Mathia Lee ~ Plans and Preoccupations

Child Sex Predation in Singapore & the need for CSE

Posted in Sexuality, Social Commentary by mathialee on May 22, 2009

I think our teacher molested us, over a period of 2 years, more than a decade ago when we were in Sec 3.  We were a girls’ school, we didn’t know what to do about it then. Even now, I am not going to name any names, because I don’t want to have to defend myself in court. By naming names, they would have the right to sue me and summon me to court to substantiate my claims. I still don’t really know for sure if this was molest, I’ll just tell our story as it happened, and you be the judge.

 

 

My Story

 We were an all girls’ school. The teacher taught us one of the Pure Science subjects in upper secondary for both years. He was a very engaging and interesting teacher, and so his students often did well because it was so easy to understand and enjoy his lessons.

 

As part of the practical (laboratory) lessons, we had to look down microscopes and perform dissections on flowers etc. The teacher would walk around the lab to check on us and make sure we were doing things the right way.

 

 

When he saw that a girl needed help, or if he needed to point out something about the way she did her experiment, he would stand behind her and stick his arm through the space between her body and her arm in order to guide her through the dissection/microscopy etc (seen the movie Ghost? Remember the pottery session? ).   Back then, we sat on those high lab wooden stools, and our arms would be outstretched because they were busy doing the experiment on the table. As he stuck his hand through that very narrow gap, it would conveniently and unfailingly brush against her body.

 

After a few times of having these accidental brushes against my breasts, I learnt to do my experiments with my arms glued tightly to the sides of my body. Whenever I saw him coming, I’ll make sure I stood or moved aside, so that he had to stand beside me, and not behind me. But sometimes, I was so engrossed in the experiment, I forgot.

 

  

Another thing he liked to do was to share seats with students, especially the girls sitting along the middle aisle, and I was one of those girls. Those lab wooden stools were really small, the diameter of my 13-inch laptop. But because we had to lean forward to do the experiment, we often unconsciously sat on the edge of our stool — but the small size meant our butts took up half the stool. The teacher would be walking around, and then he would decide to share the seat with one of the girls sitting that way. The small size of the stool meant lots of body contact. But because everyone was sitting and paying attention, we felt very uncomfortable being the only one standing up.

 

After a few times of sharing my seat. I learnt to sit on my entire stool seat completely, lean forward and do my experiments with my arms glued to the sides of my body.

 

 

 Because the lab was so huge, and because he liked doing demonstrations of experiments, he would often ask the entire class of 40 to crowd round the teacher’s bench at the front. After the demo, he would walk through the crowd with his hands outstretched to “push” his way through the crowd.

 

After a few times of having his hands “push” against my breasts (I don’t know how he can aim so accurately, not just once, but a few times! ) I learnt to fold my arms across my chest and make a lot of room for him the moment he looked like he was finishing with the demo.

 

 

The difficulty of reporting him – we were scared and confused

It was these sort of small things. Was it molest?

We talked about it amongst ourselves, even until today, more than 10 years later. We realized that not all, but only a handful of girls experienced this, but often, these girls experienced it repeatedly.

 

Back then, we spent so much time thinking of what we should/could do. He was a teacher of many many years, very well reputed, and popular amongst many previous batches of students. He was a figure of authority in the education field, and today, he still remains so. We were his last batch of students before he retired. We didn’t know if anyone would believe us at all. We were afraid of what the consequence might be if we were not believed. What if he found out we were trying to do something? We were an elite girls’ school, and we all wanted to move on to elite JCs, we didn’t dare to risk our grades and chances.

 

We also didn’t know if what he did could be considered molest, even though all of us affected ones were clearly disturbed by his actions. We didn’t want to be seen as ruining his reputation with some unfounded fears. So we continued to discuss what we ought to do.

 

Then one day, we heard that some girls from another class were going to report him, but that he got wind of it, and he scolded them severely. That confused us further. By the time we graduated, we had not come to a decision about what to do.

