My Grandfather's Class

12
Introduction
shouted. Later that day, the
with pride how, at the 1964 Sports
field decked in a riot of colours
football master explained to him
meet where Mrs Lee Kuan Yew was
as the Houses competed for the
that Subhas was late because he
guest of honour, Mr Jesudason had
Best-decorated Shed award (‘shed’
had represented the City District
assured her that no boy would steal
referred to the stands from which
in the Inter-District Cross Country
the unguarded trophies. Not only
the students cheered). Guests of
race at MacRitchie just minutes
were the trophies untouched, the
honour included dignitaries like
ago. Feeling rather bad, Mr
winners and supporters also lined
Mrs Lee Kuan Yew, and Toh Puan
Jesudason asked Subhas why he
up before the podium when they
Noor Aishah, wife of President
did not defend himself.
were called. Mrs Lee Kuan Yew was
Yusof Ishak. For the Founder’s
“I didn’t want the principal and
impressed and commended the
Day ceremonies, guests of honour
students of the other school to see
students for their behaviour.
included President Yusof Ishak
that you were making an ass of
and then-Minister od Education
Subhas Anandan as a student
yourself,” came the reply.
Grand School Functions
Mr Ong Pang Boon. The grandeur
The highlights of the years detailed
of the 1963 and 1964 Founder’s
before the principal and football
players of Johore English College
during the half time of the match
between their school and RI. Mr
Jesudason had seen Subhas, a
key player, arriving late. To make
matters worse, he had also spotted
football teacher-in-charge Mr
Sidhu personally handing Subhas
his jersey.
Mr Jesudason looked at him
angrily, and then burst out
laughing. “You know, Subhas, that
is the Rafflesian spirit. You didn’t
want to embarrass your principal.”
He proudly shared this incident at
the next school assembly.
Mr Siu explained that Mr
Jesudason’s strictness was due in
part to his salient belief that his
in My Grandfather’s Class were
undoubtedly Founder’s Day, Sports
Day and the Prefects’ Investiture.
During Mr Jesudason’s tenure,
these school functions became
very grand affairs. He instituted the
Prefects’ Investiture, a ceremony
in which elected students
essentially became his right-hand
men. During Founder’s Day, the
Day ceremonies were further
underscored by performances
by the Singapore Police Band,
but in 1965, it was supplanted
by something much closer to the
school community’s heart: the RI
Brass Band, which was formed in
January.
Despite the formality of these
occasions, there was one school
“What is wrong with your football
master, holding on to your jersey,
giving it to you and spoiling you?
This is a breach of discipline of
the highest order,” Mr Jesudason
students should – and would – hold
themselves to high standards.
He trusted the boys to behave,
and in turn, many of the boys
were determined to live up to his
expectations. Mr Siu recounted
entire school community would
congregate on the field, with the
students wearing ties despite the
heat. Teachers who were university
graduates don academic robes.
Sports Day would see the school
rule Mr Jesudason could not
enforce. “He couldn’t ask all of us
to wear white shoes,” laughed Mr
Siu. “Most of us weren’t the eldest
in our families; we were not born
right after the war. All our clothes