Victoria School @ Bukit Brown

The Victorian Learning Journey at Bukit Brown

This week, on the 29th(Tuesday) and 30th (Wednesday) October, a total of 240 students and teachers from the Victoria School fanned out over the hills of Bukit Brown for a “living” history lesson. They were not led by the Brownies but by the teachers and designated student leaders. Over 2 weekends before, the teachers and selected students underwent a crash course with Brownies Fabian Tee and Steven Toong. Steven took the morning off from work on Tuesday, and popped in on the boys. He was heartened and moved by their enthusiasm and commitment.

From the Victoria School history teacher Leo Hock Leng:

We did all we could in the name of education. As educators, our team believe we do have an obligation to do justice to our subject – History. Since Bukit Brown is a living classroom, it is thus a fecund ground for teaching and learning of History and across other subjects such as nature. We can’t let this opportunity slip away; rather late, but better than never.

Our main objective is to raise awareness. Our participants were told to take pics and share it on Instagram and/or Facebook. Hopefully, more would experience it, appreciate it and share about it. The follow-up, unfortunately, will be done after school reopens in 2014. This will be taken up by the History and English teachers in the form of discussion and essay. Will keep you in the loop and share good essays with you when the time comes.

We are truly proud of our student guides. They did an excellent job. They were so passionate and they fretted when the rain wouldn’t stop at 2 pm yesterday. The IP Year 2 guides, who are the younger ones (age 14), took the initiative to even share on the bus with their classmates while the rain was pelting on the roof and windows of the bus. When the rain stopped, they were so happy and eager to lead their peers out to meet Ong Sam Leong and all. Good kids. At the end of it all, I thanked them and encouraged them to volunteer as guides if their time permits. They seemed keen.

Lastly, I want to take this opportunity to thank Steven, Fabian and all brownies who have supported us in one way or the other. Steven and Fabian are our ‘shifus’ and they have been most instrumental in helping us craft out a successful programme. Their sharing has also been most helpful in serving as the foundation of our knowledge of Bukit Brown. You have a great team and as I told Steven, ‘You guys are the real History teacher.”

Editors note: All Things Bukit Brown would like to thank the teachers and boys of Victoria Secondary School for honouring our heritage, habitat and history. Their initial request was for the Brownies to lead them. But when told that we could only accommodate their request on weekends and with their numbers we would need 2 weekends, they rose up to the challenge and requested that they understudy the Brownies on the weekend guided walks. They certainly lived up to their school’s motto “Nil Sine Labore” – Nothing without Labour.

Here are some photos taken by Steven Toong of the boys on the first day.