Dunman High School (Junior High)

[kiasuson]

kevin1:

I'm an old boy of DHS. I would like to think I turned out fine despite attending co-ed schools all of my life


I don't know about now, but during my time (i graduated 12 years ago) DHS is famous for having very strict school rules. For example, watch face can't be larger than a 50 cent coin, fringes must be 2 cm above the eyebrow, no coloured stripes on school shoes...you get the idea. I believe this is because some of the teachers (including the discipline master) have been with the school since it was still a chinese school 30 years ago, hence they kept the traditional way of disciplining students. So that's why DHS students always appear goody goody, even to the point of being nerdy!

But I have heard that the new principal has relaxed the rules somewhat, which should not be viewed as a bad thing as it provides for some leeway for individualism. After all, it's unhealthy to foster a climate of mindless sheeps following rules.

One thing you can't fault the school is the way the school imbue the students with the correct values and moral bearings. Furthermore, with the rise of China as a superpower you would want your child to be in touch with Chinese culture and the language. Festivals such as mooncake festival and chinese new year are celebrated in a scale not seen in non-SAP schools.

To Augmum, I think you should take the postings on STOMP with a pinch of salt. There may be some truth in what is said but I believe it's blown out of proportion by somebody who dislike a particular teacher. The only metrics you should base your judgement on is the A Level results. I would really encourage you to send your daughter to DHS considering that it's the best school in the east.

I agreed on the comment about STOMP. Augmum should read the front part of the fourm and not the last few post which I felt is too biased and too personal. I always believe in giving our kids the correct values and moral education. Student performance should not be only link to the teacher. It is also up to individual motivation. If they think it is not right, there will not be any motivation to achieve good results.

[Augmum]

kevin1:

Festivals such as mooncake festival and chinese new year are celebrated in a scale not seen in non-SAP schools.


To Augmum, I think you should take the postings on STOMP with a pinch of salt. There may be some truth in what is said but I believe it's blown out of proportion by somebody who dislike a particular teacher. The only metrics you should base your judgement on is the A Level results. I would really encourage you to send your daughter to DHS considering that it's the best school in the east.

thks kevin1 and kiasuson for yr sharing.
yes, i understand that whatever in the stomp shd be taken with a pinch of salt and all the postings could be even from the same person targetting that particular teacher.
oh yes, talking abt the mooncake festival celebrated in DHS, i was touched by the teachers who even baked mooncakes for all the pupils........not many teachers would \"sacrifice\" their time for doing so.........

[frenz]

[quote]I'm an old boy of DHS. I would like to think I turned out fine despite attending co-ed schools all of my life


I don't know about now, but during my time (i graduated 12 years ago) DHS is famous for having very strict school rules. For example, watch face can't be larger than a 50 cent coin, fringes must be 2 cm above the eyebrow, no coloured stripes on school shoes...you get the idea. I believe this is because some of the teachers (including the discipline master) have been with the school since it was still a chinese school 30 years ago, hence they kept the traditional way of disciplining students. So that's why DHS students always appear goody goody, even to the point of being nerdy!

But I have heard that the new principal has relaxed the rules somewhat, which should not be viewed as a bad thing as it provides for some leeway for individualism. After all, it's unhealthy to foster a climate of mindless sheeps following rules.

One thing you can't fault the school is the way the school imbue the students with the correct values and moral bearings. Furthermore, with the rise of China as a superpower you would want your child to be in touch with Chinese culture and the language. Festivals such as mooncake festival and chinese new year are celebrated in a scale not seen in non-SAP schools.

To Augmum, I think you should take the postings on STOMP with a pinch of salt. There may be some truth in what is said but I believe it's blown out of proportion by somebody who dislike a particular teacher. The only metrics you should base your judgement on is the A Level results. I would really encourage you to send your daughter to DHS considering that it's the best school in the east.[/quote]Those strict rules which you mentioned have already been done away... So you're right, the rules are really relaxed now..

[daisyt]

About the relax of school rules, my guess is such. Last time, during kelvin1's time (12 years) ago, the school was only a secondary school. Now, at frenz's time, the school is an IP school. The school is treating all students as JC's level and no longer Secondary level. JC level means more \"adult\" treatment, hence more relax rules.

[WeiHan]

The change that most catch my attention is that students have to bow to the teachers when they see them last time, but they just wave and say "hi" to the teacher nowaday.


