Friday, May 21, 2010

Let's Reflect: Dr Goh Keng Swee

Today, the pupils were given a reflection worksheet: Let's Reflect.
One of the topics is on Dr Goh Keng Swee.
Dr Goh was Singapore's former* Deputy Prime Minister and our nation's economic* architect.
He died on Friday (14 May) after a long illness. He was 91.

*former: past, earlier, previous
*economic: related to the wealth and income of a country

We read some online information on Dr Goh in class:
  1. Dr Goh was born in Malacca in the Straits Settlements into a Peranakan family.
  2. He came to Singapore when he was 2 years old.
  3. He studied at Raffles College and the London School of Economics and Political Science.
  4. Dr Goh was Minister for the Interior and Defence (1965), Finance Minister (1967–1970), Minister for Defence (1970–1979) and Minister for Education (1979–1980, 1981–1985).
  5. Through Dr Goh's efforts, 15 thousand acres of swamp in Jurong was turned into a modern industrial park.
  6. He introduced streaming policy and Gifted Education Programme in schools.
  7. Schools observed half mast* during morning flag-raising ceremonies as a mark of respect for the passing*.
*half mast: flag is raised to halfway position on the flag pole
*passing: death

Here are some online links on Dr Goh Keng Swee:
1) Straits Times Breaking News
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_526470.html

2) Channel News Asia
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1056561/1/.html

3) TODAY Online
http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100517-0000078/Life-with-Goh-Keng-Swee,-his-wife-shares-memories

4) Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goh_Keng_Swee

Complete the reflection worksheet for submission on Monday.
  1. If you had a chance to meet up with Dr Goh Keng Swee, what would you have said to him?
  2. Who can you care for now? What will you do to show care? When will you start caring for this person?

35 comments:

  1. If not for Dr Goh Keng Swee, Singapore may not be what she is today now.He is a man of great vision and contributed a lot to Singapore.He started National Service so that we ourselves could defend Singapore. I really appreciate his efforts for making Singapore a better place to live in.

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  2. Far-sighted and intelligent, Dr Goh Keng Swee helped build the foundation of Singapore. He started National Service and if it weren't for it, Singaporeans would not have realised just how important protecting their home really is. He should truly be appreciated because if not for him and other of our fore fathers, Singapore would not be the magnificent and independent country it is now.

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  3. Great sharing, Sheyenne! Dr Goh Keng Swee had indeed contributed significantly to the growth of Singapore!

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  4. Dear Dr Goh , without you, we can`t have a safe place to stay like what Singapore is today now.

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  5. I can care for people whom face many problem.I will do the best that I can do.From now on, I will start caring for this people

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  6. Dear Dr Goh ,thank you for caring us and without you, we can`t have a safe place to stay like what Singapore is today now.

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  7. 1) Dear Dr Goh Keng Swee

    Thank You for delvoping Singapore! I wish that you are still around but we humans cant live forever. I have visited your coffin and pay my last respects. I wish you a good live in the another world and go to heaven.

    From Low Jia Jun

    2) I can care for my friends and my family now. I will teach them. I will start now.

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  8. Thank you for taking care of Singapore.

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  9. 1) I would ask him how he found singapore.
    2)My family.I will protect them.

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  10. thank you for doing so much for singapore and making singapore become a better place for our live.

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  11. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  12. I would say, Dear Dr Goh you are a great person without you Singapore will not be a beautiful country.

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  13. Dear Doctor Goh, that you help for singapore

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  14. Dear Dr Goh,You are a caring person.Thank you for teaching us how to be a caring person.

    We should now care for Dr Goh Keng Swee,i would treat him as our family.I will start caring now.

    Thank You Dr Goh Keng Swee for making Singapore a better place.

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  15. Dear Dr Goh, Thank you to be very brave and helped singapore for many years.



    Now I am caring about my parents , I has started to caring my parents.

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  16. 1)dear dr goh thank you for building singapore until a very beautiful place.i love it.i will never forget you.

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  17. now,I am going to caring my parents,and my friends,i will started caring from now on.

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  18. 1)I would like to learn lots of thing from you caring for others, and ever for people that we do not know.

    2)I can care for my family members.I will try to commnnicate with them to solve prombles that they face.From this moment,i will care for the people around me.

