Forum: Take sterner action against students who physically assault others

I refer to the recent assault case at Montfort Secondary School (

Police investigating Montfort Secondary bullying incident

, Feb 23). As a former school teacher, I feel that any verbal spat between classmates should be brought to the form teacher’s attention right away. There is no place for physical assaults in schools, especially in this case where a group of students ganged up on the victim, who did not retaliate.

I urge the Ministry of Education to take firm action to address the bullying situation in our schools.

When I was a pupil in the 1970s, public caning carried out by the school principal during morning school assembly proved effective as it sent a strong message that misbehaviour was not tolerated.

The generic message from Montfort Secondary School – that the students have acknowledged that their behaviours were wrong and have expressed remorse – sends a dangerous message to other like-minded bullies, that schools have gone soft towards violent behaviour in schools. 

As a parent of a Secondary 1 boy, I am extremely concerned about the discipline standards in our schools.

Simon Owen Khoo