RIPB Nominee Forums
This week's RIPB nominee forums have been far from satisfactory.So far, candidates have not been able to respond directly to questions raised by participating members of the audience, albeit countless attempts at rephrasing or refining our questions. Surprisingly, they appear defensive, and may even smirk or grin while the speaker is posing his questions. Better still, certain nominees demonstrated how sharp-tongued they can be through their repeated application of sarcasm and rhetoric.
So much for certain nominees claiming that they will strive to uphold our rights. But then again, they appear to be unsure of what rights even are! Some chairpersons needlessly shied nominees from public opinion by playing down public opinion and making obvious attempts to interrupt speakers in the middle of questions. They act on the pretext of the audience posing questions supposedly unrelated to the nominees. Related or not, it remains for all present to see.
The facilitation of discussions showed slight improvement today, and can be said to be relatively good and smooth-flowing.
However, we are still unclear as to what concrete plans these nominees have for us. We continue to be baffled by the responses they provide. They are akin to aimless wanderers seeking employment, without so much as even fulfilling the basic requirements set by their employers. Are we to make our sacred choice based on these forums? Has a dialogue truly been achieved?
As students, we have been given the chance to participate in the forums. It is our duty to make full use of these sessions to observe nominees and question their intentions, how they will operate. suppression by chairpersons and higher authorities is but a tool to put us off, but we must remain clear in our stance and our message.
posted by hoho @ 7:45 PM
23 Comments:
i completely agree with u. :D
i personally feel that nominees these days are becoming too boring. i mean, what's with the dancing and singing? yes, i would like to comment on their courage, but i think a campaign speech should not have such ridiculous performance. no insult to anyone, but seriously, the school isn't a zoo. we are not some audience waiting for a performance eagerly. moreover, i'd rather vote for someone who can speak with conviction and truth about his commitments to the school, instead of one who goes on stage to make a fool out of themselves. sad to say, i have yet to see promising figures emerge from the crowd of nominees. i must acknowledge that the songs and dances are quite entertaining, but the seriousness that comes with the issue of being a prefect.
I'd like to apologize to anyone whom i may have provoked, and that it is definitely not my intention to insult any organization or persons.
Hope nominees out there will take heed and do something about their speeches.
well said. sadly, many ri students continue getting swayed by fanciful performances rather than true substance. that's why we hope to change that mentality.
i must say, however, that there continue to be a small number of nominees who possess this conviction and truth that you've mentioned. one that stuck out from this morning's nominees was yeo shang xuan.
somehow in my view, he comes across as being different from other candidates in that he's really just. earnest. there's no hypocrisy in his speech, it's plain commitment and dedication. what i felt was that he wholeheartedly wanted to serve his peers and all of us; there was this sense of connection, this feeling of brotherliness that permeated the hall when he delivered the speech. it wasnt flamboyant or anything, but his simple and true message was put across just like that. quite impressive.
anyway that aside, let's just continue opening our eyes and ears and be cautious of what the nominees and the ripb give us throughout the election process. their lack of transparency is highly disturbing.
The RIPB clearly isn't using enough common sense by giving Sec 1s the chance for prefect election. I'm not talking about all of them, but it's like this is still their first year and honestly they are very immature and unsteady.
Simply looking at the campaign speeches gives me the goosebumps, and they're going to be our PREFECTS when they clown on stage? Purely atrocious!
I really hope any RIPB member that sees this will carry out his promise he made in his election speech and forward some possible improvements to the election system and doing away with the current inefficient one. Thanks.
yes, i doubt i will vote for any sec1s this year. the reasons are obvious.
but maybe sec1s should still be given the opportunity to try to be elected, just that if they are no good, we will just not vote for them.
as usual, we focus on meritocracy and meritocracy alone. age is not a defining factor, so please remember not to penalise the sec 1s that do have quality and resolve.
if you'd like to think into the future, i think having elections for sec 1s may not just be bad. from a long-term perspective, the earlier they get into the board and assimilate into the system, the more time they have to invoke change.
but yes i agree, those who are immature and ridiculously unsteady should still be eliminated without question. no questions asked.