 

Years later, we one day read in the newspapers that he was charged with molesting a girl he was giving private tuition to. He was convicted for one year, a jail term which he served. None of us were surprised. Yet, today, he remains an authoritative figure in the field.

 

 

Why am I telling my story?

Because I need to tell you that these things happen in our schools and go unreported.  And that it isn’t so simple and straight forward. The Instructors’ guide lists no such thing, but I always addressed sexual abuse in my classes. I wonder if any other educator does so, because I don’t have that chance to now.

 

Because some systems are so conducive for sexual abuse. Today I read about how thousands of Irish children were sexually abused. When the numbers go to thousands, you start examining the system rather than the criminal alone.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/state-of-shame-1746476.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8060442.stm

 

Because sex predators in Singapore can get away with it. Just 3 days ago I read this about Singapore

http://news.asiaone.com/News/The%2BNew%2BPaper/Story/A1Story20090518-142150.html

 

“HE WAS arrested for performing oral sex on a 6-year-old boy in a library toilet. After Chan Kok Weng, 29, was charged for the offence, he was sent for a psychiatric assessment. And that was when he made an explosive confession – he had been preying on young boys for about 15 years. Chan told Dr Stephen Phang, senior consultant psychiatrist at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), that he had been a sexual predator since he was in Secondary Two. He would seek out primary schoolboys at public places and perform oral sex on them.Chan revealed to Dr Phang: ‘(I) always target young boys, less than 10 years old or 11 years old because it’s the easiest target. Most of them are Chinese… it’s easier to communicate with them’. He also said that he usually targeted ‘primary school boys because it’s easier to get trust from them.’”

 

 While I don’t think it is for us to judge Chan because we don’t have full info, and he may be suffering from psychological issues, what I’ll have issues with is our society and support system here that allows criminal behaviour to go undetected for 15 years.

 

Because I can no longer talk to teen girls directly. Today I read this “For these reasons stated, we (MOE) will not be able to use AWARE until they have gained the public’s trust for their sexuality programmes.”

http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/speeches/2009/05/21/remarks-by-dr-ng-eng-hen-on-se.php

And I know how much that CSE class would have benefited me 10 years ago, if I had access to an external third-party who made it comfortable for me to tell my story, and whom I knew would have found a way to help us.

 

Because AWARE’s platform might not be available for now, but because I believe there are so many important messages that needs to get out to the teens, I have decided I will use my blog as the platform instead.

 

 

I will tell you more in my subsequent posts

I have heard so many stories in all these classes. Stories I believe all parents and society should know about. I don’t have the time to write everything tonight, but I do ask that you come back to read, because I will tell you what reality is like in my subsequent blog posts, what advice I give, and you can decide for yourselves what you want to do.  

 

I ask that you don’t Shut Up and Sit Down, but please stand up for what you believe in, and spread the message.

 

 

I invite you to give your opinion

I’ll also like your opinion on my story — What we could have done? What can I do now? How can we prevent these things from happening? What should schools do? Teachers do? Parents do? Students do?

And if by fate and chance, you happen to be part of my story too, or have a story to tell, I would be honoured if you shared it with us in the comments, anonymously if you need to be, or privately : mathialee@yahoo.com  .

26 Responses

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  1. CM said, on May 22, 2009 at 2:19 am

    Er… Did you try telling your parents last time?

    If my kids tell me about it, I will equip them with recording devices. This of course goes straight to the police. No negotiation about it.
    Make sure such teachers gets fired.

    Of course 20 years ago, all this is not going to be so easy. Parents’ mindsets were also different.

    As for Ah Chan, if society/law allows sex predators to get away with it, there’s always the possibility of “permanent collateral damage” (on Ah Chan) in the process of nabbing him.
    Parents should be minding their kids to prevent sex predators from touching their kids. Of course nowadays it is difficult since both parents are working.
    Hmm… I do wonder, how do we teach 6 year old boys to watch out for sex predators in this case?

    Perhaps you can make your views known to the Steering Committee. Afterall, MOE has SEd.
    http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/press/2009/05/information-sheet-on-ministry.php

  2. CM said, on May 22, 2009 at 2:30 am

    By the way, I heard about a flasher case before ~15 years ago.

