Caning not included

According to the article, wong, age 23 was caught in England a fortnight ago for downloading child pornography.

At a young age, he had already commited an offence for peeping in a primary school girl's toilet. It goes to shows that

he had not learnt from his lessons and instead he continue with his inmoral acts.

However his offences were not recorded in the school disciplinary records due to the school system.The principal believe

in giving them a second chance. In my opinion, I feel that the principal should be fair and square. He should "go by the law"

and punish them accordingly for their offences, depending on how serious the matter is. I believe that the character of a child

is nutured and "mould" since young. It will make a big impact on their life in future. If a person is to be scott free from

the mistakes they made, they will not think that they are in wrong and the possibiblity of them commiting the same mistakes in future

will be quite high. In this aticle, it is a case of peeping and downloading of pornography. But what if it is a case of robbery? raping? or even murdering?

The consequences would not just be caning, it can be as serious as a death penalty if the person is being convicted as a murderer.

This case is somehow similar to a case which happened recently in NYP. There's a Year 3 student from NYP who molested 4 girls in the pervious month.

He was found guilty and arrested. He should feel ashamed for doing such things and this defintely will affect the reputation of the school.

However, if we were not to condemn his mistakes, there will be more victims.Thus, I feel that some actions should be taken to guard against such crimes to happen again.

He shall be dealt with severely for the offences that he had committed.

Sometimes, not condemning one's mistakes is equal to harming them.

-TRICIA.

I refer to the article "Caning not included" on asiaone.com. The article is about the sensational story of an ex Singaporean scholar being caught in England for downloading child pornography and how his stint in his teenage years, where he was caught for peeping in a primary girl's school toilet and was caned, was omitted from the MOE's disciplinary system.

Personally I believe that the school has done no wrong. Educators have said before that they would usually cane the student and leave the incident unrecorded and this is understandable, educators will think twice before listing offences in the MOE's tracking system, as this would result in the pupil being blacklisted by the MOE for life, thus this option is only reserved for problem students or very serious offences.

In his teenage years, Jonathan Wong has been described as a soft spoken student with exceptionally good grades with no prior discipline problems. In this context, it is no surprise that the teachers decided to punish him by public caning and omitt the offence from the disciplinary tracking system as they believed that he was a pupil with much potential, he would learn from his mistakes and they didn't want to any of his future prospects in life due to what seemed like a minor lapse of judgement at that time. Perhaps they could have sent the student to counselling following the caning, to monitor his behaviour and prevent such a problem from reoccuring inthe future

Thierry

Hidden offences of peeping tom.

Its such a shame that someone who has a scholarship actually has such weird quirks. And these quirks eventually lead him to losing his scholarship, and being known to us, Singaporeans, that he is not only a peeping tom, but he's also someone who watches child pornography.

It has only been said that Jonathan Wong's offence (peeping in a primary school girl's toilet) committed 8 yeras ago, was not recorded in the disciplinary tracking system as it was only in 2005 that Ministry Of Education (MOE) made it compulsory for primary and secondary schools to disclose all discipline records.
I felt that MOE should bear a bit of responsibility for such an error because disciplinary records should all be recorded for future references and not giving second chances just because "His teachers thought that Wong had overcome his errant behaviour after professional help". Such thoughts ended up having a scholarship wasted and bringing slight disgrace to us, Singaporeans.

Such behaviors are really unacceptable.

Students have to face up what they have done.

In my opinion, they should be given to a second chance. However, a light penalty should not be how they rounded up this case. He should receive severe punishment the very first time he did it when he was in catholic high school. This was to ensure that there he will not commit the same mistake.

The following schools should also submit his records into the system. They should set a good example and be responsible and honest for their students instead of hiding it from the Ministry Of Education claiming that they think that he deserves a second chance. This will be very unfair to the other students who did something that are not as severe and are recorded into the system. Schools should face responsibility on the later events as they did not taught him well on his morals.

Schools have to take measure of severity of the punishment if it was the first time the student doing it or not. Hence, it is really important for the schools to record mischiefs into the system and Chinese High School have obviously did not play a role in that area.

This article also shows how he became worse after the years due to the lack of punishment he deserves. As he was not taken seriously after committing all these peeping, he did not think twice upon doing after the second attempt.

He should be punished severely this time round as it has been neglected for the rest of his misdeeds. Furthermore, he committed this misdeed abroad, hence reflected on us, singaporeans. Bringing our reputation down. He should be given a second chance as he lost his second chance a long time ago.

JERANNE.

