August 1, 2014
Several people have asked about Manassah Meyers, the school
where I will be working. Since a picture
is worth a thousand words. I am
including them.
The school is a Jewish Day School for elementary through 7th
grade. It is in temporary housing
because their new school is currently being built. Currently the population is around 130, but
when the new school is built, it will grow to 500.
The school will go through a number of shifts over the next
2 years as they prepare for the physical change of space and numbers. The curriculum will also sharpen. As is true with many schools that start out
small, like Stratford Friends, changes are necessary for the school to
grow. I am part of this school's changes, mainly
in the area of literacy. I am excited
to be a part of such a positive change.
Below are pictures of the school. The art room is actually a porch (You will
like that, Thelma).
The bathrooms seem fairly primitive by US standards, but
remember this is a temporary home. The
play areas need to be covered because when it rains, it pours.
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| Art Room |
I will send you pictures of my office when my stuff and the
furniture is in place. I have tutored
students and developed programs in closets and partitioned spaces behind Xerox
machines. Several times I have had
windows, but rarely ones that I could look out.
My last job was the exception. Now I am back to a space without windows. It is always amazing what one can get use to.
As is true in most apartment complexes and public buildings,
schools require special security. The school
complex is gated, and there are security guards anytime someone is in the
building. When I asked about the need
for security, I was reminded that this is a Jewish school in a city surrounded
by Muslim countries. There is no sense
of danger in the school, and the gentle spirited guards make everyone feel
safe.
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| Guarded Gate |
The school backs up to a canal with walking paths, pools of
water, and exercise equipment where I often see senior citizens
exercising. This is the last part of my walk to school from the bus.
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| School from the Canal Path |
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| Glimpse of the school from the path |
The new school is under construction and should be finished
during the next school year. A model of
the new school is in the front foyer under plexiglass. As you can see on the roof, it will have a large pool on
one side and a full tennis court on the other.
There is a lot of space to grow into.
Chinese immigrants were one of the first major groups to enter Singapore. They came from all parts of China via Hong Kong. Like so many poor people, they left home in search of a better life. Because they came from many sections of China, they tended to turn to people with the same customs in Singapore. Over time they set up secret societies that operated a lot like gangs identified by numbers tattooed on their arms. As conditions improved for the Chinese immigrants, the gangs continued into the 20th century. When Singapore became a nation in 65, they were still active. The new head of government passed a law that allowed him to pick them up and hold them without charges or a trial. The gangs have disappeared from Singapore society.