    Flasher appear to girl. Flash to girl then run.
    Girl tells parents. Parents report to police.
    Police say he is MENTAL and has some records. Police manage to catch him and lock him up.
    When come to his release date. Girl goes phobic.
    Flasher somehow got to know girl’s address. Knock on door, girl open door. He flash then run.
    Report to police again. Flasher was “relocated” and never seen again.

  3. MonoGrizzly said, on May 22, 2009 at 4:57 am

    I still don’t see how teaching 12 to 18-year-old students that anal sex is “neutral” and “can be healthy if practiced with consent and a condom” can prevent this sort of incidents from happening. The parents who spoke out clearly do not wish their children to be taught as such, why is AWARE so insistent on usurping the authority of parents?

  4. fairplay said, on May 22, 2009 at 8:53 am

    Dear Mathia
    Nice article. I am saddened that MOE has given in to conservative parents petition. Your articles have always been very edutaining. Keep up sharing.
    regards

  5. Trev said, on May 22, 2009 at 9:08 am

    My first sexual experience was with this guy i met in the library.

    I was in P6, i think i just turned 12 and was doing research for some project, at the AMK library. As i was often kept at home (to ensure that i do not go out with the opposite sex and thus get distracted from my studies), i was usually not allowed to go out (in primary school) and going to the library was sort of an excuse!!!

    Anyway, it was my first time to the AMK library. i was exploring the place when i chanced upon this magazine that was wrapped in a black plastic! of course, curiosity killed the cat and i went towards the package on the table in the middle of AMK library!

    Just b4 i reached it, another guy appeared out of no where to “place” his claim that he had seen the magazine. there after we opened it together and saw a str8 porno magazine.

    Now whether I am str8 or not does not matter ( i had previously chanced upon my dad’s lesbian porno tape and was watching 30 mins into it, b4 my screaming and stunned grandma came charging out of her kitchen to switch off the tv and sent me off to my room!), i was turned on. I was SURE then that the guy was of more interest to me than the girl on the magazines!

    Anyway, that was when this guy suggested that we read the magazine together in a toilet just outside the library. being young and ignorant, and horny, i agreed.

    In the toilet, he started fondling me and with the porn, i was by then extremely turned on! He gave me 2 bj, in return i gave him a hj. we exchanged phone numbers and after that met up EVERY sat for sex until i was in sec 3 and was too involved in my uniform group to meet up with him!

    looking back after several years, i realised that he was a pedophile, though he was not primarily interested in young kids! At the time we met, i think he was about 18 years or so! He does do adults too!

    Apparently, i think his modus operatus is use porno magazine as a snare! anyway, he was right to ensnare me as i am NOT str8 at all to begin with, and welcomed his advances. But i do wonder, how many of our young kids comes into contact with such pedophiles? I think if I had CSE, I would be able to talk to an adult and know what is the right thing to do.

  6. [...] AWARE Takeover Aftermath – Yawning Bread: What ’secular state’ should mean – Chemical Generation Singapore: Imitation is the Best Form of Flattery – Mathia Lee: Child Sex Predation in Singapore & the need for CSE [...]

  7. Lucy said, on May 22, 2009 at 12:17 pm

    Mathia,

    Firstly, I’m sorry to hear of how you girls suffered under the harassment of the teacher. Such things should never, ever, take place in a school.

    Secondly, I agree that it is a pity sex education was not available to all students during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Generations would have benefited immensely otherwise.

    Next, I would like to comment on your statement:

    “And I know how much that CSE class would have benefited me 10 years ago, if I had access to an external third-party who made it comfortable for me to tell my story, and whom I knew would have found a way to help us.”

    You could have gone to another teacher (a female) or told your parents about it. These are third-party individuals whom you should go to. I don’t think anyone needs the CSE to empower her to do something about it when she feels something is not right.

  8. sacral.nirvana said, on May 22, 2009 at 1:19 pm

    dear mathia,

    every sane person would agree that children need to be protected against sex predators; most would assent that some form of sex education would help children identify acts of sex predation.

    regardless of what had transpired, it is just as well that aware isn’t the only organisation in singapore to provide sex education for our children. wouldn’t you agree?

