Discussion on Dr Ong Teck Chin

[php]

jencrs:

I have nothing against you, 2ppaamm, but I feel I need to comment on your post and to share my views. I assure you, there's nothing personal.


Anyway, I have nothing much to comment on the ongoing case. For now, I'll just comment on what I do know, and not on speculations.

But before we get there, i'm going to make some assumptions based on what I've read, and since they're assumptions, please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

You're ex-raffles and probably not too far from Ong's age, maybe 10 years difference, give or take. So I'd assume you've never been a student in ACS while Ong was there as vice/principal. I don't think you'll disagree that knowing Ong as an aquaintance or friend, can be very different from knowing Ong as the vice/principal.

Also, I'm assuming you've never been a teacher at ACS while Ong was vice/principal. So you'd have no idea what it's like working under him.

Feel free to correct me. In the meantime, we'll continue to your post.

2ppaamm:

Even so, I cannot say that I know his character enough to vouch that he is not capable of any wrong doing........... No matter what the evidences are, I'll believe in what he says, because I know he is not capable of lying.

I'm afraid you contradict yourself. If you don't know him well enough to vouch for him, you can't possibly say you KNOW he's incapable of lying. And btw, everyone's capable of lying. Let's not put Ong on a pedestal and stick a halo over his head.

2ppaamm:

OTC tried to persuade me to put DS1 into ACS(I) at that time, since my son did top the HAST and was a medalist and State representative in his sport.

Hmmmm. I was a student at ACS while Ong was VP. While he was there, i've heard him encourage those who did well to go Raffles. And he did this openly, raising the ire of not only young students but loyal teachers as well. Essentially, as VP, he's saying that this school is not good enough for you, you should leave and go somewhere better. That is in the very least misguided and in poor taste. Instead, any self-respecting VP should encourage good students to remain, and to help bring the school to further heights with his fellow schoolmates. We've got teachers as capable and dedicated as any you can find in s'pore.

You don't believe me? Speak to any student or teacher during the time Ong was VP, and you'd find many who have witnessed the same thing. You want a name? PM me and I'll give you the name of a high profile person and a leader of his industry who has organised at least 1 petition to oust Ong out. He will attest to what i've written.

Of course, this is my personal experience, it doesn't mean that what you've said isn't true.

2ppaamm:

Nevertheless, I choose RI over ACS(I) for these reasons:
2. I am a loyal ex-Rafflesian.

So you agree at least at a personal level that school loyalty is of significance. See above.

2ppaamm:

Granted, he had a good staff, but remember, he chose his team well, and he provided the leadership. Listen to his staff and students about how he would go an extra mile to ensure they did well.

So you managed to speak to his staff at ACS(I)? Which employee would speak badly of his present employer with no fear of consequences to a stranger, or parent of a student, or a personal friend of said employer? Especially one who has a reputation of favourtism (according to newspaper reports) and has the power to hire and fire?

Did you also speak to some of the ex-teachers? You can find some of them at ACS barker rd because they're loyal enough to remain in the ACS family.

2ppaamm:

OTC was a great leader with a trustworthy character.

Again, if you're certain he's trustworthy, why can't you vouch for him?

Certainly, with Ong at the helm, ACS(I) has advanced and won numerous awards. But a good school is more than just awards.

And let's be honest, Ong has just as much to gain in his portfolio if ACS(I) does well.

I am neither ex-Rafflesian nor ex-ACS. Look like there is a battle going on between the 2 elites...There is no need to speculate, there is no need to support one or another.... The truth will be out...NKF saga was a good lesson and you know what i meant....

[3Boys]

wonderm:

atutor2001:

[quote=\"jencrs\"].... I was a student at ACS while Ong was VP. While he was there, i've heard him encourage those who did well to go Raffles. And he did this openly, raising the ire of not only young students but loyal teachers as well. Essentially, as VP, he's saying that this school is not good enough for you, you should leave and go somewhere better. That is in the very least misguided and in poor taste. Instead, any self-respecting VP should encourage good students to remain, and to help bring the school to further heights with his fellow schoolmates. We've got teachers as capable and dedicated as any you can find in s'pore.....

I find the act of openly encouraging good students to go elsewhere very interesting. The fact that it is done openly is noble because he is prepared to face the consequences. It is an indirect announcement to the principal and the Board that the school was not doing well then and something must be done. That would be the positive interpretation. Those against him will question the motive behind or was it done with support from higher authority.... Whatever it is, I would agree that the approach \" is in the very least misguided and in poor taste.\"

This is indeed very interesting. Just for discussion sake, if a VP genuinely thinks another school environment will better develop the potential of a particular student, then when consulted, should he/she advise the student based on what he/she really thinks, as if he/she is advising his/her own child, or should he/she just do the politically the right thing? In theory, the VP can try to help to develop the student's potential in his/her own school, but in practice, how realistic is it? especially if the current school standard is quite far off from another \"better\" school?

I actually don't know which way is a more \"noble\" way to handle such situation. Any views from others?[/quote]It is controversial at best, but yes, I suppose perhaps one can take the view that he is just being straightforward. For instance, I do have financial advisors representing certain institutions, who will advise me to take on products from competitors if they were better, and I appreciate their candour and respect them for that.

[3Boys]

WeiHan:

I have an agenda pertaining to homosexuality? Just read the tone of my post. I just like to speculate possible scenarios and its implications.

Hard not to draw that conclusion since that nuance was not broached until you joined the discussion, and your few posts thus far in this thread have focussed exclusively on that aspect.

