Marie Ethel Bong (née Aroozoo; died 23 April 2003) was a Singaporean schoolteacher and social worker. She was the headmaster of the CHIJ Katong Convent from 1972 to 1986.
Early life and education
editBong was born to Percival Frank Aroozoo, a Eurasian who was the headmaster of the Gan Eng Seng School, and Agnes Danker. She was the sister of librarian Hedwig Anuar.[1] Bong studied at the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus. In January 1947, she and Hedwig were each awarded $50 for their essay on the film Henry V.[2] Bong received her degree at University of Malaya.[3] She and Hedwig were among the university's earliest women graduates.[4]
Career
editIn 1971, she gave a speech advocating for the inclusion of creative writing in lessons, which she believed would allow students to gain confidence, which "further helped to develop their personalities". She also claimed that it would "set the stage for Singapore to form her own reservoir of writers and literature."[5]
In April 1973, as principal, Bong made the decision to expel four of the school's students for eating and smoking in a school toilet. This caused a "furore" although the Singapore Teachers' Union gave a statement in support of her actions.[6] She was awarded the Pingat Berkebolehan in 1979.[7] She produced the school's production of William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, which was staged at the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall in celebration of the school's golden jubilee in March 1980.[8] Bong oversaw the school's split into the Katong Convent Secondary School and a primary school, after which she became the principal of the secondary school.[9]
Creative writing[10]
Bong retired as principal in 1985, after which she became a social worker. She held speech and laguage lessons for teachers and the members of the Social Development Unit. She was also involved in storeytelling sessions for several branch libraries.[11] In July 1991, she began holding storeytelling workshops for children participating in the Kids United National Storeytelling Contest.[12]
Among her students were academic and diplomat Chan Heng Chee,[15] writer Suchen Christine Lim,[14]
Personal life and death
editBong married Anthony Bong Kim Siong, who was Chinese, at the Saint Joseph's Church on 16 September 1950.[3] Bong was aged 23 while Anthony was aged 34. They had two children and lived in a semi-detached house in the Serangoon Garden esttae.[11]
References
edit- ^ https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/article-detail?cmsuuid=625f30bc-7bb8-4fdf-8103-3b00f18eb41e
- ^ https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/maltribune19470111-1.2.74
- ^ a b https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19500918-1.2.62
- ^ https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19940819-1.2.67.5.1
- ^ https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19710405-1.2.108
- ^ https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19730713-1.2.110
- ^ https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19790809-1.2.87
- ^ https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19800228-1.2.126.8.1
- ^ https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19841126-1.2.24.38
- ^ https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19750621-1.2.103
- ^ a b c https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19921109-1.2.77.6.1
- ^ https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19910909-1.2.62.3.3
- ^ She made school a better place (27 August 2000)
- ^ a b Marie Bong's literature legacy to her students (25 April 2003)
- ^ https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/page/newpaper19940312-1.1.5