LEE Mun 李文
Education in Singapore (Part 2: Chinese),
Accession Number 000109
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 16
Total Reels
- Tan Beng Luan
Interviewer
- 07:11:49
Total Running Time
- Mandarin
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 16
Metadata
- 31 Oct 1981
Recording Date
- 00:27:46
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Interviewee's family background. Father and uncle went to America to do business. His education in his village. Studied agriculture in Oregon State University, America. Taught in school for one year. His interest in agriculture. Made attempts to start a farm in Guangdong. Taught in Agriculture Institute. How he converted a temple into an office.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 16
Metadata
- 31 Oct 1981
Recording Date
- 00:27:50
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Interviewee's acquisition of land to plant trees. Worked in Khai Pheng for two years. Declined to work in Nanchang. Reason for coming to Singapore instead of going to Chongqing. Became school principal in Singapore. Description of Peck San Teng School in 1938. School was managed by clan associations. Students had to sweep the floors. Used the same type of textbooks as used in China.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 16
Metadata
- 31 Oct 1981
Recording Date
- 00:27:52
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Improvements made to school building. Contributions from members of the Management Committee for the purchase of school uniforms. Students' parents were mostly poor farmers. Students had to assist parents in farming and rearing pigs. No proper facilities for students to study at home due to lack of lighting and furniture. Mandarin was the medium of instruction. School had a great influence on people in the neighbourhood.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 16
Metadata
- 31 Oct 1981
Recording Date
- 00:27:50
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Subjects taught in school. The increase in teaching staff and the expansion of school premises. Contents of textbooks were mainly about China. The Double Tenth and Children's Day celebrations. School semesters and school holidays. Punishment for students who played truant. Extra-curricular activities (ECA) included basketball and table-tennis. His report to the school Management Committee. Cantonese spoken at such meetings. Annual school Sports Meet.
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Reel/Disc 5 of 16
Metadata
- 14 Nov 1981
Recording Date
- 00:27:51
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Employment of teachers before the war. His initial days as a school prinicipal. Paid five dollars monthly for his daily meals. Teacher's remuneration. Daily life as a teacher. Taught English in night class. Lectured to students at weekly assembly. Students were taken to visit temples and the countryside on Children's Day.
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Reel/Disc 6 of 16
Metadata
- 14 Nov 1981
Recording Date
- 00:27:52
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
School closed down when battle was raging in Johore and Naval Base. He was a member of the Vigilante Corps. School participated in activities organised by the China Relief Fund. Narration of battle near Peck San Teng School. Indian soldiers discarded uniforms and wore civilian clothes. Chased out of air-raid shelter by Japanese soldiers. Robbed of watch and money by Japanese.
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Reel/Disc 7 of 16
Metadata
- 14 Nov 1981
Recording Date
- 00:27:53
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Interviewee escaped from bombing. Declined offers by Japanese to work in bakery or Kempeitai (Military Police). Resumed teaching during Japanese Occupation. Name of the school was changed. Few students attended school where Japanese was taught. Teachers were given cigarettes. School closed down due to lack of students. Teachers were required to do physical training.
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Reel/Disc 8 of 16
Metadata
- 14 Nov 1981
Recording Date
- 00:27:50
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Korean soldiers were made to fight in Singapore. Inteviewee taught Japanese in school. Many people were not interested in studying Japanese. No textbooks. Resigned from teaching in school. Started evening class to teach Japanese. Also gave home tuition in Chinese. Employed to sell cheroot and cigars during day-time. Taught Japanese to local businessmen for about one year.
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Reel/Disc 9 of 16
Metadata
- 14 Nov 1981
Recording Date
- 00:27:52
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Learnt Japanese in China. Refused to work for the Japanese. Helped to sell rice. Did not attend mass screening. Heard news of Japanese Surrender from radio. Intended to do business after war. Did not succeed in doing business. Went back to teaching. Description of new school premises after war. School was re-named. Teachers' salaries were paid by the Ministry of Education (MOE).
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Reel/Disc 10 of 16
Metadata
- 14 Nov 1981
Recording Date
- 00:27:50
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
School building spruced up before it resumed classes after war. School was inspected before grant-in-aid was given. Teachers' salaries were increased. Easier to recruit teachers after school received grant-in-aid. New school building completed in 1957. School adopted two-semester system. Many workers attended English night classes after the war. Reason for teaching English in night classes. Students' home visits.
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