From: cheu@venus.its.uci.edu (Kelvin Cheu)
Subject: Re: Hwa Chong's not that bad!
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asean
Reply-To: cheu@venus.its.uci.edu (Kelvin Cheu)
Organization: University of California, Irvine
Date: 22 Jul 92 05:37:59 GMT


In article <gJeaoB1w165w@student.business.uwo.ca>, vickeong@student.business.uwo.ca (Victor Jiun-Wen Keong) writes:
|> cheu@neptune.its.uci.edu (Kelvin Cheu) writes:
|> 
|> > In article <l6n0h7INN240@nyquist.usc.edu>, goh@nyquist.usc.edu (K.C.Goh) writ
|> > |> In article <1992Jul20.234623.18455@leland.Stanford.EDU> akster@leland.Stan
|> > |> >
|> > |> >	[Stuff deleted]
|> > |> >
|> > |> >the quality of teaching.  I've gone through schools in Singapore as well
|> > |> >as 2 in the U.S. and can count very few good teachers (mostly at Stanford
|> > |> >Law School).  I thought the worst were those at Hwa Chong JC.
|> > |>                              ^^^^^               ^^^^^^^^^^^^
|> > |> >
|> > |> >E. Yap
|> > |> >
|> > |> 
|> > |> I beg to differ, but perhaps from a different perspective,
|> > |> because I was probably at HCJC earlier.
|> > |> 
|> > |> I was at Hwa Chong J.C. in 83-84 and I feel that the teachers
|> > |> there were excellent, especially the Further Math teachers.
|> > |> Back then, Hwa Chong math department was supposed to be really good.
|> > |> (Particularly, Miss Yap and Mrs Kong, to whom I dedicate this
|> > |> defense of Hwa Chong to!).  And RJC didn't even exist back then.
|> > |> 
|> > |> Also my GP teachers were quite good.
|> > |> Bottom line: 	Hwa Chong has at least one satisfied customer
|> > |> 		out here in Netland.
|> > |> 
|> > |> Regards.
|> > |> 
|> > |> 
|> > |> 
|> > |> 
|> > 
|> > K.C.,
|> > 
|> > You are not the only Hwa Chong Alumni around.  I was there in 81-82,
|> > the 1st batch of computer science students. Those good old days when
|> > I was still using Apple II and punch cards...
|> > 
|> > Kelvin Cheu
|> 
|> I cannot believe there are people out there who actually tries to 
|> discredit HCJC after spending two years there. Granted the buildings were 
|> falling apart and we never had a place to sit during the peak lunch hours 
|> in the canteen; but my experiences at HCJC wee definitely most fruitful. 
|> And I definitely do not understand why HCJC's quality of teaching can be 
|> doubted when Hwa Chong consistently produced the most number of 4 As 
|> students annually! I still remember vividly how Bernard Fong used to wave 
|> his hands and conduct the singing of the National Anthem during 
|> assemblies..............................
|> 
|> vickeong@student.business.uwo.ca (Victor Jiun-Wen Keong)
|> Western Business School  --  London, Ontario

I beg you misinterpreted my words.

Discredit my JC - no way ! I didn't imply that.  I spent 4 years
of my high school education (I consider it as my best days) in
Chinese High School and then 2 years at HCJC. With this I don't
think anyone can doubt my loyalty to Hwa Zhong. I was telling
K.C. that he is not alone in his opinion.  I met many good
teachers and friends in Hwa Chong JC.  Of course school schedule
and homework were hectic, and everybody, including teachers,
students and soprts-persons felt the presure of staying at the top.
But majority of the teachers cared about students, not restricted
to their students score alone.

When the computer science classes began in 1981, we had to spent the
1st 6 months using the computer facilities in then the Joint Campus.
(I believe it is still the IE now.)  Within 2 years, we moved from
teletype terminasl with punch cards (in the Joint Campus), to Apple
IIs, and then to PDP-11.  All the students and teachers had to cope
with the rapid change in learning environment.  I beg the 'air-
condition' nowadays is much better. In 1981-82 the air-con in LT1
and LT2 broke down very often (like once in 2 weeks). All of us 
continued classes as usual, w/o complaint.  Isn't is part of the 
Hwa Chong spirit ? By the way, it is difficult for students to feel 
part of the Hwa Chong spirit is 2 yrs of short stay, and I can 
understand why the student councils and the principle were keen in
fostering that among the students. 

Finally, I don't think one can judge the success of a school by
looking at number of A's alone.  It is a good indicator but not
a perfect measure.


Kelvin Cheu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asean