the blog has been archived and edited to keep up with the new direction that we are taking. we met up today, and have discussed about the direction we want to take with this.

results of discussion will be up soon.
check back often .

We are here

2005-08-20T23:14:00.000+08:00

We will not let our 129 years of tradition and heritage by swept away, because VJC REQUIRES A MAIN FEEDER SCHOOL IN ORDER TO COMPETE WITH OTHER SCHOOLS. We hope that many of you will, as of today, volunteer your services as mentors or helpers, to show that we are capable of taking care of our younger brothers. We shall show the world that we are Victorians, and we take care of one another.

To those who disagree with us that VS should be a co-ed school, and that "we are immature children who should just shut up", a word from us.

We do not blame you. We know how you feel, and that we are overreacting and poking our noses in things that are not of our concern. Let me now say a couple of things, and i hope that at the end, i do change your mind. Firstly, consider why we are doing this. Are we simply doing this because this is the "right" thing to do? 'cos we like making noise?
It's because we love Victoria, and we know what we experienced in Victoria, and how crucial it is to keep the Victorian tradition and fire alive!

We simply want to put this point across. We speak so much of the spirit, and about tradition and heritage, because it is true. We are not just finding a flimsy excuse to seize when we mention these. We say this, 'cos we know. We've been there, done that, felt it. What drives us foward in both academics and the sporting field is this spirit within us all, the Victorian spirit.

For those who are not Victorian, i trust and hope you have seen this spirit within us, when we cheer, when we fight, when we sing! Will girls in Victoria be able to continue this spirit? because to be crudely honest, and i hope no one takes this the wrong way, but girls will NEVER be able to do what we did, to show what we displayed. Please do not get us wrong. We are not sexist, we are not opposed to change. However, when something like this comes along, and our 129 years of tradition and heritage are threatened, WE WILL NOT SIT BACK AND LET THIS HAPPEN.

To all my Victorian brothers, please volunteer as mentors, or in any way you can, and try to help our school get through this period of Victoria's school's life. This is but a chapter in her history, but what a chapter it is! So please, contribute as much as you can, and i wish you all the best.

cheers!

The Victorian Brotherhood

2005-08-20T14:20:00.000+08:00

P2010076
Originally uploaded by unseenshadows.

unseenshadows has uploaded pictures into flickr. guys, please do the same. it could be class pics, anything. just make sure its victorian.

for a list of photos, click here.

Matthias Ho - VIP Student

2005-08-20T13:39:00.001+08:00

No doubt i'm in the VIP now, what do I feel? Daniel fret not, you’re not alone.

First I entered VS a kid. A child. I remember the very first cheering session we had, when they taught us the cheers. All I did was stand right at the back. Thinking all these was stupid. And then came the sec one camp, where I thought all the brotherhood was rubbish.

As the days progressed, I changed. Drastically. I never felt that I would love the school as much as I wanted to get in before. But then, since March onwards, I felt this thing building up strong inside me, I wanted desperately to play a part in the school.

Sec one passed quickly, from a weak body to a strong one. From a boy to a teen.

Sec two. A trainee prefect I was. I felt achieved. Being in VS never felt so good. Not because I was a prefect. But things took an even bigger perspective. My class got more bonded together. Friends became closer. Brotherhood, now I understood. There were no friends or buddies in VS, only true brothers.

The PB truly taught me many things. Of which I would never have dreamt of learning. Yes the PB transformed me into a man. A Gentleman, a Sportsman, a Professional.

It came a time for me to leave, I almost couldn’t bear to. It was hard. But I had to. Two years. It’s not enough. Victorians out there now, treasure it, and make full use.

As a student in the VIP now, I do miss VS. I’m not saying that the VIP is not good. The VIP is good. The programme now does allow us to have more opportunities. But till now, it has never replaced the place of VS in my heart. Yes VJC has the Victorian Spirit also, but what is it compared to VS?

For other’s came before and went
And carried to the world,
Victoria’s fame and our intent
To keep her flag unfurled.

Now is the time for us to continue to fly Her flag up high for those who have graduated.

Let us not mix our own emotions into it, let it not become some intentional fallacy. No doubt we all miss the good ol’ days in VS, but let us take a look at its stand.

