http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,198822,00.html?
Vice-principal 'scolds' for poor results, then...
Student throws chair, file at VP
April 14, 2009
TNP PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: GAVIN FOO
IT was like any other routine visit by a vice-principal to a class during the Pastoral Care period.
But one student suddenly went berserk.
It happened when the vice-principal, a woman, visited a Secondary 4 Express class at a school in the east on 2 Apr.
While she was addressing the class, the student suddenly stood up and threw a file and then a chair in her direction.
He also rushed forward as though he wanted to hit her, but was quickly restrained by his classmates.
No one was hurt in the incident.
A student from the class, who did not want to be named, told The New Paper that the vice-principal was 'scolding' the class about their poor common test results.
She asked those who were confident of scoring at least five O levels or of making it to polytechnic to stand up.
All except two boys in the class stood up.
The student said: 'She then told the form teacher to take down their names and call their parents.'
She told the class to sit down and write down their plans for achieving their goals.
The form teacher walked over to one of the two boys who did not stand up.
She told him to take out a piece of paper and start writing.
It was then that the boy suddenly stood up and threw a file and subsequently a chair in the direction of the vice-principal.
This account was verified by another student in the class.
She said: 'She (the vice-principal) was trying to help us. She said that since it was our final year, she hoped everyone could get into poly.'
The New Paper understands that this was the first time the vice-principal visited the class this year.
When contacted, the school confirmed that the incident had taken place.
However, it did not answer queries on the details of what happened.
Principal confirms it
In a written response, the school principal said: 'Together with the form teacher, the vice-principal guided the class to take stock of their progress in their studies, and to plan how they would achieve their targets at the upcoming mid-year exams as well as the year-end O-level exams.
'During this time, a boy suddenly stood up and threw a file and a chair towards the front of the classroom. His classmates quickly restrained him. The discipline master and school counsellor were also brought in to calm and counsel the boy. No one was hurt in the incident.'
We are not naming the school or those involved, to avoid causing further distress to the boy, who is said to be upset about how he had behaved.
But what caused him to snap?
The New Paper understands that he had some emotional issues which, however, were under control this year.
According to the school, the boy has 'some background with handling emotions and has been referred for counselling'.
So could it have been the stress of the latest tests? Or the results he had just received? Or the manner in which he was being addressed at that point in time?
The student The New Paper spoke to said the boy later 'admitted to others that he didn't know what he was doing at that time'.
He added: 'But I don't think you can judge a person's character simply by whether they go to the polytechnic or junior college.'
'Boy apologised'
The principal said: 'The boy showed remorse and regret for his behaviour, and apologised to the class and the vice-principal. He also told the (form teacher) that he was grateful for the support from the school, his teachers and classmates in helping him move on.'
His parents are understood to be working with the school to provide the boy with the necessary care and guidance.
They declined to be interviewed by The New Paper.
A teacher of the school, who did not want to be named, felt the boy alone was not to blame for the incident.
He told The New Paper: 'As teachers, we don't approve of this act. We feel the boy should be punished for it.
'But if only the boy is punished, it's unfair. The vice-principal owes the student an apology because she jumped to conclusions.'
The boy is receiving counselling at the moment and it is understood that no punishment has been meted out yet.
Joanna Hor Peixin, newsroom intern
Vice-principal 'scolds' for poor results, then...
Student throws chair, file at VP
April 14, 2009
TNP PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: GAVIN FOO
IT was like any other routine visit by a vice-principal to a class during the Pastoral Care period.
But one student suddenly went berserk.
It happened when the vice-principal, a woman, visited a Secondary 4 Express class at a school in the east on 2 Apr.
While she was addressing the class, the student suddenly stood up and threw a file and then a chair in her direction.
He also rushed forward as though he wanted to hit her, but was quickly restrained by his classmates.
No one was hurt in the incident.
A student from the class, who did not want to be named, told The New Paper that the vice-principal was 'scolding' the class about their poor common test results.
She asked those who were confident of scoring at least five O levels or of making it to polytechnic to stand up.
All except two boys in the class stood up.
The student said: 'She then told the form teacher to take down their names and call their parents.'
She told the class to sit down and write down their plans for achieving their goals.
The form teacher walked over to one of the two boys who did not stand up.
She told him to take out a piece of paper and start writing.
It was then that the boy suddenly stood up and threw a file and subsequently a chair in the direction of the vice-principal.
This account was verified by another student in the class.
She said: 'She (the vice-principal) was trying to help us. She said that since it was our final year, she hoped everyone could get into poly.'
The New Paper understands that this was the first time the vice-principal visited the class this year.
When contacted, the school confirmed that the incident had taken place.
However, it did not answer queries on the details of what happened.
Principal confirms it
In a written response, the school principal said: 'Together with the form teacher, the vice-principal guided the class to take stock of their progress in their studies, and to plan how they would achieve their targets at the upcoming mid-year exams as well as the year-end O-level exams.
'During this time, a boy suddenly stood up and threw a file and a chair towards the front of the classroom. His classmates quickly restrained him. The discipline master and school counsellor were also brought in to calm and counsel the boy. No one was hurt in the incident.'
We are not naming the school or those involved, to avoid causing further distress to the boy, who is said to be upset about how he had behaved.
But what caused him to snap?
The New Paper understands that he had some emotional issues which, however, were under control this year.
According to the school, the boy has 'some background with handling emotions and has been referred for counselling'.
So could it have been the stress of the latest tests? Or the results he had just received? Or the manner in which he was being addressed at that point in time?
The student The New Paper spoke to said the boy later 'admitted to others that he didn't know what he was doing at that time'.
He added: 'But I don't think you can judge a person's character simply by whether they go to the polytechnic or junior college.'
'Boy apologised'
The principal said: 'The boy showed remorse and regret for his behaviour, and apologised to the class and the vice-principal. He also told the (form teacher) that he was grateful for the support from the school, his teachers and classmates in helping him move on.'
His parents are understood to be working with the school to provide the boy with the necessary care and guidance.
They declined to be interviewed by The New Paper.
A teacher of the school, who did not want to be named, felt the boy alone was not to blame for the incident.
He told The New Paper: 'As teachers, we don't approve of this act. We feel the boy should be punished for it.
'But if only the boy is punished, it's unfair. The vice-principal owes the student an apology because she jumped to conclusions.'
The boy is receiving counselling at the moment and it is understood that no punishment has been meted out yet.
Joanna Hor Peixin, newsroom intern
