School Nostalgia IV

Wow the last instalment was way back in February 2009. Actually I had a lot of ideas at that time, but lazy to pen down, so I eventually forgot over time. Let’s dive into the nostalgia of my school days again. =)

I think everyone has the experience of being punished in school right? Since everyone may make mistakes after all. As we go higher up in education, we will be probably punished less and less often. Or rather, the ‘punishment’ changes form to what we call ‘penalty’. For example, 10 marks will be deducted for late submission.

In this entry, I’ll talk about physical punishments we are subjected to in school. No, not corporal punishment like caning, or army-style push-ups. Just some mild ones which teachers will give in class for minor problems like poor behaviour or forgetfulness. This applies mainly for primary school.


Happy New Year Pull Your Ear

It isn’t that bad if we were to do it ourselves, since we’ll just press our earlobes with two fingers without pulling anyway. But it can be potentially painful if the teacher does it to us. Our ear tissues are so soft and vulnerable, with no bones to support. A small force exerted by the teacher can actually produce great pain. Some teachers pull and twist some more, ouch! I remember my ear was pulled (and twisted) really hard during lower primary, for forgetting to bring my textbook I think, and it was really painful. I thought my ear was going to drop.

I hate it when teachers don’t pull students (to move them from one position to another) by the arms or shoulders, but by the ears. This was usually done when the teacher pulled the student from his/her seat to the front of the classroom.


Put your finger on your lips

Not really considered a punishment, but just a simple harmless way to keep noisy kids quiet. Usually done during assembly (silent reading) or when the teacher is going out of class. Not very effective though, since we can still talk with the finger on our lips.

Variations: Cover your mouth
This kicks in when the finger isn’t enough to seal our lips. More effective since it’s more difficult to speak with a muffled voice.


Stand Up for Singapore

The most common punishment of all. Especially effective in keeping students from dozing off. One may stand at his/her seat, or at the side/back of classroom in order not to block the other alert students behind. At higher level of education, students are given the liberty to volunteer standing up if they cannot keep awake.

Variations: Stand on chair
This is done if the teacher decides to be meaner. However most of the time, the worry is not about the embarrassment, nor falling off the chair, but dirtying your own chair with your soiled shoes.

Variations: Stand on table
The leveled up version of standing on chair. Being at the top of the world isn’t necessarily a good experience.


Autocratic Ruler

If a cane can’t be used, the ruler is the next best choice. In normal cases, a 30 cm plastic ruler is used. More rulers can be stacked to add strength for a harder hit. There were times when the wooder metre rule (usually placed in front of black/whiteboard) was used for heavier punishments. The naughtier the class is, the more broken rulers can be found. Wonder who pays for them…

Don’t think that the ruler is only for primary school kids. In Secondary 4, my teacher was still using the ruler to hit our hands =p.


You’ve been eliminated

Hmm, I don’t remember being chased out of class. Apparently it can be quite embarrassing since you can be clearly seen by other people outside too. If the teacher is kind enough, you may continue to listen to the lesson through the window. Otherwise you might need to finish up the incomplete work on the floor before the period ends. It can be quite lonely if only one person is outside the classroom. But it gets really fun if majority of the class is chased outside too. The more the merrier.


Other petty treatment:

- Throwing worksheets/workbooks on the floor and we have to go and pick it up. (hope the floor is clean enough)

- Telling us to do squats. (treat it as PE)

- Pelting duster/chalk at us. (must aim properly otherwise innocent ones might be harmed)

- Slapping the face (a great deal of courage is needed)

- Hitting the head with a book (beware you might become stupid)

Idiot Box (II)

Mediacorp Chinese sitcoms are things of the past. When is the last time it was aired on TV? What is the last sitcom you've watched? Most of us probably would have already forgotten the answers to these questions.

Popularity of Channel 8 sitcoms started with this one. It was a hit when it first came out, along with its apt theme song. It created many memorable characters whose names (nicknames rather) we still remember, like Lobang King, 黄金来, 小妹, etc. Many seasons appeared after that, but unfortunately got worse and worse. It was the longest running sitcom in Ch8.




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A sitcom casting many popular hosts. I think the theme song is funnier than the show itself haha. The parts sung by Mark Lee and Huige should be the most memorable ones...




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Among all the sitcoms I've watched, I would rate this as the funniest. There were quite a few episodes that totally cracked me up and kept me laughing all the way. The jokes were pretty original too. The funniest parts of the show IMO were when they were performing their 广播剧.



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This is a 冷门 sitcom which used to air every Sunday night. The theme of the show itself didn't bring out much of a comedy. Look at the video and see how much Sentosa has changed. Fantasy Island haha.




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The lyrics of this theme song is pretty creative. It becomes so mathematical during the chorus haha. The interaction between the tutors and students was able to generate much jokes.

Watch only the first 90 seconds. Ignore the rest.



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This is another funny one, with a kinda far-fetched theme and exaggerated acting. This sitcom shot Fiona Xie to fame. The lyrics of this theme is pretty nonsensical too, with all the weird numeric codes haha.

Ignore the 2nd sitcom, I didn't watch that one.


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Another sitcom worth mentioning, but I couldn't find the video anywhere in the net.

Some memorable phrases from the show:

Bo Po Mo Fo...
中国5000年的历史...

Anyone still remember the name of this sitcom? Haha.

Timeless People

Sometimes I wish I could be like the characters inside a drama serial. Not because their lives are filled with dramatic events and unexplained coincidences, but because they seem to be very free attending with their personal matters rather than work.

Apparently most dramas, especially Singapore ones, are like that. The adults do not seem to have any occupation. They are always so free, be it during the day or at night. Even if they have any jobs (according to the plot), those kind of jobs would allow high flexibility such that you can have afternoon tea with your friends/family for as long as you like, or leave the workplace freely whenever something crops up.

Even their travelling behaviour is like teleportation. An 'urgent' call comes and he replies "I'll be right there" and poof! He really appears there in no time! The movement is so fast that the event or action (eg. an argument, a decision, a crime etc) has not ended yet. (And most probably hasn't reached a climax yet.) It gives a false impression that either Singapore is really so tiny, or Einstein's relativity theory is wrong.

Singapore has an extensive bus and rail network, and I believe about 70% of the population relies on such mode of public transport for movement around the island. This is not apparent in dramas though. The characters almost never take bus or MRT. They either own a car or take taxi, or just walk. Yup, they are either so rich or so poor. Sometimes we don't see them riding a bus or train, neither do we know how they get to one place to another. That's why it looks like teleporting.

That's why I envy these fictional characters. Time doesn't seem to be a problem to them. But I pity them for having to deal with all the crazy situations and dramatic happenings, usually one after another.