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Aug 11
Principal stands outside gate to welcome students every morning

The principal of Tao Nan School says he hopes to give students a good start to each morning.

Principal stands outside gate to welcome students every morning

 

SINGAPORE - It is a sight you don't see very often, if at all - a man standing outside a school gate, smiling and welcoming pupils as they stream into the school every morning.

And the man is not a worker at the school, nor a teacher, but the principal.

Dr Chin Kim Woon, principal of Tao Nan School, takes it upon himself to stand outside the school gates every morning to greet pupils from Primary 1 to 6 as they come in.

According to some parents the Shin Min Daily spoke to, Dr Chin bows ever slightly to greet each one of them, and does so no matter rain or shine.

His actions have touched many parents, one of whom contacted the Chinese daily to pay tribute to him, ahead of "Teachers' Day" in September.

Madam Huang Li Fen, 44, who works in the insurance sector, has two boys studying in Tao Nan Primary. She told Shin Min she always sees Dr Chin outside the school gate at 7am when she takes her sons to school.

He always has a warm and sincere smile for all his pupils, says Madam Huang.

She recalled how when it rains, Dr Chin would carry a large umbrella to shelter the kids from the car to the school building after their parents had dropped them off. 

According to her son who studies in the afternoon session, Dr Chin also makes it a point to share a few stories during the assembly that will imbue kids with the right moral values.

When interviewed by Shin Min Daily, Dr Chin says he does his morning routine because he believes mornings are the most important part of the day.

He quoted an old Chinese saying, on "how one's plan for the day largely depends on the morning".

Dr Chin, who has more than 20 years experience in teaching, said it is important to "be full of life and energy in the morning", and hopes to give students a good start to each day. 

According to a reporter who observed Dr Chin, pupils will automatically greet Dr Chin cheerily, with no hint of fear of trepidation as one would expect when faced with the principal.

Dr Chin also spots students with undone shoe-laces, and tells them to tie them up before they trip.

Read also:

Pupils forced to read during recess, or starve
 

 

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Keywords: principal , kind , welcome , teachers' day
Readers' Comments
hopefully none of them will grow up learning to say '****'

Posted by goulie123 on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 at 09:38 AM

unusual unusual unusual unusual

Posted by goulie123 on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 at 09:00 AM



If you're late, then you do NOT deserve respect.

Posted by vaio2002 on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 at 03:06 AM

Virtue inculcation in the young from a learned person.
Respect to Dr.Chin.

Posted by Aiyayayayai on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 at 21:27 PM

He's one in a million. Never heard of such a principal until now.

Posted by Los Liberatos on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 at 21:18 PM

haha... latecomers how he greet ah?

Posted by kipdrordy on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 at 21:02 PM

Dr Chin really cares for everyone of his school pupils. By doing it daily, he will get to know each and everyone of them over the years. Like an elder, he will be very approachable and down to earth when attending to school issues and matters. This kind of dedication comes from within not from having higher pay. His dedication is an examplary that his school pupils, parents of pupils and teachers should be grateful.
How many principals will do that?

Only one so far!

Dr Chin is the great principal with heart to serve education to bring up a good generation of well behave and polite pupils who will grow up as responsible citizens of the country!

Posted by Superidiot on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 at 19:36 PM

This is precisely why we worked so hard to get our daughter in the school - whole lot of emphasis on respect, sincerity, and integrity.
Dr Chin is a Chinese scholar and this is the perfect principal for Tao Nan School.
There was once when I was in my girl's school that I saw her went straight up to Dr Chin, bowed and greeted him with respect and I didn't even notice that he is around us. In return, Dr Chin also bowed and greeted her. I was so
proud to see my girl behaving in such good manner which
is not easy to sport in children/teenager nowadays. This is the reason why we wanted her in a Chinese cultured school.

Posted by hazelnut on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 at 19:06 PM

He is truly a Principal. Good role model for all under his charge to follow n guide.

Abida B

Posted by Posted on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 at 17:22 PM

He is a shining example for those in the education service. A service provider with pride in doing his job.

MFSEOW

Posted by Posted on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 at 17:22 PM

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