St. Patrick's School, Singapore:. An Album of Past Images. Page 4: Growing Up in St. Pat's in the Early '80's. by Andrew Leong.

Everything, including the senior boys looked big and intimidating when I first time I stepped into that school. They saunter around in this air of confidence as if they own the school and the whole Katong district. The boys from the school were known for their spirit and lively antics; and it was perhaps this reputation that coloured my first impression of the school.

Through my four years there, I learned St Pat's boys showed exceptional

• creativity (probably from the pranks we played),
• tenacity (from the rough and tumble in the rugged field. After all, how else can the motto come into being? Potest Qui Vult – He Can Who Wills) and,
• maturity (doubtless from the legacy of the La Sallean brothers).

I must add, it is a reputation that does not stand well amongst conventional educationists who advocate blind discipline and compliance. Today, educationists all over the world are realizing what the good teachers at St Pat's had known all along: that having high academic scores does not mean being a good education. Any student can score well academically if they are constantly "drilled in the past year examination papers".

St Patrick's School field

Photographer: Peter Mealin

Source: Moments in St Patrick's

Original caption: Many leaders were made on the playing fields of St Patrick's

My comments:

It looks more likely to be a session where the boys "settle" their differences. It has been said that because St Pat's boys were accustomed to playing on an uneven field that they become such tenacious and adaptable individuals.

(Original image in the possession of Peter Mealin, and used with his kind permission.)

What benefited me most in St Pat's was exactly the abovementioned intangibles that helped build my character as I grew into my youth.

Come to think of it, there was no special programme to inculcate such values; it was a quality that permeated throughout the school-life. For example, once, during a cadet parade in our own ground, a senior stopped us (secondary one cadets) from making disparaging remarks about our competitor (a neighbouring boys' school). He said something to the effect of "They may be our rivals, but they are also our friends." At 16, he was aware of an important distinction that even leaders of nations today cannot or would not grasp.

St Patrick's' cadets at the 1983 National Cadet Corp Rifle Meet. Notice the use of 20-round ammo magazine for the M16 rifle.

Squatted: Gregory Tay, Mr Ashley Hogan (teaher-in-charge)

Back row fr L to R: Chun Kee, Wai Chong (author), Sharin, Andrew Yap, James Bay

(Original image in the possession of Mr. Andrew Leong Wai Chong.)

Somehow we were accorded respect like an adult by the academic staff. St Pat's was the only school in Singapore to set up a student parliament. It encouraged the students to debate the student rules and through the process, subject the regulations to scrutiny and questioning from the student representatives. Some of these rules were amended or even removed (of course, within the guidelines of the Ministry of Education).

Rules were rules. It was the school's responsibility to make sure that students adhere to them. Of course, we did not see the point of obeying rules for the sake of law and order. As adolescents, we had a natural tendency to challenge or circumvent such constraints. Punishments were meted out without exceptions whenever we were caught breaking the rules. From what I see, there was nothing personal in the disciplinary actions, the teachers had to enforce discipline because it was part of educating us, and we had to break them because it was part of growing up. More often than not, getting caught and punished was an amusing encounter for both parties. Which lead me to believe that the teachers (many being old boys of the school) had been as naughty rascals in their younger days.

The four years spent in St Patrick's was a ball. Yes, we felt the academic pressure to excel so as to gain a place in the college, but this was complemented by fun and friendship we developed in sports, pranks, parties and prayers. The barrage of Calculus, Physics and Biology were also balanced by solitude moments in the chapel where I had meaningful silent moments early in the morning before the bell ring for lessons.

Photographer: Peter Mealin

Source: Moments in St Patrick's

Original Caption: The Central Staircase to higher learning

It is said that noise of rattling chains against the wooden stairs can be heard in the dead of the night.

(Original image in the possession of Peter Mealin, and used with his kind permission.)

Left to right: Wai Chong, Harry (Mun Chong), Benjamin Tham, Sharin, Paul Yeo.Author horsing around with classmates in '83 Science 3. Notice the door leading to the central staircase.

(Original image in the possession of Mr. Andrew Leong Wai Chong.)

By the time I reached my final year, I felt I have benefited so much that I was ready to take on any challenge on the next phase of my life (going to college and being drafted in the army for "National Service"). And yes, when I looked that the freshmen (new batch of 13 year olds) walking through the school gates I empathized these vermin will have so much experience and growth to gain from this school.

"Forward her children dear,

ever with heart sincere,

render with joy to your mater her due!

All that is vile reject,

Heaven will e'er protect

Sons of St Patrick's valiant and true!"

Please continue on to Page 5 .

Names, current residences and contact information of 'old boys' can be found at the Register of Past Students, St. Patrick's School, Singapore page. To include your details, please contact the author, Terry Foenander.

Links to some of my other web pages:

On the American Civil War Navies.

A brief bio with additional links to pages on Singapore, etc.

The following web site includes some profiles of past students of the school, and is an attempt to connect 'old boys' with their former buddies: St. Patrick's School Alumni

Check out The Patrician Society, a group of our fellow "old boys," now restrengthened through the efforts of former students such as Vice President, Vincent Low.

The Eurasian Company of the Singapore Volunteer Corps. The Singapore Volunteer Corps was a militia unit formed in this British island colony in the 19th Century. At a later stage, island residents were permitted to enlist in the unit, resulting in the formation of Chinese, Malay and Eurasian Companies. This particular site relates to one of those Companies.

© Terry Foenander.

September, 2001.