UPPER THOMSON SECONDARY SCHOOL 1969-70

Class Photo Sec.1  (1969)

There were so many extra-curricular activities in secondary school. I was a librarian and had a special badge for being one. Twice a week, I had library duty and had to issue books or just be at the entrance. I joined the Judo club and gymnastics club. I wanted to be like the ninjas in the samurai programs on TV. The clubs functioned on Saturdays. For Judo class, we had to carry the mats and lay it before beginning. After the class, we had to again carry it back. For the first few months we only learnt how to break fall. Then we started learning the throws. Mr.Phang was in charge of Judo. We also played a lot of badminton during the weekends at school.

During the recess, after having food and drinks at the tuck-shop we would just walk around till the bell rang. Sometimes we used to look at the cars in the parking area. Some teachers had nice cars. There was one sports car which attracted us.

1969 was the toughest school year for me. Technical Education was introduced and I had to go to Thomson Technical Secondary School twice a week in the afternoon for metalwork and basic electricity classes. I could return home only in the evening on those two days. I bought do-it-yourself kits and assembled an electric motor and an electric bell. Technical drawing class was held at Upper Thomson Secondary School but I had trouble keeping my drawing neat and the teacher would get irritated and sometimes pinch me. The same teacher was teaching basic electricity. I was doing well in that class and he liked me during that class. I realized then that he was only interested in our performance. There was Educational TV (ETV) and we only had to go to the TV room and watch TV during that period. We made a photo album during the art class.

I was the only student taking Malay in my class, so for secondary two they put me in another class where there were other students studying Malay. It was difficult not being with my old friends but soon I made new friends.One of my classmates in Malay class died while playing hide and seek. He was living in a flat and was hiding somewhere and slipped and fell from the seventh floor. It was a sad day. A minute of silence was observed during the assembly in his memory.  New buildings were constructed and metalwork and basic electricity classes were held at Upper Thomson Secondary School in 1970. So life became easier.

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