ST Forum: Isn't Boys' Brigade just a CCA?
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Isn't Boys' Brigade just a CCA?
THE letter, 'Should teachers seek to convert pupils?' (ST, Oct 1), struck a chord with me.
Some years ago, my son was studying at Sembawang Secondary School when he joined the Boys' Brigade. Without my knowledge, the instructors/teachers in charge would take the members to church to attend worship services, and study the Bible.
Finally, one day my son told me he wanted to become a Christian.
I wonder whether the Ministry of Education and the school principal were aware of this.
Ong Swee Seng -
Same here .. hope we have some rational and not emotional discussion here.
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The Boys' Brigade has its roots in Christian missionary work.
Simple enough.This is not the only CCA in the world, you can always join another one if you don't like it.People these days like to have their cake and eat it.
Brainless twits. -
His son should be old enuff to decide for himself.Originally posted by Icemoon:Finally, one day my son told me he wanted to become a Christian.
Ong Swee Seng
This Mr Ong like buay song his son converted? -
I believe I am in good position to speak since I am a BB officer
In my school, we make known to the parents that we are a Christian-based CCA and that their child will be exposed to Christianity. We do this on the day of recruitment. We also invite the parents to the enrolment service. We make no attempts to hide our Christian beliefs. We do invite them to attend church service, and our cirruculum does involve Christian education. But our activities also revolve around other areas such as leadership training, community work, adventure skills, etc.
The MOE knows the nature of BB. I suppose schools should have a good knowledge of what the CCAs do (If not I wonder what the principals are doing).
At any time, the child can choose to stop his participation. If the parents feels uncomfortable, then they may ask their child to do so.
A bit of background. BB is the first uniformed unit for Boys. Sir William Alexander Smith, founder of the BB, intended the BB to place where Christian values can be imparted. Our Object is "The advancement of Christ's kingdom among Boys and the promotion of habits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline, Self-respect and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness".
The Scout movement branched out from the BB. Badon Powell was a member of the BB. The Scout association was formed with not religious background. So it's another alternative to a uniformed group to choose from if the parents wants . -
Hmm .. how do you make known to them? I mean, this is not primary school where parents accompany children on the first day of school.Originally posted by sillyme:In my school, we make known to the parents that we are a Christian-based CCA and that their child will be exposed to Christianity. We do this on the day of recruitment. We also invite the parents to the enrolment service. -
A few ways. During recruitment exhibition, we speak to parents present. We tell them what we are about.
Also, the new members will go through a training camp. We invite the parents down for a "Meet the Parents" session. Firstly they get to see the Boys during the camp. Secondly, we conduct a presentation on activities the will go through. In the presentation, we will make known that we are a Christian-based organisation. -
so one day if you have son, come home tell you he want to be buddhist, you will be beri song ?Originally posted by Icemoon:His son should be old enuff to decide for himself.
This Mr Ong like buay song his son converted? -
If he wants to be a Buddhist .. I make sure he go Dharma centre with Eternal Now.Originally posted by crazy monkey:so one day if you have son, come home tell you he want to be buddhist, you will be beri song ?
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In the Boys Brigade, we always make known to the members and the parents that we are a Christian Organisation. Non-Christian are welcomed to join us at any time. They can also opt out of any events that's requires them to go to church if they or their parent is uncomfortable with it. MOE know about the background of Boys' Brigade, non-christian principals also request for Boys' Brigade in their schools before. In the BB parades, there are always devotion time where the boys will be singing worship songs or have Bible lessons. It's all part of the BB activities the very first day it started.
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Precisely.The boys are given a choice.But its senseless to change the heritage of a organization to suit the newcomers.Originally posted by photo_seeker:In the Boys Brigade, we always make known to the members and the parents that we are a Christian Organisation. Non-Christian are welcomed to join us at any time. They can also opt out of any events that's requires them to go to church if they or their parent is uncomfortable with it. MOE know about the background of Boys' Brigade, non-christian principals also request for Boys' Brigade in their schools before. In the BB parades, there are always devotion time where the boys will be singing worship songs or have Bible lessons. It's all part of the BB activities the very first day it started. -
Got such thing meh?WAH sibei hiong..Lucky got no telaban cca..
