VS going Co-Ed? - not without a fight.

It's a Friday, and i finally have some time to settle and allow the flurry of thoughts on the whole issue to simmer down. A single article from the newpaper on the Wednesday got the student population in an eruption of emotions. As Victorians shouted 'NO' to a co-ed environment, whether they were ignorant to the issue at hand or otherwise, their voice was united and heard - they didn't want to see their alma mater with 129 years of history and a school spirit that is unrivalled by no other, diluted and fear that it would all be lost.

In a matter of hours, a forum, online petition and a blog, all of which dedicated to the issue was created and word passed round. The serious approach taken by Victorians with regards to the matter was in all professionalism and is commendable. A sms-system, even, is in the works. By the end of that day (Wednesday) 200+ or more had already participated in the online petition, and as of now, it has climbed close to a thousand. Victorians of present and past, have gotten together in their effort to oppose the proposal of school authorities.

A certain Victorian, of whom I shall not name, even went down to school on the Wednesday night to put up a banner on the 'Victorian spirit' wall, to allow those opposing vs going co-ed to air their views and emotions. Sadly, the professionalism eroded as Victorians with nothing constructive to say, resorted to nothing but the airing of their armpits.

And now for my take on the issue

I believe amid all the uproar - about how becoming co-ed would result in the dilution of tradition and culture, and the fear of how the Victorian spirit that is shared and nurtured through going through the formulative years as brothers would never be quite the same with girls again - I believe the crux of the issue is the declining academic standards that Victoria school is facing; that has initiated the principal to consider and decide on VS turning co-ed as a solution. And it is this that we have to tackle first and foremost before we move on to anything else.

And it is this problem that we have to find alternative solutions for before we say NO to co-education. Not lament on how girls will bring a whole new set of problems themselves - periods, pads and pompoms. Or work out the probability of a girl choosing Victoria school over cedar or raffles to be nil, when they consider that we do not have an established netball team or realize we lack the capabilities to run a proper gymnastic program; and would have to most regretfully march about in NCC Land uniform, and develop a masculine physique.

We all know all too well the discipline that is lacking in the student population. Our teachers drone on endlessly about how our predecessors did well and how we were a mere representation of what Victoria school can and should be. The slack attitude, the fun-loving nature that detests the taste of work of the typical Victorian would not do any good to help the situation. Now, isn't this but the root of the problem? Isn't this the cause of our declining academic standards? That has to be addressed to initiate a reverse of the worrying trend? Why not make all effort to change this disciplinary issue, instead of pointing the finger at a 'brain drain' due to the siphoning off our best students by colleges offering the integrated program. And hence, go to the extent of compromising our rich history of 129 years by changing the school's policy of a single-sex arrangement to become co-ed for the sake of the integrated program.

Truth be told, the integrated program only began a year before. And the batch affected has yet to sit for their O levels to see if the removal of the 50+ students will have such a great impact that would warrant the change. Yet the decline in academic standards had been in place since my brother's time of who graduated in 1999, when Mr. Ang was still a vice-principal. So is the integrated program really the one causing the brain drain and bad results? The answer would be a definite No. so let us not cheat ourselves into thinking so, shall we? Mr. Ang?

My personal opinion and solution to the problem is simple and traditional. Enforce strict discipline, as only with the essential discipline, would learning take place. And to do so, the school admin, staff, teachers, disciplinarians will have to work together to curb this slack attitude and maintain the appropriate discipline. Ensuring work and lessons are taken seriously and encouraging a matured learning environment - that cohort after cohort would learn to move together. But not the sort of discipline OM Chia imposes, not the constant yelps and dog calls that pound the ears of a Victorian that wears ankle socks. No, not that sort of discipline, but one that would make sense to matured Victorians of who would then believe in and hence, abide. This might even serve to strengthen the school bond; the Victorian Spirit, lol.

So let's not kid ourselves now. Going co-ed wouldn't serve to better the situation if our discipline is lacking. We have done it before as men in the past; we can do it the same as men again. It is our attitude that matters not our gender.

Nil Sine Labore