Mrs Nara did not recover from her injuries and we found that we had a new principal in 1987. Her bright yellow Hyundai Coupe sports car was the sign of her arrival.
Mrs Rita Tong was a no nonsense petite lady. From the start she was very very firm in all matters and had never seen her smile at all. Shouts could be heard from her office frequently, either at the office clerks (Ms Ngui mostly got the brunt) or at some unfortunate teachers before they could even explain the matter in front of her. We saw some elderly teachers crying when they left her office. The school servants were told that the toilets must be so clean that they were able to sleep on the floor there!!! That's how high the demands were.
I nearly got into such a situation once when I missed an event because I volunteered for another. She called me in and before she opened her mouth I explained the matter and then abruptly left the office. She did not bother me from then on, only about cigarette butts left behind at the toilet by the night class students.
Mr Lim Lai Chuan came in 1987 to be the VP. He got hell from her and would often come to the workshop to find peace and solace from us.
There were a few 'affairs' in Woodlands. One Malay teacher who wore a turban divorce his wife and married his former Woodlands pupil. The most explosive one was when an Art teacher Mr ali Mahmood was accused of molest by a girl in the Art room. From the time it was investigated until the court case, he was on 'half pay' and would often seek solace at the workshop. His family was affected as Woodlands was a small town then. Finally after a few years he was asked acquitted and asked to retire as the girl refused to return from Malaysia to testify against him.
There was yet another when another teacher was investigated on 'irregular' behavours with pupils in the NCC room. It was not followed up.
My form class in Woodlands Sec 4D
By the end of 1987, the late Mr Soon Eng Lee a curriculum specialist asked me if I want to go over to Si Ling as a Head of department. I have no opinion of that and would not mind the change as he was a really nice person. He had a hard time with Mr Peh. Also the wind of changes in the Technical syllabus was changing, more towards design.
I was quite pleased when Mrs Tong personally told me she would not have release me if I would leave Woodlands as an ordinary teacher. Woodlands suffered for a couple more years under her before Mr Richard Dawson, a very nice man, took over. Mrs Rita Tong made it to the upper echelon of MoE soon after.
Highlights at Woodlands : Night class supervisor, GCE O Metalwork Practical marker
Technical department at Woodlands;
Mr Peh Tow Toon, Mr Low Siew Mun, Mr Leong Yew Weng, Mr Liew Seng Peck, Mr Roslan (MW Instructor), Mr Asmuri Lawi (WW instructor)
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