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Taliban teaches perversion of life and self-destruction.End of argument.Originally posted by stellazio:Got such thing meh?WAH sibei hiong..Lucky got no telaban cca.. -
Taleban = no life..Originally posted by LazerLordz:Taliban teaches perversion of life and self-destruction.End of argument. -
Taleban is illegal all over the world. How to start CCA?Originally posted by stellazio:Got such thing meh?WAH sibei hiong..Lucky got no telaban cca.. -
To whoever wrote the original letter:Originally posted by Icemoon:Isn't Boys' Brigade just a CCA?
THE letter, 'Should teachers seek to convert pupils?' (ST, Oct 1), struck a chord with me.
Some years ago, my son was studying at Sembawang Secondary School when he joined the Boys' Brigade. Without my knowledge, the instructors/teachers in charge would take the members to church to attend worship services, and study the Bible.
Finally, one day my son told me he wanted to become a Christian.
I wonder whether the Ministry of Education and the school principal were aware of this.
Ong Swee Seng
You know something, i read that letter and was laughing my pants off.Who on earth has a right to tell you what religon to choose.If your son wants to be Christian then let him be, so if he becomes Christian is he not your son?This is a FREE country afterall, we are not living in medieval ages where you get prosecuted for being associated a particular religon.All religons teach us to differentiate right from wrong and teach us to be good, you are making christian sound demon-like. -
wait till you have son then come and say.Originally posted by chronicles:To whoever wrote the original letter:
You know something, i read that letter and was laughing my pants off.Who on earth has a right to tell you what religon to choose.If your son wants to be Christian then let him be, so if he becomes Christian is he not your son?This is a FREE country afterall, we are not living in medieval ages where you get prosecuted for being associated a particular religon.All religons teach us to differentiate right from wrong and teach us to be good, you are making christian sound demon-like. -
But there's a difference. Beside the displeasure, he did two more things which are unwarranted, imho.Originally posted by crazy monkey:wait till you have son then come and say.
1. sent his letter to ST Forum
2. demanding MOE give him an aswer (sort of)
so whoever who has bones to pick with Christianity will find all sorts of excuses to send letter to Forum liao. -
This is a FREE country afterall, we are not living in medieval ages so why cant the person write in to express his views ?Originally posted by Icemoon:But there's a difference. Beside the displeasure, he did two more things which are unwarranted, imho.
1. sent his letter to ST Forum
2. demanding MOE give him an aswer (sort of)
so whoever who has bones to pick with Christianity will find all sorts of excuses to send letter to Forum liao. -
It is a different thing to express your views and express your views that are issues concerning society to be resolved.Originally posted by crazy monkey:This is a FREE country afterall, we are not living in medieval ages so why cant the person write in to express his views ?
Unless the Boys' Brigade operates differently from how Sillyme described, I don't see why there is an issue. The link with Christianity is not a secret. No one is trying to evangelise in secret.
If you are so against the religion, then dun let your son join Boys' Brigade. -
Face it lah .. BOTH SIDES do not value religious harmony and human rights.
Pushy xtians irk pple .. but if your son wants to convert, you kao bei kao bu. If your muslim son wants to leave Islam, you disown him. Where is religious freedom?
my pt is .. dun sound as if non xtians are very holy liddat. -
What icemoon said are my sentiments
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I dont need to, the son's life is not my life.I just need to upbring him properly and religon is a personal decision, if he wants to be an athehist/free-thinker go ahead.Originally posted by crazy monkey:wait till you have son then come and say. -
like what shade loves to say .. as long as he not doing bad things can liao.Originally posted by chronicles:I dont need to, the son's life is not my life.I just need to upbring him properly and religon is a personal decision, if he wants to be an athehist/free-thinker go ahead. -
if its the way sillyme describe, the parent would not be writing in.Originally posted by Icemoon:It is a different thing to express your views and express your views that are issues concerning society to be resolved.
Unless the Boys' Brigade operates differently from how Sillyme described, I don't see why there is an issue. The link with Christianity is not a secret. No one is trying to evangelise in secret.
If you are so against the religion, then dun let your son join Boys' Brigade.