The writer reminisces about the headmasters who shaped his life from Standard One to Form Six. — Freepik
Life is a journey with many destinations along the way, and schooling is one of its most formative.
Headmasters are integral to this journey – unsung educators who work tirelessly, often quietly, for the love of the schools they serve.
Having acted as an interim principal in a premier school on several occasions, during retirements and transfers, I understand firsthand the weight of that responsibility.
As a mark of respect, I wish to reminisce about the headmasters who shaped my life from Standard One to Form Six.
During my years at Mahmud Primary School, Raub (1961–1966), the headmaster was Chan Chee Onn. To my young eyes, he seemed almost European. Only later did I learn he was of Malacca Baba heritage.
Two moments stand out. The first was his habit of pinching the ears of naughty boys. The second occurred when he relieved our class in Standard Four. Armed with five-cent coins – a small fortune at the time – he conducted an oral spelling test, rewarding correct answers. I was asked to spell “automatic” and confidently offered “otomatic”.
I later attended Datuk Shahbandar Hussain Lower Secondary School, Raub, for Form One and Two. The headmaster, Gurmukh Singh, was impeccably dressed and commanded instant silence. He taught Geography with formidable precision, making each 40-minute lesson an intense affair. With my sister teaching at the school, I felt compelled to perform well.
In Form Three, my father’s transfer took us to Kuantan, where I studied at Saint Thomas Lower Secondary School. As a missionary institution, its headmaster in 1969 was an Englishman, known simply as the Brother Director.
He was a no-nonsense headmaster when it came to discipline, yet always fair and firm. Brother Director was also a tireless administrator, constantly devising ways to raise funds for the school’s upkeep.
In Form Four at Sultan Abu Bakar Secondary School, Kuantan, a Chinese headmaster, fondly known as BC Goh and Batman, took charge.
He taught Civics, using a textbook authored by BC Goh, and his detailed exploration of its contents earned him that nickname.
“Batman” came from his habit of donning a graduation gown and mortarboard and making a dramatic last entrance at Monday assemblies, resembling a bat. He was soon promoted and replaced by Eddie Wee during my Form Five year.
Wee introduced a radical shift, granting students greater freedom and treating the school more like a college. However, his unorthodox approach differed from the expectations of higher authorities, and he was replaced by Ajmeer Singh from Raub.
Ajmeer was a committed workaholic, arriving at dawn and leaving late each day. He once clarified in assembly that he was Punjabi, not Bengali – a distinction he felt important. More memorable was his compassion. After a schoolmate took his own life during the HSC examinations, Ajmeer addressed us, urging calm and perspective. Exams, he reminded us, were not the end of the world; many opportunities lay ahead.
Reflecting on these headmasters, I remain grateful for their dedication and lasting influence.