Personally I feel that as true Victorians we would want the best for our school. We sure have a rich tradition of 129 years behind us, which is a great number. As true Victorians, if the School becomes CO-ED it’s quite alright, only if it’s for the better for the school. Our interest is not the emotions and what feelings and experiences we hold in us, but for Victoria, the school itself.

Let us evaluate why we want VS to remain VS as a boy’s school. Is it just our emotions? Do we really care for the school if so?

As it is now, I am against VS being CO-ED as I feel that the decision is too rush. We can’t deny the fact that the results of VS has been going down, yes. I feel that the school should at least discuss with the student population first, at least that is going to be done on Monday, I hope it is done.

So now what can we do as true blue Victorians. We have to stand our ground, and make sure that its firm. Let us not mix out emotions into it. Let’s fight this like a professional like others have said.

For those going out today and that if you are wearing the VS PT kit, I hope you know what you are doing, and that no nonsense would appear. If such nonsense appeared, it would only affect all that we have done so far.

The petitions have been up, the blog has been up, and the forum is up. These are great movements, let us not affect it. We all surely want the best for the school.

As the cheer goes,

VS unite we’ll show our might,
We’ll show them how Victorians fight
… …

We’ll fight the sun we’ll fight the rain
We’ll fight to give our school a name.
We’ll walk from the game with pride and fame,
Cause we feel no fear we feel no pain!

Let us not give up. Surely all is heard, the whole country knows what is going on.

Even if VS does become CO-ED, let us know that it’s the authorities’ decision and we should know and believe that it would be best for the school.

Victorians, let us do this with pride, without shame, all for the school that has watched us grow.

VS UNITE!!

-matt ho

Post from non-VS boy

2005-08-20T13:07:00.000+08:00

this post was taken off Joel Kang's website at http://chaos.co.nr.
he was not a VS boy, but is now in VJC.

-b.
VS4H / 2004

Plenty of people have said “Gentleman, Sportsman, Professional”. But in the end, they are just words.

What comes through so evidently as the true product of VS is the way these people act. Read the blog, and it will all become clear:

1) Victorians read the TNP article and get all flustered, enraged, angered - Passion. They love their school and they aren’t afraid to show it.

2) Just 2 days following that, a flurry of posts on the blog keeps them in check. They remind each other about the motive behind their peititions. They remind each other that the enemy is not their principal. They remind each other that passive talking is not going to acheive anything. They remind each other what it means to be a Victorian

3) Many ex-VS boys return to VS to work on the issue. The managerial committee of the OVA has issued a statement on their stand. The Victorians claim to have a counter-proposal on the way.

Basically, this is it:

Passion -> Voice -> Action

That should be how every self-respecting human being should be. And they did it all in 2 days. I’ve always dreamed of being like that. Now that I’ve seen it with my own eyes, I now know its possible.

Thank you, Victoria.

Joel Kang - Victorian (VJC)

there is no war

2005-08-20T01:24:00.000+08:00

at the risk of sounding like a traitor, i will post this.
i'm putting this up after quite abit of thought. so bear with me.

take for a moment to consider this.

put urself in the shoes of the VAC/VEC (we now know that it was they who propsed and spearheaded change. Mr. Ang belongs to this committee as well, so it wld be unfair of us to wholly lump blame on him although he does have a small bit to play in this)

picture urself in the VAC. most probably, you're an old boy. chances are, you're a traditionalist too. not wanting to see VS change. as members of the VAC, would it be rational to say that you wouldn't want something changed unless you felt that there was an absolute need to?

i think so.

we're not all that different. there is no war, and any sentiment to the contrary is simply disruptive and harmful to the Victorian family. at then end of the day, we are all still Victorians, "once a Victorian, always a Victorian. remember?" especially if you're an old boy, as many of the VAC are.

there is no "enemy".

there are just differences in opinion. and being the gentlemen that we are, is there a need to make such violent remarks? its natural to feel betrayed, natural to feel upset even. its inherent in our nature to want to do something. but please, do not stir up sentiment that will get us nowhere ahead.

fill in your constructive views on how VS should be changed to help the present and future Victorians. show why the arrival of the fairer sex in VS will not equate to an improvement in results. even if it does,prove that the things we are trading off for an improvement in results, is simply not worth it. prove it on all 3 tiers!

or if you want VS to stay as it is, only beacuse it feels like the right thing to do, then sign the petition and keep us in your thoughts and prayers. but do not stir up unneccessary emotion.
its been 3days since the article got published. we've had 1112 signatures so far. on friday, 1900 people read this blog. we've gotten everyone's attention.

the time for overblown reactions and violent uncontrolled reactions is over.
now is the time, to gain some perspective and foresight, to sit down and think about what we can do to change this school that watch'd us grow.

there is no war.