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  19. 1.I am very proud of you!
    2.Everybody.help others who need help.Now.

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  20. Dear Dr Goh,thank for making singapore like this now without you,singapore is not like this now without you singapore don't have a good place build now thank for your caring to build singapore like now thank and have a good day after.

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  21. 1)what would you do for singapore
    2)my parent.i will help them and study hard.start from now and till and of my life.

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  22. Dear Dr Goh,

    You are a great man.you have done so much to
    singapore proud

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  23. Thank you for what you did for Singapore.

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  24. Dear Dr Goh ,
    Thanks for makeing singapore safe.

    now i can care for my little brother.i will play with him, feed him told what can be do and what can't to be do.

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  25. Dear Dr Goh Keng Swee

    Thank You for delvoping Singapore! I wish that you are still around but we humans cant live forever. I have visited your coffin and pay my last respects. I wish you a good live in the another world and go to heaven.
    From:KaiTing
    I can care for my friends and my family now. I will teach them. I will start now.

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  26. Dr Goh, thank you for making singapore a better place to live and play

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  27. Dear Dr Goh Keng Swee

    Thank You for delvoping Singapore! I wish that you are still around but we humans cant live forever. I have visited your coffin and pay my last respects. I wish you a good live in the another world and go to heaven.

    From Kristina

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  28. Nur'hizah bte rozizMay 24, 2010 at 9:17 PM

    1) Dear Dr Goh,I would like to than you for making Singapore a better place to live in.

    2)I will care for my grandma.I will do whatever she ask me too do.I will start caring for her today.

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  29. Now i can care for my family.i will not fright with my brother.

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  30. Dr. Goh Keng Swee 6 October 1918 – 14 May 2010) was the second Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore between 1973 and 1984, and a Member of Parliament for the Kreta Ayer constituency for a quarter of a century. Born in Malacca in the Straits Settlements into a Peranakan family, he came to Singapore at the age of two years. Educated at Raffles College and the London School of Economics and Political Science, his interest in politics began during his time in London where he met fellow students seeking independence for British Malaya, including Abdul Razak, Maurice Baker, Lee Kuan Yew and Toh Chin Chye. From 1945 onwards he worked for the Department of Social Welfare, eventually rising to become its Director. In 1958 he resigned from the Civil Service to work full-time for the People's Action Party (PAP), becoming a key member and later vice-chairman of its Central Executive Committee. The following year he successfully contested the Kreta Ayer seat in the 1959 general election for the Legislative Assembly, and joined the first government of Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew as Minister for Finance. Upon Singapore's independence on 9 August 1965, Goh became the nation's first Minister for the Interior and Defence. He subsequently served as Finance Minister (1967–1970), Minister for Defence (1970–1979) and Minister for Education (1979–1980, 1981–1985).He build up the Singapore Armed Force and the development of the Jurong Bird Park.I am very grateful to him. if it was not for him, the singapore today would not be so modern.

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  31. He had contributed greatly in shaping the development of Singapore into a prosperous nation as Minister for Finance and Minister for Defence. He held several other key appointments, including Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Education, and chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore. He introduced an industrialization programme with the aim of creating jobs for Singaporeans and also implemented compulsory national service for all male Singaporeans above 18 years old. Without him, our home, which is called a little red dot would be invaded by other countries. I would like to thank him for making Singapore a safe country to live in. >.~

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  32. Thank You for delvoping Singapore! I wish that you are still around but we humans cant live forever. I have visited your coffin and pay my last respects. I wish you a good live in the another world and go to heaven.

    I can care for my friends and my family now. I will teach them. I will start now.

    form;shiying

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  33. 2)I will like to care for my friend and my family.I will care my friend by cheer them up when they are unhappy or lent them things that they need or other thing that i can do for them.I will care for my family by looking after them .I can help them with the house work and be a good girl everyday to make them happy.i will start caring for them to day.maybe not only to is for year.haha!!!I love to care for my friend and my family because is it so fun haha!!! bye bye!!!

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  34. Dear Dr Goh ,
    Thanks for making Singapore a peaceful, harmony and kind-hearted country. Without you Singapore can't survive.Now I can care for my family , friends and everybody.
    From Siti

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  35. Thanks boys and girls!
    You have done a great job!

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