Teachers take students' belongings to 'teach them a lesson'

[MarrickG]

Students at a top institution in Singapore had a rude shock when they came back to class to find some of their personal belongings missing.

Was it the work of an intruder or a dishonest student? Neither, apparently.

The 'theft' was the work of teachers, who sought to teach careless students "a lesson they'll never forget", for leaving their valuables around unattended.

Teachers at Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) would take items such as wallets and other valuables left behind in classrooms, and inform students on their whereabouts at the end of the day, reported one student who wrote in to citizen journalism website, STOMP. "They were made to write apology letters before they could claim the items."

But as the student asked, "is this move really necessary and moral?"

In the email to STOMP, the Hwa Chong student wrote: "I have seen the panic and despair of my friends and classmates when they had discovered that they lost their belongings. One of my friends lost his wallet, with cash, his EZ-link card and even his IC inside.

"Before we knew that the school had taken them, we even suggested to him that he make a police report. This is the severity of such an action.

"One of my friends brought his laptop to do schoolwork, but he is denied this opportunity to do so by the school. I believe that he is not the only one.

"Furthermore, some of us are required to move from class to class between lessons. This would mean that locking of the classrooms is impractical as a solution to this. Furthermore if a thief is really that determined to break into the class, he can climb through the windows or break them.

"Must we all then, get metal chains to chain all of our belongings by our side wherever we go anywhere in school?

"I don't see why the students, being potential victims of theft, should be punished for being just that."

 

[SneeringTree]

Excellent. That is the kind of school I will send my children to. Kids nowadays have little concern for their belongings!

 

[cooleo]

How about lift up teachers' skirts to highlight the importance of wearing nice undies everyday?

 

[red amoeba]

a good way to teach them a lesson...

nxt time go Army oso, leave ur rifle unattended during field camp, PC will confiscate...

leave ur girlfriend unsatisfied, will zhao sai...

 

[meburns]

Nowadays kids really softies, abit of discipline also kpkb.

 

[HTOLAS]

Yes, or have them all chained together, and then call for stand-to. I still remember when my platoon-mates trying to do turn-out when the rifles were chained to one another.

And it was usually the work of the NCOs.

a good way to teach them a lesson...

nxt time go Army oso, leave ur rifle unattended during field camp, PC will confiscate...

leave ur girlfriend unsatisfied, will zhao sai...

 

[eErotica69]

Great school. Correct way to teach kids. You can lecture then the whole year round, but they won't bother to listen. Teach then a lesson to really feel how is it like to have lost valuables.

Lousy student, no shame and still write to stomp.

A lot of stompers are idiots, anyways!

 

[jw5]

How about lift up teachers' skirts to highlight the importance of wearing nice undies everyday?

The chio teachers must do so first as an example.

 

[jw5]

Great school. Correct way to teach kids. You can lecture then the whole year round, but they won't bother to listen. Teach then a lesson to really feel how is it like to have lost valuables.

Lousy student, no shame and still write to stomp.

A lot of stompers are idiots, anyways!

If the parents are not able to teach their kids, the teachers will have to do it.
It's that simple.

 

[manokie]

Cheebye useless Stomper at work again.

It is a real life example of our good teachers working differently to achieve the same goals in teaching Sinkie kids.

Why is this stomper so stupid not to be able to interpret this?

 

[Received_by_Kings]

"They were made to write apology letters before they could claim the items."

Were they required to write them in Mandarin?

學生們有沒有跪在學堂謝罪啊？

 

[Ramseth]

But as the student asked, "is this move really necessary and moral?"

Such a student who didn't wake up at first instance and still retort with such question doesn't deserve to be in HCI at all.

Moral? Is it moral for one to leave valuables carelessly behind to tempt others to steal? Or does the whole world owes him a duty to safeguard his properties wherever he chooses to leave them?

Move on to legal. There was no intention to steal and deprive the students of their properties. There was only good intention to safeguard and restore the properties to them, with a lesson to learn. To learn or not learn, that's the question. But even to as prestigious as HCI students nowadays, where to shift the blame to, that's the question. Sad.

 

[Rogue Trader]

Practical discipline. That's why chinese high produces real men.

 

[eErotica69]

and so many lame stomper still say that the Teacher is wrong!!

So lame!!

 

[karfield]

My son's school also took their belongs when they forgot to lock their classroom leaving their valuable in it. After that, they never forget again. Very effective teaching method.

 

[Soul_Reaper]

My son's school also took their belongs when they forgot to lock their classroom leaving their valuable in it. After that, they never forget again. Very effective teaching method.

Whenever we go for our swimming lessons, we would change and then leave our belongings by the side of the pool instead of the lockers provided. One day we discovered our bags missing. Without our wallets, no money, no clothes, no towels...... we walked back to our school dripping wet in our swimming trunks. We were directed to the assembly hall where we were "presented" with our belongings on stage in front of the whole school. :o

That was more than 40 years ago.

 

[AvalanCh3]

they have to be glad, its at least their teacher who took their things. its taken by other most likely it will never come back

 

[Thick Face Black Heart]

Excellent. That is the kind of school I will send my children to. Kids nowadays have little concern for their belongings!

I won't be so quick.

The teacher has taught the pupils that theft (or other dishonorable activity) is okay if you think you are on a moral high horse.

He is obviously taking an easy way out after being unable to discipline the children through persuasion.

 

[jw5]

Whenever we go for our swimming lessons, we would change and then leave our belongings by the side of the pool instead of the lockers provided. One day we discovered our bags missing. Without our wallets, no money, no clothes, no towels...... we walked back to our school dripping wet in our swimming trunks. We were directed to the assembly hall where we were "presented" with our belongings on stage in front of the whole school. :o

That was more than 40 years ago.

Was that the old Chinese High?

 

[myo539]

Excellent. That is the kind of school I will send my children to. Kids nowadays have little concern for their belongings!

You'll also see kids also leave their handphones unattended on tables in fastfood restaurants, floor, etc.

Lost? Never mind lor, father or mother can buy again.