Category: Op-Eds

Commentary, Nationally Speaking, Op-Eds, Student Issues

No, I Don’t Speak Tamil: Understanding Non-Tamil Indian Languages (NTIL)

By Samyak Jain (21S03A) and Snehal Sachde (21S07C)
Cover image by Neo Xin Yuan (21A01D) 

Chances are, you’ve complained about taking Mother Tongue before. We sure have. However, some of us have more to complain about than others. On top of the regular boredom which many associate with the subject, students who take Non-Tamil Indian Languages (NTILs) face a unique set of challenges that are generally not considered by the wider school population. 

Chances also are, you know that most Indians in Singapore speak and learn Tamil. However, this isn’t an accurate representation of the languages spoken in India at all. 

Continue reading “No, I Don’t Speak Tamil: Understanding Non-Tamil Indian Languages (NTIL)” →
Commentary, Human Interest, Op-Eds, School Life, Staff Features

A Look Into The Lives of Our “Unsung Heroes”: The EJ-RI Perspective

This was written in collaboration with EJC Press as part of Issue 3 of Cross Island Impressions, an inter-JC Press collaboration. You can read Issue 3 here.

By Faith Ho (22A01A; RI), Eliora Tan (21-E5; EJC), Jolina Nair (21-E5; EJC), and Richard Tiew (21-I2; EJC)

Have you ever thought about who cleans our school toilets? Or who ensures safety on our school campuses? And who prepares the food in our canteens? 

These are the day-to-day responsibilities of the “unsung heroes” in our school. Without their contributions, our schools would not be operational. This op-ed examines the experiences of the non-teaching staff we see everyday: our school custodians (cleaners, gardeners and estate staff), security guards and canteen hawkers, who form the backbone of our schools. 

However, we are frequently preoccupied with other matters in our daily lives, so their work often slips under our radar and they remain invisible and unacknowledged. 

Are these non-teaching staff really seen as part of our school? What are the challenges they face on a day-to-day basis? And can we truly call them both “unsung” and “heroes”? 

Continue reading “A Look Into The Lives of Our “Unsung Heroes”: The EJ-RI Perspective” →
Commentary, Op-Eds, School Life, Student Issues

CCA and Covid-19: How the New Normal Has Impacted Our Holistic Journey

This was written in collaboration with EJC Press as part of Issue 3 of Cross Island Impressions, an inter-JC Press collaboration. You can read Issue 3 here.

By Mirella Ang (22A01C; RI), Shermaine Lim (22S03N; RI), Joshua Tan (21-12; EJC), and Zexel Lim (21-E2; EJC)

COVID-19 has impacted us in many ways. It has affected the way we live, the way we feel and think, and the way we communicate. Schools have been shut down across the world, and the education system had to be reformed in order to suit the ‘new normal’. The reopening of schools in Singapore has prompted many of us to wonder: how has COVID-19 impacted our school lives? In this article, we seek to understand and answer the questions of why different facets of our extracurriculars system have been affected by COVID-19, and what students are doing to cope with such drastic changes. We also want to examine CCA activities through the lens of the most popular CCA categories, namely Sports, the Visual Performing Arts, Clubs and Societies and Uniform Groups (UGs). 

Continue reading “CCA and Covid-19: How the New Normal Has Impacted Our Holistic Journey” →
Commentary, Op-Eds, Student Issues

COVID-19: Boon or Bane for Students’ Brains?

This was written in collaboration with EJC Press as part of Issue 3 of Cross Island Impressions, an inter-JC Press collaboration. You can read Issue 3 here.

By Hong Wan Jing (22S06F; RI), Lara Tan (22A01B; RI), Harel Tan (21-12; EJC), He Jizhao (21-U5; EJC), and Jachin Khoo (21-U5; EJC)

We can all recall the pre-COVID days: the days without the inconvenience of wearing masks, the days where we can put our arm around our best friend’s shoulder, the days where spraying alcohol on tables wasn’t done without being frowned upon. Reminiscing on the times where we had the option to travel to Jozankei Hot Spring to taste natural springwater instead of resorting to the Sembawang Hot Spring, and beachside picnics with classes, I’m sure we can agree that those pre-COVID days were better.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a great disruption to everybody’s lives. With Singapore being one of the worst hit countries at the outset of the pandemic, the lives of many people grounded to a screeching halt, and students weren’t spared either. Students, given their young age, are affected to an even greater extent, especially with regards to their mental health.

What would be of overseas school trips with friends? Would the quality of teaching be affected by zoom lessons? What about SYF, ‘A’ Divs and competitions? These were some concerns students had about COVID-19 affecting their student life.

Continue reading “COVID-19: Boon or Bane for Students’ Brains?” →
Arts, Commentary, Op-Eds, Student Issues

Where Thou Art, Art: The EJ-RI Perspective

This was written in collaboration with EJC Press as part of Issue 3 of Cross Island Impressions, an inter-JC Press collaboration. You can read Issue 3 here.

By Jason Sutio (22S06U; RI), Murugan Rakshita (21-E1; EJC), S Sanjana Rajan (21-01; EJC), and Tricia Loh (21-U1; EJC)

Because it is foolish to criticise pre-existing civil systems, no sane citizen is ready to sink their hands into the dirty work of criticising the education system, and the vocational world after it, and preaching alternatives. Here’s some delightful news: we are here to lighten your burden and take it upon ourselves (spurred by our sense of obligation to do so, as students who genuinely care for the welfare of the student population in Singapore) to educate the importance of an arts education. We feel compelled to scrunch up our sleeves and correct a misconception: STEM > ARTS. 

Continue reading “Where Thou Art, Art: The EJ-RI Perspective” →