Please comment on any mistakes.
To all the pitiful people who visit my deserted blog, I hereby present:
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Totalism and RV
by an self-perceived outcast
Updates :
10/11/2005(Final v2)
-Broken links fixed
-Lame prologue removed
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DISCLAMIER : The following article might be distressing for you. If you think you will be offended, violated, angered or disgusted by the following message, I hold no responsibility for what I have written. This is a personal view, all views expressed here are solely my own. You have been told. Free speech for everyone!
This is final, with possibilities to correct mistakes here and there.
PART I
-- Introduction --
First, I'll start off with why I�m writing this. I'm sick and tired of being reprimanded over and over again - by everyone - for just about everything. Through these countless strenuous, harsh treatment, they have trained me to be thick-skinned and to not give a damn about them. Even though I like being thick-skinned, Their infinite nagging has made me irritable. I do not like being irritable. Next, RV is sick. Why do I say so? Look at the things that happen to everyone in the school. Some have greying hair, some are going eccentric. What is this world coming to! Further more, I have met several ex-RVians and they all said that they 'would not go back to RV if they were to choose their secondary school again. They say that RV is too competitive. Exactly. However, why do I compare this to totalism? Picture this: We work hard to uphold the school's image. What do we get back in return? Almost nothing. They gladly roll out the red carpet for the minority that have received excellent results. And they ditch the rest to a bottomless pit. The majority of them are masked by greed, the lure of a promotion or a pay rise. In front of visitors, they seem caring and concerned about us. Inside them is a demon, waiting to pounce. Our lives are laborious, miserable and short. 4 years of total misery under a Iron Fisted rule. We are tricked into slogging ourselves to death just to uphold the school image. They broadcast propaganda through twice-a-week car park assembly, the P.A. system and we have to sing the school song every week. I find them useless. Nobody sings, everybody mumbles. You might say that I'm biased, but this is total hell.
PART II
-- Our Rights --
Welcome back. I shall continue with what I have left off with. They deceive us, making us think that we have a hand in choosing SCs. I shall elaborate. The process of choosing a new SC is like this - Nomination -> Selection -> Interview. 5 nominations are required for the applicant to be selected. This is how they give us a perception that we have a say. The interview is what decides if the applicant becomes a SC. The interviewer might be biased and rob the applicant of their chances. In my opinion, it is the truth. Next, I suggest that we have a say about the teachers. We could have a feedback form like every month, and the teacher is evaluated by US. Not the teachers themselves. This is just like totalism. We are silenced about what we can say. You might say that I'm biased, but this is total hell.
PART III
-- The Government --
Now, let us consider the hierarchy of the school. At the top we have the Principal; the leader of the tribe. Has the authority supported by officials of the clan to do almost what he/she wants. Only a upper body - the ministry - has the power to pull her strings(rarely in my perception). Next we have the teachers and workers. They are bribed (or "paid" a salary in more politically correct terms) and the majority will do what the upper body wants in a bid to keep their source of money. Those who do not comply are simply thrown out. I know of a teacher (ex-RV teacher) who was fired (or you all brainwashed people as "transferred") and was forced to do it "voluntarily", perhaps to keep the name and reputation of the school. Just a facade of lies and deceit, operating a under-maintained facility known as a "school". And we are forced to do time in here, supported by the ministry, making it compulsory to attend school. 5 days a week, 7 hours minimum a pop. (With CCA and enrichment classes the average is 11 hours, plus transport, 12 hours.) You might say that I'm biased, but this is total hell.
PART IV
-- Brainwashing sessions --
Are the secondary 1s more enthusiastic about school than the secondary 4s? I think so, judging from them arriving in school early, upholding the school values fanatically and knowing the values, motto and targets of the school clearly. This is further strengthened by the Ministry, by introducing National Education. Supported by the school's Pupil Development Program (PDP) and Integrated Reading Program (IRP) they can modify and change our views as they see fit. By saying that these will do us good, they are trying to deceive our innocent minds that it is the truth. By putting up a good face in front of parents & visitors, they are blatantly telling us that what they are doing to use is what NOT our parents wanted when we arrived at this innocent-looking school. Over the course of 4 years, their actual target is to change our views about them and
PART VI
-- Sucking Money --
Donations after donations, fund-raising events after another, what do you think the real motive is? Is it to build a new school? The original idea might seem impressive, building an arts centre and upgrading the school. Now think about this. Why not just give the school a new coat of paint, clean up every area and do some minor renovations here and there to the older block and special rooms? Wouldn�t it be the same? And for the arts centre, why not just convert the auditorium by adding seats and enlarge the floor space? Come to think about it, it seems perfectly the same, only with a smaller price-tag. So what is the real motive behind their money-sucking activities? I myself cannot pinpoint any reasons, but here are several probable ones. 1.) Building better staff facilities. 2.) Siphon the money into a Swiss Bank Account. 3.) Waste the money to actually build a new school. We pay the Government to enter school though the Government made it compulsory. Why need the extra facilities? Can't they take the money from the Ministry's coffers? If they cannot, to me it would seem absurd for a school with SYF Gold award winning arts groups to not have sponsored facilities. Talking about the special rooms, particularly the computer labs (esp. 1), I agree that they are old and unreliable. BUT they upgraded the other labs without upgrading LAB 1, the most commonly used lab by all. You might say that I'm biased, but this is total hell.
PART VII
-- Torture Techniques --
Homework and tests. Sec 1 was easier. Sec 2 is no easier. The heat is on. CCA sessions. Boring lessons. NAPFA training. Tests every week. Homework which nobody completes due to being trained to be thick-skinned. Now, do you think that we are being tortured, mentally and physically? Of course. They might say that it's for our own good, but who believes that? I do not think that this is preparing us for the O levels. I might say that they are doing it to uphold the reputation of the school, and by getting good results, enticing other parents to enrol their innocent kids into this pathetic school. Almost everybody in the school is tired and strained. Some (like me & 'BIGgg') even occasionally sleep during lessons. The teacher's droning voice spurting out propaganda will wear us out, making us submit to them. Exactly like totalism; making us work like pigs. You might say that I'm biased, but this is total hell.
PART VIII
-- Conclusion --
So fellow friends, I hereby sentence RV to a 5-year suspension on account of being a totalist school. You might say that I'm biased, but this is total hell. This is just the icing on the cake. Stay tuned.
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