Or any mission school within range.
Surprised to find myself showing so much school patriotism. Guess once a La Sallian... Though not many of the mission schools are left. And the few left can hardly be considered mission schools - what with the last La Sallian brother principal taking his leave a couple of months back. Though their legacy remains with the school and its students, I doubt the La Sallian schools would remain the same without their stern presence. Say what you will but the presence of the strict white-robed principals stalking the halls with canes behind their backs certainly helped add a note of sobriety to what would otherwise be a boisterous all-boys' school.
Speak softly and carry a big stick certainly seemed to be the school motto back then. There were still moments when the boys went wild though :) Though the experienced brothers always made sure to rein us all in before havoc ensued.
Boys will be boys!
Rather than send my kids to a generic brand school ( Tmn XYZ III Secondary or Tmn ABC Seksyen 7/7 Primary anyone? ), I would gladly hike through miles of traffic just to send my children to a traditional mission school - despite the fact that Shameless Shalom insists such places are a fertile breeding ground for homosexuals.
Nor do they breed bible-thumping Christians.
Contrary to ridiculous popular belief, missionary schools do not indoctrinate or convert students to Christianity. There isn't a baptismal font just after the school gate spraying instant conversion on unwary students! Instead the brothers taught the students a healthy respect for all religions. If not for the discreetly placed crosses in the classrooms and the first friday prayers attended by the Christian students in the chapel, I doubt anyone would even take it for a mission school!
And for the freakish religious naysayers who insist that the crosses and statues be removed in a bid to dechristianize mission schools, I have to wonder why they feel so threatened by such iconic religious figures. Is their faith evidently that easily swayed?
*Ahem* Where was I?
Look, I won't say that the mission schools instilled a strong set of moral values in me ( since that would be pretty hypocritical for me! ) though they did try their best! But I would say that it instilled in me a sense of brotherhood - a keen sense of kinship and camaraderie that I have sadly never found in any of the other institutions of learning I've been to. Though our students come from all races, colours and creeds ( a fair microcosm of our country itself! ), I think most of us are proud to call ourselves La Sallian boys.
And yes, I would like my son to say the same one day.
9 comments:
Hail to Alma Mater De La Salle! ^_^
+Ant+
I wish I was from a mission school sometimes. :P
gosh...an all-boys school...were there any hanky panky going on?
kinky!
u have a son?
dun hv ghosts & spirits ker at la salle schools?
Of course Serm....all those circle-jerks! :P
+Ant+
My primary and secondary schools are St. Paul, St Francis and St. Joseph - all La Salle schools :-)
I went to a mission school for 13 years. you are right about the non indoctrination part. but the brothers were available for consultation and guidance. they had a mission and a vision. they sacrificed themselves for a mission. I went to a cemetery recently n saw a few of their graves. I felt sad. The foreign missionaries never went back. They came, they served and died here. I hope we are all worth their sacrific.
son! when are you having a son!
YES! La Salle rules, anton!
But why, llearned!
Hardly serm, I wish though. No circle jerks either.
Didn't see any the time I was there, JD COle.
Well you are true blue, jeremy.
So sad to see them go, beng beng.
Hypothetical situation if ever, mstpbound!
P
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