IRs and its flaws

After reading the article, I sympathise with the Johor families. However, we have to admit that they are not the only victims. We, Singaporeans, may have even more "victims" compared to others.

Before the casino was open, government set rules to it. There is this one rule I remember clearly - which is, Family members are able to request for a ban of entry for a certain member. I felt that this rule was a good implemention. It allows the family to do something to help this certain member of theirs, and it also helps to control the addiction of the "gambler".
Therefore, if the Malaysians are complaining that OUR casino is taking THEIR housewives away, they should learn of this rule and do something about it. The free packages are part of "marketing strategy", and I do not agree that these packages should be removed just because of such complaints.

Quoted from the article, "Some housewives would even secretly borrow from Ah Longs (loan sharks)...to hide their gambling activities". I feel that this could not be entirely controlled by our government. If these housewives have the connections to loansharks and not "informing" the police about it, our government can not really help the Johor families to "stop" such activities.

- MELISSA

Impact on Johor families

When the Casino in Singapore is open, it is an opportunity for people to go "try" their luck and having the mindset: "a legal way to earn quick bucks". So, people will often believe in themselves that they can.

In addition, there is free daily package of transportation provided for them from Johor to Singapore which is a great advantage to them. Firstly, they can save on transport fee, secondly it would be time-saving. Last but not least, they get to "earn" money from Casino, depending on their "luck". Who would reject such a great offer?

But, the government of Malaysia is putting the blame on Singapore. However people should be responsible for their own decision and actions. So they should not push to Singapore.

Housewives who became hardcore gamblers even borrowed loans froms loansharks , which is illegal. It could land them in deep troubles. They should think twice before doing such things.

- tricia.

SG IRs ruin Johor families

Singapore's new IRs has caught attention from the whole world of course including our neighbor Malaysia.

From the news, Johor residents has greatly affected by the casino inside the IRs. It is really convenient for them to get here and gamble everyday since there are "free" buses organized by private individuals and companies to bring them to the casino everyday.

The life of some Johor family are greatly affected since about 30% of the gamblers are mainly housewives and some of them spend the whole day inside the casino and even take loans to gamble. However I think its their own responsibility to control themselves than blaming Singapore is at fault. There is casinos in Malaysia since before, so I believe the Malaysian Government do need to educate their people in gambling and control themselves. Similar cases happened in other countries all around the world and its all the countries' own responsible to educate their people and they did a good job.

Also, the Singapore Government can only "pressure" the casinos to limited the customers from Malaysia but not regulate them as it is not in the part of the deal and it will touch on politics. It takes the Malaysian Government to issue a official request to the casinos to limit its people to visit the casinos in Singapore. So before that, we can do nothing.

- by Yang Xin YU

I agree that Singapore IRs are ruining the families in the johor. In fact, i believe that all casinos are responsible for such family behaviors.

Many of these house domestic may think of casino as a way of earning big money. They are all so into it that some of them are oblivious that the casino has already taken over their life and have caused them into unnecessarily trouble such as borrowing money with the loan shark.

In fact, singapore should actually limit the number of patronage of casinos so as to reduce internal conflicts with the families. Casinos should also be more considerate and have a limitation on how much a person can gamble in the casino. Singapore should also restrict the allowance of loan sharks in Singapore and also the amount of time each person can go in for.

Casinos should really be responsible in such upturn in the society. Domestic would be less chaotic if it isnt for the Casinos.

Jeranne low

All for money.

ARTICLE

If anyone went into the website - ABCnews.com, the most eye-catching title would be "Cops: Grandma Tried to Sell Baby for $75K".

I believe that the main point of this article is not about the amount of money the baby is sold for. Its all about the blood flowing in each of them. How is the baby related to the grandma, just thinking about this would ache anyone's heart.

Indeed, when I first read this article, I was disgusted by such a beastly act! Why, just why would anyone want to sell their baby for money. Isn't contradicting, whereby people always say "Money can't buy kinship"? I guess afterall, there are people who would do anything for money.

However, when I saw the video of how grandma could NOT raise her head and face the reporters to answer any of their questions, instead my heart went out for her. I believe she might have done this in a moment of folly. As what FDLE Special Agent Wayne Ivey said : "When you look at this where the grandmother was willing to sell her own grandchild obviously to some degree for profit, it's appalling.". She could be blinded by the benefits of the profits. Through her actions (of not being able to raise her head), I believe she regretted doing this, and I believe if given a second chance, she would be the one raising her head proudly, telling the world she didn't succumb to the temptations of the benefits.

-Melissa.

Woman charged with trying to sell baby grandson in sting operation

75k US dollars, the price for the heartless grandmother to sell her grandson.

