Letter: Reply to “Art of Naming” (TODAY, Nov 8, 2005)

The editors at Today must have went out for breakfast when this letter was published.

Here’s my reply.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I refer to the letter, “Art of naming” (TODAY, Nov 8) by Mr Heng Cho Choon.

While Mr Heng’s idea for better naming within Singapore is noble, has has made a plethora of fallacious assumptions in his letter. “Insipid” as “Bukit View” and “East View” may sound, his presumptions that these schools are “faceless” and “devoid of characer” are not only unfounded but are also extremely superficial.

Contrary to Mr Heng’s belief, naming a school after personalities such as our late President, Mr Ong Teng Cheong, will not allow the school to “immediately take on a new character”. For instance, the name “Yishun” is currently being used by two Secondary Schools and a Junior College. Not many people know that “Yishun” is named after our late forefather, Mr Lim Nee Soon. Being associated with a name with an illustrious history certainly did not seem to propel them into the leagues of “Victoria and Raffles”, at least not academically. Most would consider Yishun JC a neighbourhood Jc simply because Yishun is also the name of the neighbourhood.

Whilst having a branded name can help its students to identify themselves better with the school, the essence and character of a school ultimately depends on its people. I have studied in both so-called branded Secondary School as well as a neighbourhood JC and I fail to comprehend why any school can be “faceless” or “lack of character”. I have many friends who do not hail from branded schools and still thoroughly enjoyed their experience in their “unbranded” Alma Mater.

And why should a bridge not be named after Singapore River if it’s indeed located there? Have we forgotten that our forefathers used to live and work by the river? Indiscriminately adopting names of personalities for our schools, shopping centres or HDB neighbourhood will not infuse any character into them.

Best regards,