Miss, will you be willing to form the first batch of VS girls?

2005-08-19T23:48:00.000+08:00

Well, come to think of it, who would want to form the first batch of girls *if* VS becomes co-ed? I mean, why will girls be willing to enter a school full of boys, no female seniors, in a very male environment, enter toilets which were originally made for males, and so on and so forth? Unless the girl is weighing the possibility of getting into VJC easier more than anything else. Or unless her father is a old Victorian and wants his child to be in VS. Or unless the IP programme is really super attractive. Other than that, I cannot imagine girls in VS. And I also wonder how many girls actually want to go VS in the first place. They must be out of their mind (or unless they have a problem with their gender...)

Some activities...

2005-08-19T21:50:00.000+08:00

Well there are quite a number of Victorians studying in Meridian Junior College currently, and many of them have taken steps to show their support for us, and they have their own way of showing it.

A number of Victorians have printed the VS badge as shown with a black background on earlier posts, and added the words "No to Co-ed", and have stuck that sheet of paper on their files or bags, which they carry around in school. Notice that this is not a violation of the dress code of most Junior Colleges, thus an idea similar to this can be adapted.

Another form of support that a number of students have done is to set the wallpaper on their handphones with the VS logo, which can be obtained from the VS website, or below.
http://vs.moe.edu.sg/public_images/
sch_logos/sch_logo__gif_small.gif
The wallpapers can also be sent as images via Bluetooth, MMS or infra-red devices.
This is to unite all Victorians in the ultimate goal of keeping our tradition, and acts like these, initiated by Victorians themselves, show that we have the right initiative and make sound decisions.

These are a few examples of ways we can reinforce our beliefs, and although they may not show much, it could be a form of encouragement to one another.

Once again I would like to stress that every action and word we speak will show how we carry ourselves, and that will be an evidence when people judge us. So carry ourselves like true, blue Victorians.

Statement from OVA Management Council

2005-08-19T09:55:00.000+08:00

Old Victorians’ Association
Victoria School
2 Siglap Link
Singapore 448880
Tel No: 62912965
Fax No: 64452609
Website: http://ova.org.sg/
E-Mail address: ova@vs.moe.edu.sg

18 August 2005

Dear Victorians,

Co-Education for VS

The topic of co-education for VS has evoked strong reactions from Victorians on our group discussion list, many of whom would like to know whether OVA is for or against the idea of changing the single-sex status of our alma mater.

The Management Council met to discuss the matter, during which we were given to understand that for many years, with the exception of last year, VS’ academic performance had been below expectation. We were told that the education landscape in Singapore has changed, and that VS must also change in order to stay ahead. More specifically, we were told that schools offering the Integrated Programme, which allows students to skip the ‘O’ Level examinations, will make it increasingly more difficult for VS to attract and retain the top PSLE students.

We were informed that to attract the top PSLE students, therefore, VS must now consider whether she should also offer the Integrated Programme and go co-ed in order to cast the net wider for the top students.

After considering the matter, we are of the view that VS should retain her single-sex status. The main reason being we are not convinced that offering the Integrated Programme is the only way for VS to react to the changes in the education landscape.

We feel that VS should not jump hastily onto the proverbial bandwagon and put herself on the IP path without considering other options. We are confident that VS, using her innovative and enterprising spirit, as well as her wealth of experience, is able to meet the challenges ahead without relinquishing her single-sex status.

We also feel that the assumptions underlying the rationale for VS going the IP way is open to debate. For example, while it is true that the better PSLE students will continue to choose schools offering IP, it would be a mistake to assume that those who do not opt for the Integrated Programme will not excel in their academic pursuits.

Furthermore, considering the fact that VS was located at Geylang Bahru, which is not the best location for attracting the top PSLE students, VS has done relatively well in the past. VS did exceptionally well last year, not only in the academic field but also in the Co-Curricular Activities. With the added advantage of being in a better location and with better facilities now, we are not persuaded that giving up our 129 years old all-boys tradition is the only way for VS to meet the challenges ahead.

