I REFER to the articles "Teachers can't do as they wish" and "I kept my blog and job separate" (The New Paper, 31 Oct).

I am disheartened and outraged at how backward some Singaporeans are, as well as how the school has handled the Wicked Weasel affair, and the statement issued by the Ministry of Education's spokesman.

As we move into the new century, with rapid globalisation and integration with cultures from all over the world, I feel it is important for Singaporeans to move with the times.

Make no mistake: I strongly believe in the importance of morality, that morality should never be compromised by any modernisation.

At the same time, I believe in the importance of respecting individual rights and freedom.

Wearing a bikini, and entering a contest is not immorality, nor is it indecency. If that were the case, should half the women at the beaches of Sentosa be deemed immoral and indecent?

What about our local actresses and Miss Singapore Universe contestants, who act or parade in bikinis on screen?

The teacher in question did not take part in any immoral act. She did not do pornography, or indulge in bigotry or racism.

It is astounding that a good number of Singaporeans associate a woman's choice of swimwear with her moral compass and candidacy for being a role model in this day and age.

Such a primitive and narrow-minded mentality should never be nurtured, especially in a cosmopolitan state like Singapore in the 21st century.

A role model is someone who exemplifies moral beliefs and attitudes, and in the case of the teacher in question, this certainly does not and should not cover one's sense of fashion at the beach.

I think that as a nation, we are still young, and often too immature to handle issues which force us to think and challenge the status quo, in this case, what defines morality and a role model.

We conveniently write off anything that is different as bad or threatening.

Is it immoral or indecent to drink or dance, if you are a teacher? What about thinking as an individual and questioning authority constructively?

I think most of us would agree that such a notion is absurd in this day and age.

It is time for us as a nation to mature and grow. And accept that teachers are humans too, and a good number of them in this generation club and pub, and the woman teachers wear bikinis to the beach.

This article was first published in The New Paper on November 4, 2008.