  9. 2cent said, on May 22, 2009 at 2:15 pm

    It is just a simple matter for AWARE to resolve the CSE content MOE found inappropriate. MOE is not against CSE in general and has problem with only a small part of AWARE CSE. Revise it and AWARE CSE may continue to serve the public.

    Don’t insist on MOE to accept AWARE CSE as-is without changes.
    Don’t make it sound like dropping AWARE CSE is the end of sex education for the teens who need it.

  10. Jack said, on May 22, 2009 at 5:09 pm

    The suspension of AWARE CSE is not the end of CSE in schools.

    AWARE and its members need to understand:

    1. Parents are uncomfortable with some of the contents, not all. But because these are highly controversial, it eclipses the other 95%.
    2. There is a core CSE program conducted by schools, besides those by external vendors. And not all vendors will be suspended pending review. Suspension of AWARE CSE does NOT mean the end of CSE.
    3. If AWARE truly believes that their CSE is useful, then they should stop making it sound like theirs is the ONLY CSE that is useful. Statements like “setting back sex education 100 years”, “understands MOE’s decision came as a result of pressure from parents” not only do not help, but further puts off parents.
    4. An apology or retraction of the controversial parts would do wonders for the perception of AWARE. Continuing to keep silent or defend these small parts would only reinforce the perception that AWARE is indeed pro-gay, something that AWARE has denied.

    The way forward is as what AWARE President said to review their CSE and submit to MOE again, and not further antagonise indignant parents and alienate neutrals like me with statements that continue to defend ALL aspects of AWARE’s CSE.

  11. Agagooga said, on May 22, 2009 at 6:07 pm

    Well, there was a teacher in my school who used to tuck in [male] students’ shirts for them, and fold their collars.

    The problem in these cases (since one could argue he wasn’t doing it on purpose) is that there’s a lot of grey area.

    If you escalate such cases, innocent people (the alleged perpetrator) can be hurt if there’s no malicious intent. It is an open secret that men accused of sex crimes are screwed. Consider too that in Singapore, hugging someone against their will is considered outrage of modesty.

    Yet if you don’t, other innocent people (the alleged victims) can be hurt if there is malicious intent.

  12. 2cent said, on May 22, 2009 at 7:43 pm

    It is just a simple matter for AWARE to resolve the CSE content MOE found inappropriate. MOE is not against CSE in general and has problem with only a small part of AWARE CSE. Revise it and AWARE CSE may continue to serve the public.

    Don’t insist on MOE to accept AWARE CSE as-is without changes.
    Don’t make it sound like dropping AWARE CSE is the end of sex education for the teens who need it.
    Oops…forgot to say great post! Looking forward to your next one.

  13. Jolene said, on May 22, 2009 at 10:57 pm

    Thanks for sharing Mathia. I very much agree that sex education needs to focus on issues of consent – on empowering people to recognise that being touched against their will is abusive (rather than encouraging them to minimise such instances or blame themselves), and also on encouraging people to seek affirmative consent before engaging in any kind of physical intimacy with someone else. It is not at all hard to ask people if it’s okay before touching them. This is especially the case in relation to gestures of intimacy or contact with sensitive body parts.

    I don’t think “malicious intent” should be central to determinations of sexual assault. Everyone should have a positive responsibility to avoid touching other people in an intrusive and unwanted way. The person who deludes themselves that other people really, really want to be touched by them, even though the recipients of said touching have not consented, is committing a sexual assault, which should be taken seriously notwithstanding the absence of any subjective thought along the lines of “This person really doesn’t want to be touched – but because I’m a pervert, I’ll do it anyway!” In fact, a lot of sexual assault takes place precisely because some people feel they are entitled to touch others for their own pleasure – they feel that such touching is somehow what the victim is “there for”, because it is the very nature of those victims that they are meant to, and must want to, serve the perpetrator’s purposes. Rapists often say things like “She wanted a good screw”, “She needed it, she had it coming”. Self-conscious malice is not common; what’s more common is simple failure to recognise that the body the assailant is touching is owned by a human being whose wishes and feelings matter.

