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**This week's feature article is on the current Victorians and their definition of what a Victorian is, a la the X Generation. Read and see for yourself if anything has changed since a quarter of a century ago.

**This week's global photo comes again from David, a friend of Fong TC. It is of two deer on his range/farm.

..Excuse Me, I Say, Are You A Victorian?...

..I had the opportunity to have a look at some recent copies of the Victorian, and they provided some interesting reading.

Almost all of these copies lamented the decline of the Victorian spirit, stated what is thought to be the Victorian spirit, and so on.

It's not the same as reading some of the articles and writings in these copies of the Victorian, but these extracts will give you an idea of what is in the mind of current Victorians.

'Education philosophy of VI -

Education in Victoria Institution is towards moulding every student to become a scholar, sportsman and a gentleman/lady.'

'The School Pledge -

We, the students of Victoria Institution

Hereby solemnly pledge

The rules and regulations of the school,

To study to the best of our abilities,

To develop our talents and potentials,

In accordance with the school,

Parental and national aspirations.'

(The above is taken verbatim from the Victorian, and if you spot any grammar or other errors, it's not the doing of this Victorian Times.)

hmmm...any officer and gentleman out there in the 74/72 group or other past Victorians?

Looking at the high ideals expressed, speaking for myself, I don't think I would qualify as a Victorian in present day VI!

I mean, I hardly followed any rules or regulations, duly did my duty as a Victorian and failed all exams, ran counter to all expectations of the teachers, parents and everyone who wanted authority over me, and would not be caught dead doing a pledge to high morals or practices, except in highly officious ceremonies...and I know all you guys and gals out there were with me in this...haha.

I still remember girls who joined us in Lower Six and found to their horror in getting red marks in their first monthly test. They cried, yes, literally cried tears! and pounded their chests in self anger (boy, I could have pounded their chests for them, and with much happier results and they would have felt much better, I dare say). You see, they were used to getting 100 marks, 99 marks, and so on. It's just not very female to get red marks. It was very Victorian though, so after a while they all became Victorians pretty fast, I guess.

He started his teaching career in VI in Jan 1969 and stopped on 2nd July 1998 - 29 years. His impressions on joining VI as a teacher in 1969?

'..A school that was very big, the environment was so wide and the children so disciplined and noiseless. Also the inability of the teachers to sit as they teach because the HM always moves around and it kept them(teachers) on their toes. There no chairs for the teachers as well compared to my old school. I thought the condition was 'terrible'. How am I going to survive in this school? I was particular about it (having to stand always) and was able to do the job without sitting all the time and being on the move. I felt that merely sitting down and teaching ws not effective and I think up to the last day of my career I never sat down for any classes..'

The italics I have added for emphasis - isn't it interesting, the perspective from the teacher's point of view?

We were all noiseless. I get a shudder reading that, do you?

If I had complained, I shouldn't - after all, we sat down for classes! As for surviving this school, Mr Anandakrishnan sure more than did, he took the U-20 cricket team to be national champions in 1979, winning the Hamzah trophy.

You have earned your retirement rest, Mr Anandakrishnan, and it was a very good inning you had too,.

We are glad we were there to bat and field with you too, whether in the classroom or on the field.

Another excerpt, on The Victoria Institution Concert, 1998 -

'After months of practice and planning from the members of the Victoria Institution Music Society, all their sweat and brow really paid off when the big day finally came. You could almost feel the hot air, coming from the anxious crowd, comprising sstudents from VI, ex-Victorians, guests from other schools and students from the University Putra Malaysia.'

Well, I am glad Victorians still work hard, paying with their (eye)brows as well. In a way I wish I was there, and in another not, in that I would have been a named contributor of hot air too.

There is more, but maybe later.

Interactive Community - Any comments, thoughts on current Victorians, reminiences, stories on Andy, etc? Write and read about others' comments at this Interactive Community.

(Note to current/recent Victorians:This article is written tougue-in-cheek, so don't take it too seriously.)

A professor stood before his class of 20 senior organic

biology students, about to hand out the final exam. "I want to

say that it's been a pleasure teaching you this semester. I

know you've all worked extremely hard and many of you are

off to medical school after summer break. So that no one

gets their GP messed up because they might have been

celebrating a bit too much this week, anyone who would like

to opt out of the final exam today will receive a "B" for the

There was much rejoicing amongst the class as students

got up, passed by the professor to thank him and sign out on

As the last taker left the room, the professor looked out over

the handful of remaining students and asked, "Any one

else? This is your last chance." One final student rose up

The professor closed the door and took attendance of those

students remaining. "I'm glad to see you believe in yourself,"

he said. "You all have "A's."

http://viweb.freehosting.net/viAthletics.htm - Read all about the Golden Age of Victorian Athletics here. It will amaze you - guaranteed eg Jesse Owens of the 1936 Olympics fame visited VI - did you know that??

Do you know why VI was so successful in Athletics? ...and do you know why it then declined? Click the link and read all about it.