My Old Primary School Premises (by Moh Teck)
My Old Primary School Premises (by Moh Teck)
Contributed by Moh Teck
Introduction
My primary school was Presbyterian Boys School. It shared premises with Sion Christian Church, Choon Guan School extended classrooms and some living quarters. The Church was a Presbyterian church. The main Choon Guan School building and premises was at 47 Koon Seng Road, directly across the road from where my primary school was sited.
My Grandmother and Choon Guan School
When I was a kid I stayed in a zinc-roof wooden house at Teng Tong Road. My grandmother, Ho Lay Wah was a Chinese language teacher for Choon Guan School at Koon Seng Road (named after merchant Cheong Koon Seng). She was a fervent protestant, married at Paya Lebar Methodist Church, taught the make shift Sunday school (including playing the organ) at Choon Guan School and worshipped at the Sion Christian Church (now called Zion Presbyterian Church)
The Church was a 2-storey building. There was a Hokkien cum Mandarin congregation at ground level and a English congregation on the second level. Both were managed and operated separately.
Click here for information on origin of name for Koon Seng Road
Click here for information on Cheong Koon Seng (also known as Cheong Koong Seng). His descendants still run CKS Consultants, which was a renaming of Cheong Koon Seng Auctioneers & Valuers
Click here for information on Lee Choon Guan
Monday Morning Service
As I was a student at Presbyterian Boys School, I had to attend morning service every Monday on the second level of the church. We each had to buy a hymn leaflet.
Above: Front of the church facing Koon Seng Road Source: eResource, National Library Board
Above: A close-up photo of Choon Guan School’s extended classrooms Source: eResource, National Library Board
Living Quarters
Even as a primary school student, I was surprised that there were families staying in living quarters within the school premises. I came to know about it when I had high fever one day and my grandmother seek the help from a lady staying in the living quarters who know traditional Chinese medicine that was passed down from her ancestors.
Above: Living quarters in the centre and the adjoining Choon Guan Source: eResource, National Library Board
Above: A close up photo of the living quarters. The alley on the left is actually the entrance to the school tuck-shop and the building where the secondary classes are conducted. Source: eResource, National Library Board
Primary School Premises
The Sion Christian Church sat in the same compound as my primary school Presbyterian Boys’ School
Above: Front of Presbyterian Boys’ School showing the flag mast and the primary school classes. Source: eResource, National Library Board
Above: Front of the school hall Source: eResource, National Library Board
For history of Presbyterian Boys School, please click here
Report Books
Click here on how the Primary School Report Book look like
Click here on how the Secondary School Report Book look like
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