A STOMPer, who is a student of Temasek Junior College, said that the school's discipline master reprimanded and demanded a letter of apology from two students after the female student gave another male student a friendly pat on the shoulder during a skit.
He said the two students were performing a skit to promote a concert by the music co-curricular activity or better known as the personal development programme (PDP), which they belong to, during Wednesday morning assembly.
The female student gave her male friend a short tap on the shoulder as a greeting gesture during the act, but the discipline master said the brief contact caused quite a stir and there was 'murmuring among other students', the STOMPer quoted.
Said the STOMPer in an email to STOMP yesterday (Mar 28): "Students do engage in short conversations among themselves every morning and I do not think that it was because of the physical contact between the two students.
"I was also perturbed by the fact that they had to submit a letter of apology to the discipline master on the same day."
He added: "The discipline master of a school has to ensure a high level of discipline among students, but is there a need to advocate a similar standard of decency where the members of the opposite sex are restricted from any form of physical contact?
"Does that mean that school and co-curricular activities such as dancing and cheerleading, which as far more body contact between the two genders, has to be banned?"
The STOMPer said in this time and age, a simple handshake as a greeting gesture is accepted in Singapore's ethnically and culturally diverse society, much less a pat on the shoulder among the young who have a more informal way of greeting.
"I also feel sure that such greeting gestures do conform to the socio-cultural standards of conduct in other conservative societies," he said.
"However, I do not imply that a display of affection, such as kissing and hugging, among teenage couples should be accepted in the school as it exceeds the standard of decency.
It is up to the students do use their discretion and I trust that a majority of them would have the morality to do so," he said.
STOMP is contacting the school for comment.
haha. and the renowed discipline master is Mr F Tong CB!
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