My late father won the “Friend of Singa Award” in 1992 for being the “Most Courteous Principal”, in recognition of his “courteous, considerate and caring character towards others”. He was the then Principal of the now-defunct Pearl Park Primary School.
I recall that he was far from being the meet-and-greet, all-smiles principal. He was like a typical strict, straight-faced Chinese teacher. He won because he was a non-quitter.
For years, the school was plagued with littering and discipline problems. Despite the school’s few part-time cleaners, litter was everywhere, coming from pupils and the public. My father took the broom and swept the school — the entire school.
I felt slightly embarrassed, I remember, that the head of a school would be seen sweeping the compound. I said: “Papa, you shouldn’t be sweeping the floor. You’re the Principal. The workers should do it, or make it compulsory for the students.”
He said: “If the Principal doesn’t do it, who would?”
He showed his version of being caring and considerate: Leading by example day in, day out. A year later, the school was spick and span. Pupils and teachers helped in keeping the area clean. I was proud that even hawkers in the People’s Park district were talking about it.
To be courteous is to care for others, even strangers, from the bottom of one’s heart, and to be generous in giving, even if people are not appreciative.
I ask myself what my father would do if he was Singa the Lion and was “too tired to continue facing an increasingly angry and disagreeable society”. He would have started from the basics, led by example and persevered. For sure, he would not have quit.
DANIEL ANG