We are sure that many parents still view VS as a choice school for their boys. Besides, it would appear that students in single-sex schools perform better than those in co-ed schools. We are, therefore, not in favour of VS going co-ed.

Having said so, it must be clarified that this is merely the view of the Management Council. The view of OVA can only be ascertained at a properly convened General Meeting of the association. If there is a need or demand for it, we will hold a general meeting to discuss the matter. In the meantime, we intend to hold a forum at VS to give members of the Victorian community the opportunity to discuss the issues, as well as to explore other options to properly position VS in the new education landscape. We will inform you of the date of the proposed forum.

Finally, we are happy to see the passionate interests of Victorians in matters that concern our alma mater. We hope to see you at the forum. Nil Sine Labore!

Yours truly
Aaron Tan
President Old Victorians’ Association

some clarifications.

2005-08-19T09:19:00.000+08:00

i would like to make some things absolutely clear.
this whole hoo-ha, is NOT about Mr. Ang.
we wouldnt be going through all this trouble (esp the alumni),
when we have already left the school if it was.

all we have is a skimpy article from TNP about an email that was sent by Mr. Ang to the staff. technically, we werent even supposed to read it.

so please guys, i'm begging you to behave in a refined manner, and not make personal attacks on Mr. Ang on the blog, forum, and on the petition website. both jonsam and i will remove any and all attacks on Mr. Ang anywhere.

he is not the "enemy".

the enemy, if there is one in the first place, is the threat to our single-sex education system. by all means, prove like Cher Li has done that a single sex education is better. prove through personal experiences that your lives in VS have changed.

but dont attack the principal. he's not part of the bigger picture.

Victoria is. do her proud.

the press have been alerted to us already.
lets show them that VS is something more than a -insert big number- school pond.
we actually rear good fish here.

Lee Jianwei - 1997

2005-08-19T00:40:00.000+08:00

Needless to say it is nostalgia that makes everyone so against this change. I believe that the grounds given were very weak-that girls do better. I do not see RI or the old Hwa Chong going anywhere out of top 5. If the principal cannot understand of feel the word "Victoria" in the institution named VJC, then maybe a name change is due.Where does the Victorian Spirit in VJC come from?Let us see the parallels. If RJC is without RI and RGS then is there the Rafflesian spirit or whatever they call it? Similarly HCJC before the birth of HCI.

There needs to be a rethink in the values and beliefs.Is VS going to be just another school in the frantic paper chase? Or are we true to our anthem Victoria is something more? If we want nerds and straight A1s for everyone then perhaps we can change to Siglap Link Sec then we can be a neighbourhood school with Band 1 results.BUT is that what we were taught?

Bottomline is,not all VS boys can make it into VJC.But are we in the first place indicating that the male population in VJC is only VS boys?I do not see a problem.
In any case,the IP program is just one alternative.Is it the only way forward?Now we hear less of the GEP program.So any changes to the system is definitely a way forward?

We want the best for Victoria.But we need to consider the options.Do we just follow the "trend" blindly?Are we going to be that shallow as to get girls to improve grades?Take note that with a co-ed school, a different set of problems will come in.Are we ready for that?Then we need to see will it even make things worse.

In summary,co-ed and IP are interesting suggestions and the strengths of the proposal is obvious.But that is not the only way forward.We are special because we are different from the other schools.Academic factor is just a small factor in a student's development.We have seen Victorians all doing well.We do not need a bunch of Victorian-wannabes to spoil our good name.We are the true blood Victorians.We have kept the flag unfurled and it will always be flying up high.VS is VS because of our traditions and our boys.If erosion of our basic values is the best proposal they can offer, then perhaps there are better people for their positions.

Lee Jianwei
VS 1994-1997
VJC 1998-1999

A Childish Stance

2005-08-19T00:29:00.000+08:00

Dear Victorians

It is with great regret that I admit that thus far I have been acting immaturely in the face of this great adversity.

I was first alerted to this by Bertrand, who was yelling at me over MSN to get the New Paper. When I finally got it and read it, I was stunned into silence. The first thought running through my head was Ang Pow Chew will die for this. When I got back home I sat in still silence for awhile, not sure of what to do. I changed my nick to Victoria thy sons are we and we cannot forget. My subnick was For the school or for your sorry ass? (pardon the language). All afternoon, all evening, all night, I went around MSN whining to my contacts about the worst principal I had ever seen.

