'What happened to the values of older Rafflesians?'
Author of book commemorating the Raffles spirit thinks that age-old values of public spirit and humility Rafflesians have given way. -myp
Debbie Yong
Wed, Jan 30, 2008
my paper
WHAT happened to the older generation of humble, hardworking Rafflesians?
Author Mr Tan Guan Heng, 71, wondered this thought aloud at the press launch of his book, 100 Inspiring Rafflesians, yesterday.
His 272-page book features individuals who had studied at the various Raffles institutions between 1823 and 2003 and went on to take top positions in Singapore's public and community spheres.
| About the author THE book's Rafflesian author, Mr Tan Guan Heng, 71, is the president of the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped and an old boy from Raffles Institution. He became totally blind not long after graduating from the University of Malaya in Singapore in the 1960s. He suffered from detached retinas. In recent years, Mr Tan has turned his attention to writing and has published two well-received works of fiction. The idea for his third book, 100 Inspiring Rafflesians, came from none other than his classmate and friend in Raffles Institution, Professor Tommy Koh. Mr Tan started doing research for and writing the book in 2004 and it was finally published late last year. The 272-page 100 Inspiring Rafflesians is sold in major bookstores at $25 for the paperback version and $45 for the hardcover version. |
"In each profile there is a moral: Rafflesians were not born with silver spoons in their mouths and achieved their success through hard work and dilligence," said Mr Tan, citing SM Goh, Stamford Law Corporation founder Lee Suet Fern and educator-philanthropist Lim Boon Keng as "epitomies of the Raffles spirit."
He feels that the value of humility and the school's tradition of public service is lost on the more affluent younger generation of Raffles schools' students.
But young Rafflesians disagree.
Miss Tan Su Wan, 19, who is awaiting her A-level results from Raffles Junior College (RJC), feels that the culture of volunteerism is alive and well among her schoolmates.
She said: "There's a difference between being from an elite school and being elitist. Rafflesians fight hard to do the best they can. Elitism breeds only when you do so to beat others."
First-year RJC student Thomas Heng, 17, added that his school accepted and integrated everyone, no matter which secondary school they were from.
Law student Mr Dennis Tan, 23, who studied in Raffles Institution and RJC, acknowledged that elitism is endemic to Singapore's strongly meritocratic system.
Others brought up that it was not just Rafflesians who suffered the elitist tag.
Other well-established schools such as those in the Anglo-Chinese family and the Hwa Chong group are also victims to the reputation of being exclusive.
"It's not entirely untrue. Anglo-Chinese School is a generational school. But there's a fine line between elitism and being proud of your school's identity," said student Mr Jonathan Lee, 24, who was from ACS (Independent) and RJC.
Non-Rafflesian analyst Mr Fabian Lua, 25, felt that such attitudes may not necessarily have been bred within the school.
He said: "It's a chicken and egg issue. The brand name of the school will naturally attract people who want to go there because they want that distinction.