I think it is an attempt to inculcate an atmosphere that authority can be challenged. It is an attempt to change the mindset that assumes what the authority or in this case teachers taught is always correct. It is a symbolic change that students can now question the teachers on doubts, be skeptical which is the premise for critical, creative thinking.

[kevin1]

hi daisyt the setting up of the senior high section may be a possible reason for the relaxation of rules, but I think the main reason is that the school has moved on with time. As the old teachers and principals leave, the new ones that take over have new ideas on how to run the school. For instance, the student leadership used to consist of the prefectorial board only, and its main role is enforce discipline. Now we have the student council, which I feel is a better way to hone leadership skills as it gives the councillors more autonomy to plan events and such.

[kevin1]

WeiHan:

The change that most catch my attention is that students have to bow to the teachers when they see them last time, but they just wave and say \"hi\" to the teacher nowaday.


I think it is an attempt to inculcate an atmosphere that authority can be challenged. It is an attempt to change the mindset that assumes what the authority or in this case teachers taught is always correct. It is a symbolic change that students can now question the teachers on doubts, be skeptical which is the premise for critical, creative thinking.

Hi Weihan you were from DHS too? I think you articulated perfectly what I'm trying to say! I still remember the times when I have to bow to Mr Kiw (the discipline master) and say \"Qiu Lao Shi Zhao An\" whenever we bump into him. Lol...those were the days

[Augmum]

Augmum:

btw, what is the morning 's flag raising time? is it still at 8.00 am or has been changed to earlier?

hi any current dhs to response to the above?

also another 2 questions to clarify........
(1) is the boarding programme of IP schools mandatory?
or only for certain IP schools? if yes, which are the ones?

(2) is the overseas exchange programme mandatory?
if yes, usually at which year?

advance thks to any kind souls

[ROFLMAO]

Hi everyone, passing by here…


Im a current DHS student, just passing by…i noe this thread is old but… hope its not dead yet…WARNING im posting a whole essay so BEWARE

firstly, yes the flag raising time is still at 8.00 pm. The school did not change this because they wanted the students to have a chance to eat a proper breakfast before going to, and this is a huge relieve to many of my friends because they get to sleep in late.
well the other two questions, im not sure abt what augmum meant abt boarding programme if its to ask if it is mandatory to take thru-train straight to ‘A’ lvl, the ans is yes in some schools. i noe frm a friend in rgs that her sch soes not have any ‘O’ lvl classes. im not sure abt HCI or NY but i have the impression it is mandatory too. but i may be wrong abt that. In DHS, we do have a ‘O’ lvl class for ppl who feel that thay cant cope, or if they failed the yr 2 promotional exam. its only one class but it does exsist. its good as ppl have a backup to fall back on. ive heard tales abt ppl from ip schools geeting kcked out because of results as there is no O lvl class and not finding another sch to take them in. may be just tales but…
i cant say abt other schs but in DHS the overseas exchange programme is NOT mandatory. there is a variety of exchange programmes in DHS, both with western (australia i think) and eastern (mostly thailand and china) DHS offers BSP programme (bi-culture studies prog) which is a prog targeting chinese studies. ppl learn abt the current affairs of china, and it history. and also how to speak profficiently in both chinese and english, and eng-chi translation. the prog is offered due to the promising growth of CHina’s economy in the past years, pupils gets an advantage over others if they could understand more abt china and its culture. i mentioned this in THIS paragraph because BSP students, most of them anyways, have to go on a exchange programme to NANJING china tat last abt two weeks or so.
in DHS we get a lot of chances to go on trips we have learning trips organized, both for humanities and science. its quite fun, and we get to see more of stuff.
another thing i want to say on DHS is that the environment is really friendly, we dont have too stiff a competition, but we are not relaxed either. ppl get along well, and the amt of project works the school gives help us to learn teamwork, and also learn to practise what is taught.
abt the school rules, the school gives us a chance to chalange the rules that is set. this way, we learn organization and leardership, and learn to speak up abt wat we are uncomfortable with. the scholl will decide what works and wat doesn’t and basically they give us a lot of freedom for us to grow and to develope.
last thing i want to comment on is the sch sociatal ‘culture’ in a sense. as DHS is a government sch, the students are mixed in backgrounds, unlike the independent schs like RGS , where most ppl are frm rich families. the same frend i mentioned smwhere above, showed an interestine change before and after atteding RGS. she used to spend vry little pocket money before abt 7 dollars a month, she used to think Mcdonald’s is EXPENSIVE. now she spends an avg of $50 a week. she drinks STARBUCKS for LUNCH…like EVRYDAY.as in DHS not all are RICH, the ppl dont usually go to expensive places for food during gatherings. and we respect the dignity of others, and learns to be more ‘humble’ in a sense.
in conclution, DHS is not all nice and good, we still have problems but i like the school environment we have it could be educational if you think about the subtle change it have on students’s life. every sch have its good points, and this is just my opinion on DHS. I LIKE IT.