Some thinking and a couple of posts by Bertrand and Jafnie sobered me up. It might have been that Mr Ang was selfish enough to submit the proposal for his own cause of climbing up the ladder. It might have been that he was pushed into the corner by MOE. It might have been an informed, thoroughly discussed decision. We will never know, nor should we waste time digging up the truth. The cause for which we are fighting for right now is not for Mr Ang to step down, but to keep the searing flame of Victoria School's heritage alive and burning brightly. Realise that if our petition wins the authorities over, VS will have to work harder than ever before to pull its socks up into the Ivy League of schools once again. And if ultimately it fails, it will be our fault for prolonging their suffering. If ultimately it fails, VS will turn co-ed all the same. And its fall then will be greater than ever before.

Therefore my dear Victorian brothers, looked beyond the surface of anger, and see the true cause of our fight. Your instincts have served you well in urging you to participate in this battle, but find the true meaning in this war, not just to vent your anger on whom you might feel is the most disgraceful principal VS has ever seen, but preserving the VS Spirit, that more generations to come will know why we have so willingly plunged into putting ourselves in the frontline against this great adversity.

John- First suggestions

2005-08-18T22:54:00.000+08:00

I agree that maybe without this IP, VS might end up as another neighborhood school in a decade, but look at other schools. Look at TKGS, look at SCGS, look at Cedar. All still going strong without an IP, the latter two were even in band 1 of the schools ranking.

So far all the suggestions put forward are all passive. Teachers should teach better. Victorians should be less slack. Petitions and protests in order to influence someone else to act on our words. I propose that to save our school, we be more proactive.

Older victorians can contribute material and resources and help in a million ways. The avenues are just about unlimited. Younger Victorians who might not have the gift of money or material can volunteer their time. They can give tuition, offer advice, be a role model for the younger victorians to look up to.

If we really are that passionate about VS, let us start making a difference that will SHOW. For one, we can revive the mentorship programme. The one that everybody seemed to drop out from sooner or later.

This is what will save Victoria. More suggestions anybody?

The Petition

2005-08-18T22:51:00.000+08:00

Please take the time to read this.

You should know what you are signing.

Everything written here is factual, and based on input from one of the members of the VAC/VEC, that is, the Victoria Advisory Committee. The basic premise for the switch to Co-ed is to keep VS sustainable, as an academic institution, since you all know we’ve been going down consistently over the last 5 years.

The Need?

An evaluation done by a team of educational specialists predicted academic trends in VS over the last 5 years; apparently the school is on a downward spiral, and ultimately unsustainable. Typical slippery slope argument; our last batch pulled us back from band 3 to band 1 in the rankings, but this has been declared inconclusive evidence of a trend reversal by the VAC. But what is has done is buy us some time. The details on how, when and at what level of detail this prediction was performed at, is currently unknown. Amongst those who did this review are Mr. Ang, Mrs. Chan (principal, VJC, and thus VAC secretary), and experts from Hwa Chong Institution.

The Argument

Mr. Ang posits that we need to bring in girls into the school because 1) girls will raise the academic standard of the school in and of itself (statistically, it is true that girls do better) and 2) bringing girls into the system is the given pre-requisite for IP (integrated program) to continue, or VJC will not accept partnership in IP with VS since it is deemed to be the ‘weaker partner’. This move is supported by Mrs. Chan, who does not support IP with VS, but in her capacity as secretary of the VAC, advocates that we bring in girls into VS anyway because she is concerned for our welfare. Mr. Ang also advocates IP as imperative to keep us sustainable.

The move for Co-Ed is spearheaded by Dr. Ong Chit Chung, Chairman, Victoria School & Victoria Junior College Executive & Advisory Committees, and MP for Jurong GRC. He has also indicated that a joint-IP with TKGS or Cedar (the way TCHS and NYGH are doing IP with HCI) is out of the question and MOE has told us not to interfere with them, because it would be unfair to force them into a union under VIP just so our IP programme can take off.

What we need to do

Hence, the crux of the issue is how to keep VS sustainable academically. The proposal to become a co-ed school is premised upon the evaluation that VS is academically unsustainable.

