This week, on the 29th(Tuesday) and 30th (Wednesday) October,\u00a0 a total of\u00a0 240 students and\u00a0 teachers from the Victoria\u00a0 School fanned out over the hills of Bukit Brown for a “living” history lesson.\u00a0 They were not led by the Brownies but by the teachers and designated student leaders. Over 2 weekends\u00a0 before, the teachers and selected students underwent a crash course with\u00a0 Brownies Fabian Tee and Steven Toong.\u00a0 Steven took the morning off from work on Tuesday,\u00a0 and popped in on the boys. He was heartened and moved by their enthusiasm and commitment.<\/div>\n
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From the Victoria School\u00a0 history teacher Leo Hock Leng:<\/div>\n
<\/div>\nWe 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\u00a0 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.<\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n
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\u00a0 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.<\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n\u00a0<\/em><\/div>\nOur 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. \u00a0The 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.<\/em><\/div>\nWe 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\u00a0 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.<\/em><\/span><\/h3>\nLastly, I want to take this opportunity to thank Steven, Fabian\u00a0 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.”<\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nEditors note: All Things Bukit Brown\u00a0 would like to thank the teachers and boys of Victoria Secondary\u00a0 School for honouring our heritage, habitat and history.\u00a0 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,\u00a0 they rose up to the challenge and requested that they understudy the Brownies\u00a0 on the weekend guided walks.\u00a0 They certainly lived up to their school’s motto “Nil Sine Labore” <\/strong>– Nothing without Labour.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\nHere are some photos taken by Steven Toong of the boys on the first day.<\/div>\n![\"Student](\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Student-guide-at-Tan-Boon-Hak-Steven-Toong.jpg\" "\\"Victoria")
<\/a>Victoria student guide at Tan Boon Hak Steven Toong<\/p><\/div>\n
![\"Victoria](\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Victoria-School-at-Ong-Sam-Leong-Steven-Toong.jpg\" "\\"Victoria")
<\/a>Victoria School at Ong Sam Leong ( photo Steven Toong )<\/p><\/div>\n
![\"Victoria](\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Victoria-School-Students-led-by-coolie-guide-Steven-Toong.jpg\" "\\"Victoria")
<\/a>A touch of whimsey students led by “coolie” guide (photo Steven Toong)<\/p><\/div>\n
![\"Victoria](\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Victoria-School-Mini-posters-Steven-Toong.jpg\")
<\/a>The teacher’s car which served as a “bulletin board” for the mini posters (photo Steven Toong)<\/p><\/div>\n
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. \u00a0The 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.<\/em><\/div>\nWe 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\u00a0 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.<\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n
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\u00a0 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.<\/em><\/span><\/h3>\nLastly, I want to take this opportunity to thank Steven, Fabian\u00a0 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.”<\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nEditors note: All Things Bukit Brown\u00a0 would like to thank the teachers and boys of Victoria Secondary\u00a0 School for honouring our heritage, habitat and history.\u00a0 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,\u00a0 they rose up to the challenge and requested that they understudy the Brownies\u00a0 on the weekend guided walks.\u00a0 They certainly lived up to their school’s motto “Nil Sine Labore” <\/strong>– Nothing without Labour.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\nHere are some photos taken by Steven Toong of the boys on the first day.<\/div>\n<\/a>Victoria student guide at Tan Boon Hak Steven Toong<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Victoria School at Ong Sam Leong ( photo Steven Toong )<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>A touch of whimsey students led by “coolie” guide (photo Steven Toong)<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>The teacher’s car which served as a “bulletin board” for the mini posters (photo Steven Toong)<\/p><\/div>\n
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Editors note: All Things Bukit Brown\u00a0 would like to thank the teachers and boys of Victoria Secondary\u00a0 School for honouring our heritage, habitat and history.\u00a0 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,\u00a0 they rose up to the challenge and requested that they understudy the Brownies\u00a0 on the weekend guided walks.\u00a0 They certainly lived up to their school’s motto “Nil Sine Labore” <\/strong>– Nothing without Labour.<\/em><\/div>\n
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Here are some photos taken by Steven Toong of the boys on the first day.<\/div>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>
<\/a>Victoria student guide at Tan Boon Hak Steven Toong<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Victoria School at Ong Sam Leong ( photo Steven Toong )<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>A touch of whimsey students led by “coolie” guide (photo Steven Toong)<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>The teacher’s car which served as a “bulletin board” for the mini posters (photo Steven Toong)<\/p><\/div>\n