this is just a general comment.. those to wish to advocate a change in the school have pioneered this, and i think this is not a call to overthrow, to criticise, or to attack the prefectorial board, but rather to make everyone involved in one way or another reflect on the issues raised. to what extent do you agree with all thats being said here? if prefects do come by and comment, i urge that you ask yourselves if you truly have reflected and commented based on your conscience, and not based on the mentality of self preservation or defensivesness in any way. to everyone else who decides to comment, the same should be applied. conformity sometimes inhibits improvements because of the fear to step out boldly as s minority to point out flaws, but if you do agree with what is being said here, whether to a small or large extent, voice it out objectively, give suggestions such that those who intend to lead this change can better do so.
i think should students really hope to see a change, this should not be taken as a rivalry between the ripb and the supporters of this "movement". but rather, it should ultimately be a joint effort between both to bring about this change. of course, this would call for the pb to be more accepting toward students feedback or views, as well as the pioneer's understanding of the pb's position at times.
(just for general reader's information, the 2 'anonymous' posters are not the same person.)
As usual, most people who run for prefectorialship, are there mainly for the glory. i fully agree aout the nominee kristian, and his attitude,; sadly, most prefects think that by entertaining the population, they can get into the borad, and once achieving that, the majority of them would sit back, and relax, forgetting thier claims and promises.( oh yes, did i mention that most of them said" i cannot promise the school anything") well, through this example, of the prefects not doing anything, and through what they said in their campaign speeches,[refer to above braket information] we can at conclude that if nothing else, these nominees have integrity, thank goodnes.
I agree fully, that most of the prefects do not know what they are talking about. they do not know what are the areas in which the student population wants change, they do not know that the student body wants a prefect that would work for the school and one that would just sit back and bask in thier glorified position, they also do not know that the student body wants someone that knows what the problems are. saldy, many of these nominees go up on the stage and make a fool of themselves. they juggle paper balls, light candles( which sadly for them, get put out[ heavens help me if they get in, they do not even know that the air-condition's draft does not go well with fire]), rap nonsense that has no tune, tone, pitch rythem, and humor, and in general, try their hand at becoming Mr. Bean. im very sure that the school is keeping this a secret, as if news of this spreads out, Rowan Atkinson and Phua Chu Kang would be without jobs, as the film industry would immediatly replace them with RI's finest.
some nominees on the other hand, decide to go by a different method. they stand up on stage saying " im not here to play the fool, i am here to let the student body know how much i care, when i get into the board, i'll work my hardest to bridge the gap between students and the school administration, and cement bonds between the cohord....( insert more cliche vote-me-and-i-will-achieve-wonders-for-the-school empty air here)" however what i would like to say is that, by putting things this way, they are already setting themselves apart from the rest of the students, by using phrases like [student body], [when i become a prefect], they have already made themselves seem proud and arrogant. not to mention the cliche, over used phrases like [ cementing bonds] and [bridging gaps], OMG, if they continue saying such things, if would make RI seem like a contracing company. i feel sad about how the election speeches have dropped in standard so much.
very very well said. that's why i couldn't help but single out yeo shang xuan for being extremely personal and earnest in his speech. not a single part where he was detached from the rest of us. and i have to repeat that it may not have been the most 'unique' of speeches, but it was honest and true. he doesnt need a billion and one posters up around the school, neither does he need some lameo publicity stunt. thumbs up for him.
the ripb claims that vetting for campaign speeches is not dont because the board would like the nominees to be independent, and to take full responsibility of the outcome of their own campaigns. well oh well, *clap clap*. look what we have here now. f-ing f-ers, future arsonists, what more will we expect?
note: the batch of nominees which delivered their speeches on friday will be appearing for nominees forum during first recess on monday. do go down and participate.
I also feel that some of these nominees are highly hypocritical. I had a couple of them in my merit CCA before. They quit, or stopped coming, citing reasons of being too busy and having too heavy a workload. If they have such a heavy workload, and they can't even cope with a merit CCA, what makes them think they can cope with being a prefect? The umpteen responsibilities a prefect has should be drilled into their heads before they think this is just a chance for them to gain fame and glory.
this is The Voice of RIPB
your views have been noted, and they are indeed reasonable. I agree with most of them anyway, except some of the more outrageous ones.
as always, what would you do if you were a nominee and wanted to get elected? would you do anything different?
granted, an election is not the most appropriate means to choose prefects (for painfully obvious reasons), but its one of the best there are, for a prefect must have support from the student body above all.
you forget that before the campaigns there is already an entire set of filters to choose the best to be nominees, and by the elections all the nominees have been judged worthy of being prefects.
