Primary school kid taunted by classmates because she wasn't a Christian like them |
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Overheard an unnerving conversation whilst waiting at a bus stop today. Some little girl from my neighbourhood (probably around 9 or 10 years old) who, upon alighting from the bus, was seen bursting into tears whilst running to hug her grandmother. Apparently, she got taunted by her classmates for believing in gods “who aren't humans.” She further stated she wanted to convert to Christianity, and how she hated her current religion because she was told “only low-class people” believe in it. I was honestly taken aback, but perhaps I shouldn't be. I had attended the same primary school 20 years ago, and something similar happened to me. As a child, I did not know how to articulate my discomfort, so I just shrugged things off. It is therefore rather disheartening to see this discriminatory environment still persisting two decades later. I am not sure what the culture in other Christian schools is like now, but in mine back then, compulsory weekly chapel sessions were held for everyone except Muslim students. All of us had to sing Christian songs, with some teachers even singling out those who didn't and making them do so in front of everyone. We were also expected to mouth phrases like “May God bless you” at the conclusion of each lesson. Till today, I could recall Christian classmates constantly reminding me I was going straight to hell because I did not subscribe to their religious ways. Such unsavoury experiences underpinned my decision to attend a secular secondary school; things genuinely improved thereafter. Some folks might argue that non-Christians could simply opt for secular schools. However, a quick search online shows that 30 out of 147 secondary schools in Singapore, which is roughly 20.4%, are Christian-affiliated. When PSLE cut-off points and location constitute major consideration factors, avoiding mulling a Christian school altogether during the shortlisting process becomes near impossible. IMO, the culture in my former primary school (at the time) of forcing non-Christian students to participate in Christian activities may have encouraged children to spout cruel stuff, possibly also internalizing a sense of religious elitism. What I witnessed today suggests this is now irrevocably entrenched. Should all public schools therefore be made fully secular, or should Christian affiliated public schools be required to be more accommodating of non-Christian students? Serious food for thought. I shan't reveal the school's name, in any case it's located in the east. |
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