We posit that we not only need a mass petition to signify to the school administration that there is no ground support for their proposal, but also that we know what the problems with the system are, are what can be done to make VS sustainable ultimately. Be it school culture, teachers, better attitudes or a more efficient administration, speak up.

Hence what we are looking for is a counter-proposal, an evaluation of the problems and how to solve them, to deal with the very roots of the issue. Co-ed is the thing that made us all worked up, but do not lose sight of the chief issue at hand. We need to make it clear that we have a culture to preserve, that it may be intangible but not worth any less than the tangible aspects just because we cannot quantify them. We need to tell those who say they want to preserve and save the school to know that they save nothing if they rob us of identity. Without results we would be Siglap Link secondary; we’re agreed that that’s unacceptable. With results but as another anonymous mixed school, we are nothing.

To all Victorians; you know what is good about and what is wrong with the system. Email comments and ideas to the webmaster. The Review Committee meets within 4-5 weeks time, to discuss the OVA’s official stand on the issue (no statement has been issued so far) if you have something productive to contribute, if you can stand in front of the VAC and tell them why Co-Ed is a mistake, you should let us know. Again, email the webmaster.

Victoria Thy Sons Are We.

Lin Hong Xuan, 4C
Graduated in 2003

voices of her sons.

2005-08-18T21:11:00.000+08:00

There HAVE been studies done before to prove that
single-sex education is much more beneficial than co-ed experiences.

http://www.singlesexschools.org/evidence.html

http://www.eastonbh.ac.nz/article442.html

This is for those skeptics out there who think us Victorians are only
railing and shouting mindlessly. We aren't dumb you know. We know what works
for us, that's why we love the current arrangement. I'm not advocating
blindly following tradition, but more often than not, traditions are
traditions precisely because they work and have some truth in them. Being in
an all-boys school has been essential in my formative years. Of course being
exposed to only one gender won't do anyone good, but it is truly more
rewarding to go through a single sex school during your teenage years.

Cher Li

Forum for Discussion.

2005-08-18T19:46:00.000+08:00

Fellow Victorians, a forum has been set up for you guys to air your views.

http://vsforum.jonaize.com

please sign up before you post so we know who is who.
do spread the word, and may the victorian spirit live on

-nilsinelabore

Post in VS Forum : Ryan Sim - 4G (Alumni)

2005-08-18T17:36:00.000+08:00

Have you never heard?

A school is only as good as its students.

People are not born smart, they study hard to get there. I'm not saying you shld mug like crazy. I'm saying if u wanna bring the results up when its down, look at the way things are being done. Most likely theres a prob there.

Trying to get smarter ppl into the sch is juz taking the easy way out. "Brain drain" is nonsense, every Victorian will do well if he wants to, its proven, it can't be wrong. If you're Victorian, you're special, you've been taught that you are special so believe that. If you don't you never will be.

Victoria will never be as good as before unless the students believe that they are good. Our seniors believed that, thats why they did well. Look around u now in sch. Look at the national track and field. the kids dont even BOTHER TO CHEER. Let alone fight for VS. In our time, one factor that spurred us is our duty to our sch. The responsibilty we have to OUR school. So if the people left in VS think they're dumber. They will be dumber. Period.

C'mon, pick up your confidence and VS will soar as it always did.

- What does VS teach u? That when you fall down you stay down? NO! That when you fall down, you stand up and climb higher - Mr. Maran.

voices of her sons

2005-08-18T15:14:00.000+08:00

To those who wish to share their views and air their opinions, please leave your comments here, or email your post to wewillnotforget@gmail.com and I will post it here in your name. I'm sure most of us are outraged or upset, but please air your opinions like the gentlemen and professionals that Victoria has groomed us into.

Thanks guys.

-Farand

let's show others who we are.

2005-08-17T23:32:00.000+08:00

Hey peeps. At this point in time, what matters is not just how we feel as Victorians, but also letting those around us appreciate and understand how important VS is to us.

show our unity by putting [son of victoria] right in front of your msn nick. Seeing a whole list of people having the same nicks would surely reflect something.

A little something that can be used if you need or want. Created for your convenience.

-Farand

the OVA awakes

2005-08-17T23:20:00.000+08:00

The OVA met today and will be releasing a statement on the recent announcements. Please look out in the papers for more details.

Take heart, true blue Victorians of all ages are behind us.

Meanwhile, lets keep this up.

-John