Although the movite of this shameful act was not reported but I believe there will never be a acceptable reason for someone to sell a baby. It further disgusted me that she acturally accept the negotiated price of 30K US dollars. This shows how heartless she was.

From the report, police officer Wayne Ivey said: "This transaction today was, 'Take this baby, give us our money and go.' "They were looking to sell this infant to anyone." I really do not understand what made her to make the decision of sell him without any unwillingness.

I think she should be harshly punished by law and i believe her children will never forgive her. Imagine how will grown-up grandson feel when he got to know that his inmate grandmother once tried to sell him to anyone.

After all, all thanks to the "buyer" who tipped off the cops or the criminal will never be caught in action and be punished.


Done by Yang Xin Yu

This article really disgust me. I am still in disbelief. How would anyone one bear to sell their grandchild for 75k. After all, they are blood-related. Such an cruel act is deeming inappropriate. The grandmother of the child has no humanity to even have the thought of selling her grandchild.

She have no idea how precious and important a life is and it is irreplaceable to even with money.

It clearly depicts how her greediness took over her and landed her in a mess. Or she would be having the best part of her life which was her retirement. It also shows what a person she is. She did not consider how her daughter would feel upon selling her grandchild away for money. It also shows that she is a very self centered person. She would betray everything she had for money, her own purpose.

I believe the police did a good job in arresting her and giving her her well suit-ted punishment.

JERANNE LOW JIAYING

Grandma Tried to Sell Baby for $75K

According to the article, Patty Bigbee, 45, who was arrested Friday afternoon, allegedly approached someone in October and offered to sell the baby boy for $75,000.

In my opinion, it was totally insane! It is also inhuman to sell her own grandchild. I believe every baby is a gift from god. How can she sell her own grandchild for money. Money is not everything! She shouldn't have placed money on top of her grandchild as piority.

Because of her moment of greed, it has landed her in jail. Since she had chosen this decision, she should have known the consequences. And I would not pity her for her wrong-doings because it is not her first time committing such illegal cases.

The world is really scary. But I think sometimes humans are scarier.

-TRICIA

I refer to the article S'pore IRs ruin Johor families, says lawmaker on Asiaone.com (link: http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Malaysia/Story/A1Story20101126-249250.html). The article asserts that the integrated resorts in Singapore lure housewives from Johor into Singapore through attractive travel packages to the casinos, and this in turn forces them into a life of vice and ruins families. I have to disagree with the article with the point it's trying to bring across, that is, that casinos, specifically the Singapore IR, ruin families. I am going to talk about why I believe that the IR is not at fault for the ruin of the Johor families in the following points.

It is unfair to blatantly blame the IR for the ruin of families caused by the gambling addiction of a family member. Before going to a casino, one should have already been adequately versed in the consequences of irresponsible gambling. Think about it, you go to a casino and you gamble away all your savings, and then you blame the casino. Think about how childish and ridiculous that sounds. The only finger you should be pointing at is yourself, no one else is to blame.

Some say that it is unfair

I agree that Singapore IRs are ruining the families in the johor. In fact, i believe that all casinos are responsible for such family behaviors.

Many of these house domestic may think of casino as a way of earning big money. They are all so into it that some of them are oblivious that the casino has already taken over their life and have caused them into unnecessarily trouble such as borrowing money with the loan shark.

In fact, singapore should actually limit the number of patronage of casinos so as to reduce internal conflicts with the families. Casinos should also be more considerate and have a limitation on how much a person can gamble in the casino. Singapore should also restrict the allowance of loan sharks in Singapore and also the amount of time each person can go in for.

Casinos should really be responsible in such upturn in the society. Domestic would be less chaotic if it isnt for the Casinos.

Jeranne low

Upon reading the earthquake disaster in haiti, I sympathize with the people and reading it made me treasure my life and everything i have. It also shows me how precious and vulnerable life can be. Thousands of lifes can be destroyed in a split second shows how dangerous natural disasters can be.

In my opinion, the people should be taught of what to do if they were to be caught in such pedicament. The people will be more prepared and less death will occur. An good example would be japan where they are taught how to evacuate during any natural diasaster and how to protect themselves.

From here, we also know that education plays a huge role over here as well and it further emphasize the importance of it.

I really sympathise with the council over there as well, as they'll need a lot of funds to rebuild the destroyed infrastructures, clean up the water and it may be poisoned by the sewage from broken pipes. Money are also spent to burry the dead

Jeranne low jiaying

Haiti and earthquake.