[hquek]

wonderm:

atutor2001:

[quote=\"jencrs\"].... I was a student at ACS while Ong was VP. While he was there, i've heard him encourage those who did well to go Raffles. And he did this openly, raising the ire of not only young students but loyal teachers as well. Essentially, as VP, he's saying that this school is not good enough for you, you should leave and go somewhere better. That is in the very least misguided and in poor taste. Instead, any self-respecting VP should encourage good students to remain, and to help bring the school to further heights with his fellow schoolmates. We've got teachers as capable and dedicated as any you can find in s'pore.....

I find the act of openly encouraging good students to go elsewhere very interesting. The fact that it is done openly is noble because he is prepared to face the consequences. It is an indirect announcement to the principal and the Board that the school was not doing well then and something must be done. That would be the positive interpretation. Those against him will question the motive behind or was it done with support from higher authority.... Whatever it is, I would agree that the approach \" is in the very least misguided and in poor taste.\"

This is indeed very interesting. Just for discussion sake, if a VP genuinely thinks another school environment will better develop the potential of a particular student, then when consulted, should he/she advise the student based on what he/she really thinks, as if he/she is advising his/her own child, or should he/she just do the politically the right thing? In theory, the VP can try to help to develop the student's potential in his/her own school, but in practice, how realistic is it? especially if the current school standard is quite far off from another \"better\" school?

I actually don't know which way is a more \"noble\" way to handle such situation. Any views from others?[/quote]Weighing in on this, I think it's admirable that he dared to stand out and tell the students to go to another school where their talents may be better enhanced. I would take it from a point that the current school is not able to meet their needs fully and there is a better school they can consider.

There are so many choices out there in the world, it's refreshing to hear something that's not biased just cos one is an employee or has something to gain from their recommendation.

[corneyAmber]

atutor2001:

jencrs:

.... I was a student at ACS while Ong was VP. While he was there, i've heard him encourage those who did well to go Raffles. And he did this openly, raising the ire of not only young students but loyal teachers as well. Essentially, as VP, he's saying that this school is not good enough for you, you should leave and go somewhere better. That is in the very least misguided and in poor taste. Instead, any self-respecting VP should encourage good students to remain, and to help bring the school to further heights with his fellow schoolmates. We've got teachers as capable and dedicated as any you can find in s'pore.....

I find the act of openly encouraging good students to go elsewhere very interesting. The fact that it is done openly is noble because he is prepared to face the consequences. It is an indirect announcement to the principal and the Board that the school was not doing well then and something must be done. That would be the positive interpretation. Those against him will question the motive behind or was it done with support from higher authority.... Whatever it is, I would agree that the approach \" is in the very least misguided and in poor taste.\"

Yeah without reading all the rest of the details of this thread but just this discussion alone, I agree with atutor2001 that it is respectable to be honest about one's limitation. Between loyalty and knowing one's limitation, I value the latter more.... Loyalty can lead one blindly at times and is taking an easy way out based on sentiments but able to know one's limitation and do something about it constructively is a much more difficult thing to handle for most people. Just my 2 cents.

[corneyAmber]

I just want to make another comment about technology here getting people into trouble.


In the technological world, nothing seems impossible, so I have been resistant to internet transactions for a LONG time, especially when I know IT pretty well.

I am really not sure if emails and SMSes can be gospel truth.
Recently I received a missed call from my very own mobile number in my same mobile phone. My own mobile is no where stored on my mobile phone so there could not be any error on my part to call myself.

So I hope the police dept has a sophisticated group of IT personal who can break the code between genuine transmission of data or tampered info to get people framed. Failing which, such medias cannot be used as core evidence, ie without other forms of evidence, to convict a person.

In a world of diminishing values in search of excellence in academics pursuit, the line is getting finer between a genius and a crook. If we learn to get back to the basics of emphasis on developing character and values, it leaves little room for more crimes to etch its way into our lives.

I don’t know who’s right or wrong in this case but I see that all crimes branch from "lack of strong value system" being the ROOT of all evil.

[WeiHan]

I read that the former head of CID has been appointed to lead the investigation board.


But don’t expect much info will be released after the investigation. I speculate that there will be much coverup to save the name of the school.

[autolycus]

WeiHan:

I read that the former head of CID has been appointed to lead the investigation board.


But don't expect much info will be released after the investigation. I speculate that there will be much coverup to save the name of the school.

Don't read too much into that. The 'former head of CID' happens to be on the http://www.blueskiescom.com/alumni/aug_sep_10/acs_boards.html, so it seems a rational choice. After all, he's had a lot of experience in investigating, no?

As for cover-up, there are only three reasonable outcomes (exonerated, exonerated with caveats, and guilty), and no board has to report findings to non-stakeholders. Unlike an institution that has the word 'National' in its name, or one that has a powerful patron, this one (having neither) is not really of such great interest.

[daisyt]

ksi:

Recently I received a missed call from my very own mobile number in my same mobile phone. My own mobile is no where stored on my mobile phone so there could not be any error on my part to call myself.

Hur?? How can that happen? :?

[jencrs]

3Boys:

For instance, I do have financial advisors representing certain institutions, who will advise me to take on products from competitors if they were better, and I appreciate their candour and respect them for that.

That's not the same thing at all.

These are financial advisors. If the CEO of the financial institution tells you publicly to go to their competitor, what would you think? The boss doesn't even have faith in his own company.