"School bars students from mall - but is ban working?"
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A unwise, counterproductive, nonsensical ban that will cause more problems (eg. student rebelliousness) than prevent.
http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,191705,00.html?-----------------------------------------------
HE LOOKS around carefully, his legs tensed and ready to run.The coast seems clear, and his friends nod their confirmation.
He dashes into McDonald's, and emerges 10 minutes later, clutching takeaway bags in triumph.
His friends cheer, and they move off swiftly, not looking back.
The boy has just committed an offence.
But it's not against the fast-food outlet - it's against his school.
Coral Secondary School forbids any student in uniform from entering the nearby White Sands shopping mall in Pasir Ris, among other things.
The rule, which was imposed several years ago, also forbids students in uniform from hanging out at the neighbouring housing estate.
The boy told The New Paper: 'I'm not supposed to go to White Sands at all, unless I want to go to the library after school.
'Even then, I can go only after I fill in a form and get it approved by the Discipline Mistress or Operations Manager.'
And then he pointed to the school handbook, which has an extract from the school's rule book.
It states that the school has banned its students in uniform from loitering anywhere after school.
It expects the students to go home straight from school.
Only library okay
It wants them to 'stay away from White Sands Shopping Mall at all times except to visit the community library after school after seeking approval from HOD/Student Management, Operations Manager, Vice-Principal or Principal'.
When asked to comment on the rule, principal Veronica Ng responded through Madam Kathleen Ch'ng, the head of the department of student management: 'Coral Secondary places much emphasis on inculcating in our students good habits like using time prudently.
'As such, it is in their interest not to loiter in the malls after school.'
But many students are not too pleased about this.
Said one Sec 3 student: 'It's crazy. Some of us don't have lunch at home. We have to eat outside, but we're not allowed to eat at White Sands.
'We're not even allowed to just go in there to buy food to take home with us.'
A Sec 2 student said that even her teacher did not see the logic behind such a rule.
Her classmate added: 'Other students get to hang out here after school. Why can't we?'
The school is so serious about the rule that it assigns teachers to patrol the shopping mall and neighbouring areas after school.
Offenders are sent for a two-hour detention.
And sometimes even the innocent get caught.
Said a Sec 2 student: 'One of my friends, who waits for her mother near the shopping mall after school every day, almost got a detention.
'She was saved by a bunch of classmates who explained to the operations manager.'
Some parents are also upset by this rule.
Said the mother of a Sec 2 student: 'I was told that my daughter had to go home and change out of her uniform before she can buy lunch at White Sands.
'So instead of buying lunch and going home, she has to go home to change, then go out to buy lunch and go home again.'
Family lunch impossible
A father was particularly riled that he couldn't even have lunch with his daughter in peace.
'It's just stupid. The teachers don't seem to care that students may be with their parents. So I have to keep watching out for teachers, or my daughter may get caught.'
But many students are resigned to the strict regulation.
As another Sec 2 student put it: 'My mother tells me to just be careful and don't get caught.'
One parent, whose son left the school three years ago, said: 'No choice lah, just tolerate for four years and be done with it.'
Said a Sec 4 student: 'I don't really care any more. If I get caught again, I'll just go for detention again. It's no big deal.'
Teachers are also posted to the housing estate near the school to prevent students from loitering there.
A Sec 2 pupil said: 'After school hours, we can't go to the mini-mart in the HDB estate and it's just across the road.'
It is understood that even students who simply walk through the estate can accosted by a patrolling teacher.
This reporter saw a teacher stop a group of students there last Friday.
According to a parent, the strict rules were imposed following complaints from residents in the area.
Said the same parent: 'If noise is such a problem, then remove the playground. It's always noisier than the students.
'In any case, teachers aren't supposed to be security guards. I don't think MOE pays them to guard void decks.'
But not everyone opposes the strict rules.
One Sec 2 student said: 'I agree with the school, that loitering can lead to trouble.'
One parent admitted: 'Ultimately, parents and teachers are both concerned for the pupils. I may not like the ban, but it shows that the school's making an effort for its students.'
Julian Lee, newsroom intern
STRICT: A Coral Secondary teacher talking to a student at a HDB void deck near the school, which banned students from loitering anywhere after school while in uniform. TNP PICTURE: JULIAN LEE
WHY NOT LET THEM BE? Not all schools are as strict - our photographer visited Bishan Junction 8 yesterday and saw many students in uniform wandering around the shopping centre freely and without fear. TNP PICTURE: KELVIN CHNGSource :
http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,191705,00.html? -
Ok, I'll lock this thread.