[Augmum]

ROFLMAO:

Im a current DHS student, just passing by.....i noe this thread is old but... hope its not dead yet...WARNING im posting a whole essay so BEWARE.

hi roflmao
thks for passing by and sharing with me the life and curriculum of DHS.
yes this thread is almost dead, luckily u came in to inject some life to it.
this thread gives me the feeling that not many of the parents/ child like to choose dhs as most passers by are at rgs, nygh ( i mean girls' sch)

ROFLMAO:

firstly, yes the flag raising time is still at 8.00 pm. The school did not change this because they wanted the students to have a chance to eat a proper breakfast before going to, and this is a huge relieve to many of my friends because they get to sleep in late.

i'm glad to know that DHS did not change the flag raising time as i saw the other time on the website the delay of the flag raising time was becos of the moving to the temp location at mt sinai. with this, my gal will able to have longer sleep hrs as she is a night owl. in fact, she studies best in the night fr 9 p.m to 1 a.m compared to afternoon time when she came bk fr school.
it's very considerate for the school to start later so that we have some family time to take breakfast together. but then, what time does the sch usually end. can u please give a rough timetable of DHS (omitting the time for CCA as it varies)

ROFLMAO:

well the other two questions, im not sure abt what augmum meant abt boarding programme if its to ask if it is mandatory to take thru-train straight to 'A' lvl, the ans is yes in some schools. i.
In DHS, we do have a 'O' lvl class for ppl who feel that thay cant cope, or if they failed the yr 2 promotional exam. its only one class but it does exsist. its good as ppl have a backup to fall back on. ive heard tales abt ppl from ip schools geeting kcked out because of results as there is no O lvl class and not finding another sch to take them in. may be just tales but...........

the boarding programme i'm referring to is the in-hse boarding programme whereby the pupils are required to stay in the boarding sch to encourage independent and self-disciplined for a period of at least 1 term. i heard that it is mandatory in some IP schools. but is there a boarding place for DHS in the first place?? i don't know.

ROFLMAO:

i cant say abt other schs but in DHS the overseas exchange programme is NOT mandatory.

.
it's most relieving to hear this fr u ........
may i know if the pupil does not choose BCS, means that she does not need to go to NANJING China/or other parts of China for overseras immersion??
and u mentioned for only 2 wks? but i read from the handout given during the DHS open-hse or or somewhere esle that the China immersion programme can last fr 3-6 mths.
If this is the case, i don't think i can bear \"the separation\" with my gal for such a long period. even if it's only 2 wks, it's also a \"torture\" to both daughter and mother.......haha

ROFLMAO:

another thing i want to say on DHS is that the environment is really friendly, we dont have too stiff a competition, but we are not relaxed either. ppl get along well, and the amt of project works the school gives help us to learn teamwork, and also learn to practise what is taught.

last thing i want to comment on is the sch sociatal 'culture' in a sense. as DHS is a government sch, the students are mixed in backgrounds, unlike the independent schs like RGS , where most ppl are frm rich families. the same frend i mentioned smwhere above, showed an interestine change before and after atteding RGS. she used to spend vry little pocket money before abt 7 dollars a month, she used to think Mcdonald's is EXPENSIVE. now she spends an avg of $50 a week. she drinks STARBUCKS for LUNCH......like EVRYDAY.as in DHS not all are RICH, the ppl dont usually go to expensive places for food during gatherings. and we respect the dignity of others, and learns to be more 'humble' in a sense.

another good thing for my gal as she emphasis alot on friendship, a friendier environment is definitely a plus point for her.

Btw, (1) which yr are u currently in?
(2) are the pupils allowed to change their CCA during the first 4 yrs ? i presume they are allowed to change when they're in yr5 as there're more choices of CCA avail.
(3) what are the choices for subjects combination in yr5, can u choose freely from the choices or is there a stiff competition whereby only the best of the best are eligible for the popular choices, leaving behind only the unpopular subjects. i asked this question is becos the above was \"experienced\" by my hub's nephew who was currently in HCI.

so sorry for the lengthy post and a series of questions which lingers in my mind. thks u in advance and hope to hear from u or any other DHS ex/current pupils.