    Jolene (www.glass-castle.org)

  14. sigmundringeck said, on May 23, 2009 at 12:46 am

    Dear Mathia

    So sorry for the terrible stuff you went thro.

    Almost all gals have been molested at one time or another, be it on a crowded bus or by a freak like your teacher.

    You should have confided in your parents or another teacher, but being young and afraid, I can understand why you did not(neither did I). You are not to be blamed, your teacher is the scumbag here.

    I would find him again, put on a mask and break his face and his arms or his knees, and crush his genitals completely. People like him deserve execution without mercy.

    Perhaps your CSE could teach that. If you could include such a response in your next CSE, I will volunteer my services as a trainer.

    sigmundringeck

  15. Ed said, on May 23, 2009 at 3:44 am

    Jack,

    From what I have been reading about the various sexuality education programmes (if they can even be called that) offered by many of the other external vendors, they do not seem to be *comprehensive* in nature, unlike the one AWARE offers. Many of the programmes appear to be abstinence-only programmes and are thus not considered comprehensive sexuality education.

    Frankly, I feel saddened by MOE’s decision, mainly because it puts the blame on AWARE for being factual, up-to-date and frank. So, would MOE stick to comprehensive sexual education (as Dr. Ng Eng Hen hinted) or would its internal programme become more abstinence-only-like? Hmmm… interesting times to come.

  16. A concerned parent said, on May 23, 2009 at 5:06 am

    It seems like there’s always a “need” for sex education of practices other than the mainstream: from thwarting paedophilic sex predators to schoolyard bullying. What next? Indigestion?

    Here’s a proposed sex education program being steamrolled through parental objections of having their 5-year-old children exposed to this stuff. Yes, folks. 5 years of age. The odd thing about these so-called freedom fighters / advocates is that they are always the quickest to take away your freedoms and appoint themselves unquestioned overseers of what you can do with your life, your mind, and your child.

    ——–

    Gay Curriculum Proposal Riles Elementary School Parents

    22 May 2009
    Kathy Landan

    A group of parents in a California school district say they are being bullied by school administrators into accepting a new curriculum that addresses bullying, respect and acceptance — and that includes compulsory lessons about the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community that will be taught to children as young as 5 years old.

    The parents from the Unified School District in Alameda, a suburb of San Francisco and Oakland, say these issues are best learned at home and most definitely are not age-appropriate for elementary school children.

    The parents are also angry that they will not be allowed to keep their children out of the classes.

    “I believe these children are far too young to be learning about what these issues mean,” said Alaina Stewart, who has three children who attend elementary school in Alameda. “These are adult issues and they are being thrust upon the children.”

    But the school board says otherwise, and its attorneys say that if the curriculum is adopted, the parents will have no legal right to remove their children from class when the lessons are being taught.

    “By not allowing kids to opt out,” says David Kirwin, who has two children in the system, “the school district is violating a First Amendment right for those who have a religion that doesn’t support homosexuality.”

    The proposed curriculum will include a 45-minute LGBT lesson, once a year from kindergarten through fifth grade. The kindergartners will focus on the harms of teasing, while the fifth graders will study sexual orientation stereotypes.

    The move toward the new curriculum began two years ago, when teachers noticed that even kindergarten students were using derogatory words about sexuality, such as “fag.”

    “Students reported feeling bullied,” said Kirsten Vital, superintendent of the Alameda Unified School District. “This work is in response to teachers asking for tools to combat name-calling and bullying at school.”

    Among the course materials that could be added to the curriculum is “And Tango Makes Three,” a children’s book about gay penguins struggling to create a family. The book has been banned in some areas of the country.

    In response to the controversy surrounding the proposed curriculum, the school board has held two public debates this month.

    One parent told FOXNews.com an “overwhelming” majority of parents spoke out against LGBT instruction at one of the meetings, but that public opinion had little impact.

