I am not really fond of criticising the way the school is run because I have always believed that some things are better left to the professionals. At the end of the day, we are not there all the time and we can’t possibly expect that everything has to follow exactly how we want it to be, unless we quit our job and volunteer as a teacher ourselves (which one day I might do if I make my millions quick enough!)
But the more I hear, the more I am alarmed. The latest news is really a breaking news – cheering is now optional, a diplomatic jargon for “cheering is no longer compulsory and is as good as banned”!
CHEERING IS OPTIONAL? WHAT ON EARTH WERE THEY THINKING?
Generations after generations we pride ourselves for the self-discipline and oneness we show on the field. I may not be talented enough to represent college in football or rugby, but hell without us the college boys who cheer without fail in the rain or under the burning sun, the odd for our football and rugby teams to win is definitely impaired.
It is one of the few things left that differentiates us, the Malay College boys from any other schools. They try to emulate our cheering squad but still never come close to challenging us. Year after year we come up with new cheering songs, never fail to show a bit of creativity (which is so lacking nowadays).
In our years in koleq, cheering was a big thing. The Cheerleaders might not be my cup of tea, but they were there to complete a task. They were given a responsibility as much as some of us were given responsibilities in other fields – although I might not agree with them, I would have defended their right to discharge their responsibilities as best as they could. That was why we the Form 5s never interfered in how the Cheerleaders conducted the training, even when I wished that some of the non-cheerleaders would not have joined just for the sake of tormenting the juniors (oo yes, there were always these "hidung tak mancung pipi tersorong-sorong", sometimes referred to as jambans, who liked to join in – sometimes uninvited – to torment the juniors).
The reason the cheering has become optional is because the cheerleaders allegedly used foul language and verbally abused the juniors (which is not a surprise really). I am not keen on young people using foul language, although I can’t help but wonder if these kids can’t even survive seniors of a few years shouting foul language at them – how on Earth are they going to survive in this world? How are they going to survive a partner in a firm who has this habit of throwing files to your face? Or bosses who like to make you feel so small you feel like fleeing on that instant?
Why do we need to shelter our boys so much, when doing so reduces their resilience? What is the point of a boarding school education when our boys can’t even stand a verbal shouting match? There is no point scoring 20As in your SPM if you walk out the gates of MCKK a pampered person who will run to your parents each time someone complains about how you walk!
Anyway, as far as I am concerned, if the problem is the foul language, then get rid of the cheerleader who used such language. Why abolish a system/practice which has worked all these years and has become a part and parcel of our identity? Why not sack the cheerleader who is ruinning everything for everyone? Put a decent cheerleader who will not compromise the sternness required but refrain from using foul language – I am sure there are plenty of our boys capable of becoming a cheerleader.
If there is anyone reading this who is in a position of influence, then please try to do something. Otherwise, good bye Malay College’s Cheering Squad, watching koleq’s game is not going to be the same anymore.
FOR HONOUR WE STAND, WITH VALOUR WE FIGHT
Heathcliff
Oh Kolej Kolej Melayu
Pasukannya yang tera
Sudah terkenal namanya
Walau di mana saja
Oooo ooooo oooooo
Bila kolej masuk padang
Semua orang pandang-pandang
Kolej masuk dengan garang
Musuh takut tunjuk belang
Ooooo ooooo oooooo
Rubbish! Utter rubbish! Koleq admin have had the uncanny policy of changing the system instead of fixing it from within whenever something goes wrong. They seem of the opinion that a blanket removal of sorts will always sort the problem out. In this instance of course it will, but at what price?
ReplyDeletehmm...but then, never, never, never underestimate the power of moral suasion and peer pressure. while it may not be compulsory to attend cheering, may be people can be morally suaded to attend practice anyway...? assuming some sense of tradition, for lack of a better word, still remains that is.
ReplyDeleteE37
Batch of 94,
ReplyDeleteI thank you guys for bringing Koleq's cheering to a new level. The memory of cheering the football team (the long banner, running to the opposite side because the ref warned us not the enter the playing area, and the craziness of your batch) will live with me forever. Do whatever it takes to keep the flame burning.
first of all...everyone knows that i'm no jamban. (at least that's how i think of others who think of me..whatever..)I just love cheering very much and i enjoyed watching the cheering practice at TAR hall coz it was very nostalgic to me.
ReplyDeleteNot all who joined the cheering practice for junior is jamban. I just sat there and watch..no interfering unless someone ask my opinion...this 'hidung tak mancung, pipi tersorong2' idea is not applicable to me. I'm always proud of our cheering team. I have yet to come across any cheering team as creative, efficient, structured, commited and motivated as koleq those days..memang budus la kalau dah takde cheering....marahkan kelambu nyamuk dibakar la ni..apa laa......