i think we should really give some credit to the nominees for the sheer hard work they put in in their campaigns. they want to be prefects, badly, and they certainly show it.
yes, the sec ones are a trifle immature and unsteady, but why should this deter anyone from selecting them? what they lack is the skills and the knowledge, but as always, these can be learnt; we cannot expect too much from ten months in this school only.
they possess things that no other batch in this school does: earnestness and enthusiasm. they genuinely want to change things. sure, their speeches are quail-inducing at times, but they're only twelve; give them credit for going up there and trying to sell themselves.
the problem lies not with the quality of the candidates, you must agree, it lies with the inadequacies, the unavoidable limitations imposed by the system. and we are working on that.
if i were a nominee, of course I would do things differently. In fact, we have very clearly stated what is expected of nominees.
you say the elections is not the most appropriate, but its the best? sorry, but i am unable to understand that. what i do believe in however is democracy, and u are right to say that prefect nominees shud have popular support.
however, surely u know that there are minimum number of nominees that have to make it through, even if all nominees receive pathetic number of votes? moreover, practically all prefects will make it through. so how useful are the elections?
yes, there a set of filters. but they filter so much that the ability of the students to choose prefects are so greatly reduced. moreover, we are putting too much faith into this nontransparent system.
i know that the nominees are putting in alot of effort, and they all badly want to be prefects (for whatever reasons). but if they do not deserve to get in, why should they? and that includes sec1s.
you are right to say that "we cannot expect too much from ten months in this school only", but im sure we all expect much from prefects at the same time. once they are ready, they can try, but not until they are. would u vote in someone who obviously lack ability just based on trust (that he will gain ability)?
yes, i admire the courage of the nominees "for going up there and trying to sell themselves". but will u buy a defective product?
i agree with you that much of the problem is circumstantial. but currently, we will look just at the nominees, and make the right choices.
we are also providing the environment and the circumstances such that future nominees will be more inclined to providing quality.
as to the elections system, we will be looking into that after the elections, don't u worry. :)
Chakri:
firstly, to be a prefect...
be a teachers pet, then you can make it past stage one and two.
then start clowing around on stage, rapping( rememebr to be out of tune), lightning candles( don't forget to make sure they get blown out 1 sec after being lighted)
then mention all the good qualities of the world.
to tell you the truth, most nominees ar not out there because of the wish to serve the school, 90% do not know what ways can the school be improved, they just promise to improve the schl after getting into RIPB. they are out there for the glory, they do not know how to serve the school now, when they are not prefects, they are not proactive to fnd out how to serve the school before making their speeches, talk about credit.
please, if we give credit like this, there would be such an overwhelming inflation that the stock market would crash.
reconsider
vote only those who really have a plan and who are really out there to serve the school.
maybe we should have a list of what the nominees has done to help the school( not previous poitions, achievments, for instance, organised so and so activity, did this CIP for schoool.. and so on) then we can see who are those who have a heart for the school, and not for the glory.
Umm. Sad to say, sometimes it *is* true that teachers' pets become prefects.
Still, how else? You can be a coach's pet to become CCAL. Works all over the world, how do we solve it?
technically, i agree with what toenail says.
most prefects seem to enter not based on merit. there are only a small handful of nominees derserving to get in, and we should vote for them. (RC will help)
nominees should have at least a clear idea of what they intend to do. (how we react to this elections will help to create the circumstances which will encourage more substance from nominees in the future elections, as they will see that we want plans, not entertainment)
i will try to get a list of achievements of each nominee. thanks for that suggestion!
kava: if your CCA is what you say, then im sorry. in my CCA, the students electe the captain, no coach involved.
Eh. In my CCA it's based on elections too.
But sadly, some of the people in leadership roles for 2005-06 got there by currying favour with batchmates/seniors, when there's not much merit to give.
Logic works about the same.
Aiya. Anyway this kind of thing will happen sometime or another. Someone's bound to come along and do this kinda stuff... But usually the choices are made pretty well. I think.
"Many forms of government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time." - Winston Churchill
Democracy is not all perfect, but do we believe enough in it to accept its drawbacks? I do.
I think democracy is something that is self sustaining. If a bad choice has been made, people suffer, they will wise up the next time they vote. There should also be an alternative vote of no-confidence.
i agree, this year's nominees are very unpromising.
not the first time... :P
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