    “The chairman of the school board repeatedly claimed to the audience that the curriculum is evenly supported and opposed,” said a parent named David, who asked that his last name be withheld.

    “I am beginning to lose confidence of the board, as it seems to have a preconceived political agenda and not truly represent their constituent’s opposition to the curriculum,” he said.

    But other parents say they are in full support of the proposed curriculum.

    “Our schools are a reflection of our community and world,” said Marianne Bartholomew-Couts. “From a very early age, children should see what exists in the world.”

    Michael Williams, another parent, thinks LGBT issues will come up anyway, and that teachers should be prepared. “The teachers would have the tools under the new curriculum to help kids respond appropriately,” he said.

    California is no stranger to the controversy surrounding gay issues. Last November, voters passed Proposal 8, which overturned a Supreme Court ruling and banned gay marriage in the state.

    The situation in Alameda is no different from the statewide ballot initiative: it has caught the attention of several organizations on both sides of the issue.

    Ryan Schwartz, National Outreach Manager for GroundSpark—a non-profit organization that seeks justice in education—told FOXNews.com that teachers are responsible for creating an environment where students can feel comfortable and learn. Teaching the golden rule won’t cut it, he said.

    “Instead of having to police the schoolyard for bullying,” said Schwartz, “this curriculum is designed to prevent it from the beginning.”

    But other groups think the new curriculum is not balanced in whom it protects.

    “Under law, there are five categories of protected classes when it comes to discrimination,” explained Karen England, a spokeswoman for the Capitol Resource Institute, an organization that advocates conservative policy on social issues.

    “The curriculum focuses on only one subgroup protected under anti-discrimination laws: sexual orientation.”

    England said she believes Alameda’s curriculum committee has purposely excluded religion, even though it is one of the protected classes. “This indicates an agenda is being pushed, as opposed to an altruistic attempt to teach tolerance,” she said.

    Members of the school board will vote on Tuesday whether to adopt the new curriculum. Vital, the superintendent, would not comment on the expected outcome.

    “No matter what the outcome is, we need to do some work as a community to come together around issues of diversity, acceptance and understanding of one another,” she said.

    ————

    Curriculum samples

    LGBT Sex Education Plans for 5-year-olds.

    Video for kids.

  17. lsc66 said, on May 23, 2009 at 8:34 am

    Thanks for sharing your experience…I am sure that the students you have taught previously have learnt something from your experience.
    I also agree with some of the comments above, that Aware is not the only provider of sex ed, and may not be the best for everyone. Therefore, you shouldn’t worry that teen girls now have no one to teach them how to say No in this situation. Many parents, including myself, are only concerned about certain content of Aware’s CSE. What Aware needs to do is to adjust the contents of the CSE to fit according to the MOE guideline. Now, that is not a hard thing to do, isn’t it?

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  19. Jazz said, on May 24, 2009 at 5:04 pm

    During my Convent years, I vividly recall at least 2 incidents of flashers and some grabbing incidents on the bus. I never mentioned to anyone. Now as an adult I feel foolish for not reporting it to my parents or teachers. But then it seemed so shameful that I just wished to push it out of my mind. Was it that I was not encouraged to validate my outrage? I wish we had a CSE programme as my parents never taught me about sex or sexuality.

    My partner is Swiss. Her niece Nina went to USA on a year-long Rotary exchange programme. Once she was asked to give a talk about the curriculum ‘back home’ in Switzerland. When vetting the script, the American teacher was appalled that Nina planned to include sex education as one of the regular classes taught in her Swiss school. Her reason was it was “not Christian” to discuss such things. She ordered Nina to exclude it.

    Nina was disturbed because she saw how many teenage pregnancies there were in the US school. Not only did it impact so many young lives, there were expensive government-funded programmes to handle these young mothers who eventually left school and raised single-parent families. On the contrary, the rate of such teenage pregnancies in Switzerland is low. Young as she is, Nina could see the wisdom of openly discussing these issues but the bias of the supposedly Christian fundamental dogma instead blinded her American classmates to the potential pitfalls of unprotected sex, peer pressure etc.