Many were killed during the earthquake. Natural disasters are merciless. As we know, earthquake is unpredictable, nobody knows when it will striked and also people do not foresee that. It comes without any warning and devoured thousands of lifes.

A magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck the Dominican Republic and shook Haiti on 4 August 1946, producing a tsunami that killed 1,790 people and injured many others. This case is somehow similar to the earthquake that happened reccently - History repeats.

Houses and infrastructures are not only destroyed, their lifes are destroyed and disrupted too. For those who have survived should count themself lucky. However, it still left an impact on them. They have to suffer losing their loved ones and try to rebuild their homes and move on with life.

It is a heartwrenching news. (May god bless them. Amen)

-TRICIA

HAITI AND ITS EARTHQUAKE

Natural disasters, too unpredictable, too fast to even see it coming. That's how it was in Haiti, as the January 12 earthquake failed to release all tensions, and once again bringing yet another disaster to Haiti just 9 months later, 25th October (date of the article).


Neither study gave any indication of when this feared earthquake could occur.
No indicaations of when the next fearful event will happen, it could be a good thing. Afterall, why would one want to know when he'll die in a natural disaster instead of living his life till the day has come? However, I'm not a victim there, neither have I been through such terrible experiences, therefore I could only sympathise with their situation.

Its stated in the article that "The culprit (Earthquake) was initially thought to be a well-known but poorly understood fault called the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden Zone (EPGZ), where 7.0 quakes occurred in 1751 and 1770.". I was quite amazed by this finding, or rather, puzzled. Never have I imagined that the the damage done in 1751 and 1770 could last for so many centuries; 3 centuries. A teenager like me have more to uncover.

In my entire 17 years of life, I've heard about quakes, floods, droughts. Never have I experienced ANY of them. Yet when I see this "for the January quake was very big and occurred close to the surface.", I tried to imagine the impact then, yet being inexperienced, my imagination just shut off.

I actually salute all these seismologists for being so detailed in their findings, and how much they actually went through. Through sympathising, I can only pray for the people's safety.

-MELISSA

Haiti fault capable of another big quake

Haiti fault capable of another big quake


Mon, Oct 25, 2010
AFP



PARIS - The January 12 earthquake in Haiti failed to release all the tension in a notorious seismic fault, leaving its capital exposed to the risk of another seismic disaster, US scientists reported Sunday. The magnitude 7.0 event, which killed a quarter of a million Haitians, occurred to the west of the capital Port-au-Prince.

The culprit was initially thought to be a well-known but poorly understood fault called the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden Zone (EPGZ), where 7.0 quakes occurred in 1751 and 1770.

The complex 270-kilometre (168-mile) -long fault runs along one of the narrow western prongs of the island of Hispaniola, which Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic.


A team of geologists led by Carole Prentice, of the US Geological Survey (USGS) at Menlo Park, California, say assumptions that the EPGZ was to blame may be wrong.

They carried out satellite imaging, aerial photography and boots-on-the-ground investigation to look for surface evidence of earthquakes along the fault.

They found plenty of evidence of ground rupture, uplifted land and diverted streams that must have occurred in the 18th-century shakes - but nothing similar that could be pinned to the 2010 event.

While not unprecedented in seismology, this is highly unusual, for the January quake was very big and occurred close to the surface. Prentice's team did some computer modelling to try to explain what could have happened.

One suggestion is that the EPGZ did indeed slip, but at depth, while another is that the quake occurred on a "blind" sub-parallel structure. Either way, the visual observations and the computer models all indicate that the January quake did not ease the nearly two and a half centuries of accumulated strain at the EPGZ's surface.

"The EPGZ remains a serious seismic hazard for Haiti, particularly for the Port-au-Prince area," warns the study, which is published online by the journal Nature Geoscience.

It raised special concern over a 110-km (65-mile) stretch that runs from Lake Miragoane in the west to Dumay in the east, tracking just south of the Haitan capital.

"These sections of the fault remain capable of generating an earthquake of up to 7.0 magnitude and, in the case of the Momance and Dumay sections, which are closer to Port-au-Prince, potentially causing stronger ground shaking in the urban area than the January 12 event."

On October 10, a separate team of geologists, also publishing in Nature Geoscience, found that the January gave only "limited" release to the EPGZ. Calculating the pentup strain since the 18th century, they said "an earthquake larger than the 2010 is certainly possible" if the fault ruptured adjacent to Port-au-Prince.

Neither study gave any indication of when this feared earthquake could occur.

Seismologists say they are gaining more and knowledge about how earthquakes happen and are better at predicting the magnitude of some kinds of quakes. But pinpointing, even roughly, when these events will happen remains elusive.