    Another anecdote: I used to represent Singapore in sports. On a few occasions when playing in regional Games, we would share buses or have to walk past male athletes from countries like Pakistan or Bangladesh. On a couple of occasions, some of us girls were grabbed at or touched (openly!!) by those male athletes who were virtually salivating at the sight of women’s exposed legs/arms.

    On the contrary, in summer in Europe — specially in Scandinavia — it is customary for women in parks or at the beach to strip their tops off. Nobody bats an eyelid and the mystique of the naked female body is non existent. The incidence of sex crimes like rape is so very low in such societies compared to the sexual abuse in countries with so-called “strict religious and moral codes”.

    I am not advocating that all women walk around brazenly wearing see-through tops. But there is a lot to be said for putting sex on the table, talking about consequences, assuring girls that their feelings matter. It is even supremely important for MOE and groups like AWARE to fill in the gaps which most Asian parents leave unattended. Spiritually-challenged people like those who instigated the takeover of AWARE should be the first to attend any revamped workshops.

  20. beka said, on May 24, 2009 at 11:36 pm

    I saw it reported that Planned Parenthood’s CSE was also suspended, but apparently not FOTF or any other religious organisations. That, I find extremely disturbing. Also, that the only problem (the so-called “5%”) that parents have with AWARE’s CSE is telling students homosexuality is neutral? A ridiculous charge. Many students would kill for a sex ed programme that dared to say so. I doubt that any of the moral guardians’ parties have actually considered what students want, which is honest, open, accepting affirmation. As a student myself, this turn of events does not startle me, but it does disappoint and dismay.

  21. trev said, on May 25, 2009 at 10:06 am

    Dear ALL “Concerned” parents,

    Apparently, there are “many” concerned parents commenting, and MAKING the same point over and over again!

    Yes, we have heard you, we are not from bhutan and we can understand you very clearly! Stop rephrasing the same point over and over again, we all took GP in A levels and for those for did poly, they did some form of GP in uni!

    Not only has everyone heard your bigoted views, the higher authorities have taken upon themselves to be some moral shithead again, and are going to help you IMPOSE YOUR values on all the next generation again!

    Note it is NOT the right values (no one will ever know who has the right ones) but YOUR values!

    Thank you and stop repeating yourselves again again and again.

    Bored reader

  22. mathialee said, on May 27, 2009 at 12:34 am

    It’s been days since i wrote this

    I’ve been wanting to respond

    But this has to be the most emotionally overwhelming piece i’ve ever writen

    Not because of what i’ve writen

    But because of all your comments that you’ve given

    And the situation we’re writing in

    I’m overhwhelmed

    Over the past few days,

    there are just so many thoughts in my head, so many things i want to say

    But i’m always opening up the blog editor

    and then closing it again

    So i’ll just say, for now, that i’m not ignoring you or disregarding your comments

    It’s touched me deeply, and i’m at a loss for words

    But I will respond.

    Please be patient

    Thank you. So much

  23. mathialee said, on May 27, 2009 at 12:36 am

    Oh the above was meant for everyone who commented, whether here, over email, or in private conversation

  24. Fargoal said, on May 27, 2009 at 1:09 pm

    Dear Mathia,

    Thanks for sharing your story. It takes courage and persistence to confront unpleasant issues.

    Warm regards

  25. friend of friends said, on August 30, 2009 at 8:08 pm

    I had been molested at least 3 times by age 30. Two of these were when I was in School and the last by my husband’s friend. After many years I decided to take action against my husband’s friend but the laspse in time worked against me. At my husband’s funeral he turned up but he had to leave as I threatened to expose him if he stayed on. He had come from KL for the funeral.
    Young girls should be taught to report these molesters. We were simply too embarrassed.
    I understand you, Mathia and hope MOE teaches students on what to do when they are molested or raped.

  26. mathialee said, on August 30, 2009 at 8:59 pm

    Hi Friend of friends

    Thank you for sharing this story, and I’m sorry that you went through these experiences. Indeed we need to address this issue. And we will. ….


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