Bukit Mertajam High School

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Bukit Mertajam High School

Motto Establish ed Type Affiliation s

Aut Coepisse Noli Aut Confice "Accomplish or Do Not Begin" 18th January 1927 Government High School Malaysia Ministry Of Education

Founder Edgar De La Mothe Stowell Grades

Form 1 - Form 6 77, Jalan Sri Bukit, 14000 Bukit

Location Mertajam, Penang, Malaysia Campus

Large School campus, at the city center

Colours Red, White and Black Website www.hsbm.net

Bukit Mertajam High School (sometimes referred to as High School Bukit Mertajam, or HSBM for short) is a secondary school located in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, Malaysia.

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1 Name 2 History o 2.1 The early years o 2.2 Second World War o 2.3 After the War 3 School tradition o 3.1 The assembly o 3.2 The School Motto o 3.3 The School Crest o 3.4 The School colours 4 School song o 4.1 The Compass 5 External links

[edit] Name The name of the school has changed several times, from the Government English School Bukit Mertajam in early years, to Bukit Mertajam High School, and finally to High School Bukit Mertajam. The School, however is most commonly called "High School" by local people. In Malay, BM High School is named Sekolah Tinggi Bukit Mertajam, and in 1997 was referred to as S.M.K.T.B.M. (Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tinggi Bukit Mertajam). In Mandarin, High School Bukit Mertajam is called Da Shan Jiao Ying Wen Zhong Xue, which literally means "Bukit Mertajam English Secondary School".

[edit] History

Edgar De La Mothe Stowell, founder of HSBM

[edit] The early years Bukit Mertajam High School was the first government school in Province Wellesley. During the 1920s, students crossed the channel twice daily in order to attend school at Penang island to study beyond Std. V. Among the schools in the island were the Penang Free School and St. Xavier's Institution. Mr. Harold Ambrose Robinson Cheeseman — then Inspector of Schools Penang, later Director of Education in Malaya— was responsible for the school's planning. The first head of the school was Mr. Edgar De La Mothe Stowell. From the very outset, Mr. Stowell sought to create a replica of the famous Sedbergh English Public School, which he had attended and which is known for its stringent discipline. Mr. H. A. R. Cheeseman wrote the following on the occasion of the school's 21st anniversary: I was almost heart-broken. The High School is an exact replica of the elementary school building of Rangoon Road in Singapore. I protested in vain... The school was officially opened in January 18, 1927 with an enrollment of 385 students.f.

Local teaching staff, 1927. L to R: (top row) Kam Kee Hock, Tan Hock Siang, Chin Yoon Ngean, S.Subbiah, Cheong Hong Oon, Khor Kok Seng; (bottom row) Chan Ewe Pin, Gan Hock Hai, Ng Chong Wing, Tan Kok Kee, S.M. Rose The pioneer staff comprised the following people: Mr. E. la M. Stowell (Headmaster) Mr. Chan Ewe Pin Mr. Chin Yoon Ngean Mr. Kam Kee Hock Mr. S. Subbiah

Mr. Cheah Chong Chee

Mr. Cheong Hong Oon

Ms. A. Cornelius

Mr. Gan Hock Hye

Mr. Khor Kok Seng

Mr. Ng Cheong Weng Mr. Tan Kok Kee

Mr. Tan Hock Sian Mr. S.M. Rouse Peons: Pa Hussein, Darus and Che Rose

The Wooden Block (1929), which still stands on the little hillock The main wooden block was constructed in 1926, directly facing the Bukit Mertajam Hill that stands sentinel over Bukit Mertajam. The school hall came into being in 1929. Cutting and leveling out the slop in front of the school for a playing field went on for several years until Mr. C.E.H. Jacobs came into office in 1931. He persuaded the Public Works Department to plant capalogium over the surface, cut the creepers when they had grown to two or three feet high, and plough them back into the clay. The filed was then left for months for the vegetation to rot and help break up as well as fertilize the soil. The operation took about a year, and now the ground was ready for grass to be planted. The field was titled "Jacob's Green" after C.E.H. Jacobs's particular care in the state of the field. Jacobs's Green Society came into being two years later with the object of improving and beautifying not only the field but also the grounds in general.

[edit] Second World War

Jacobs's Green The following was written in captivity in Changi Prison, May 1942, by J.E. Tod, headmaster from 1947 to 1950: When the war has ceased, and the first strange hush of peace, Falls on the land, I shall return and meet, And talk again with those, whose heart and hands, Fashioned throughout the Cataclysm of War, The tools of Victory. And I shall find Beneath the lowering English skies, Amid war-blackened English streets, The Steady heart of England beating still. Towards the end of 1941, the school was occupied by the Australian Army and the school was removed to the rice mill behind the Bukit Mertajam District Hospital. By December 13, the Japanese were bombing Penang. Everyday the students could see ten or twenty Japanese Zero Japanese Zero plane flying over Bukit Mertajam on their mission to bomb Penang Island. One bomb fell on the Bukit Mertajam Railway Station, causing an explosion. The students immediately went under their desk for cover. After half an hour, Rev. Colin King held an assembly and told the boys that the school was going to have a long holiday. The boys were very happy, not knowing that the holiday would last for more than three years and many of their class and school mates would be killed in World War II. In September 1945 the Japanese surrendered, the high school re-opened and registered the boys who wished to study again. Mr. Cheong Hong Oon was the acting Headmaster before Mr. D.K. Swan arrived in 1946, and he wrote the following of the events post-war: All the boys who were keen to pick up the broken threads of their education again were enrolled, irrespective of their age. The High School spirit had revived and the school flourished again...

[edit] After the War

On May 28, 1951, Penang Habour Board presented Bukit Mertajam High School the School Bell. It was first rung by the Honourable, The Resident Commissioner, Mr. A. Caston who officially opened the Science Block. On May 15, 1952, His Excellency the High Commissioner to Malaya Sir Gerald Temper, visited High School accompanied by Mr. Aitken, the District Officer. The headmaster, Mr. F.H. Jones took him around the school. In 1983, the school tradition was broken when girls were admitted for the first time into Remove Class. The pupils in Remove Class were selected from various schools based on their result in th Std. VI Examinations. More girls were admitted in 1985 with setting up of Form Two Transitional Class. Bukit Mertajam High School celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 1977. In August 31, 1986, a tragedy occurred when the upper floor of Block B caught fire. The school library and four classrooms were burnt down. Old school magazines, reference books and other main documents were destroyed. In 1992 Bukit Mertajam High School was awarded The Penang State Level Sekolah Harapan Negara. In 1997, High School emerged as one of the earliest school in the country to make it compulsory for students to wear ties and for Muslim Students to wear Baju Melayu. As a Premier School (Sekolah Perdana), Bukit Mertajam High School was a pioneer school in providing Information Technology subject for both the MGCE and MHCE.

[edit] School tradition [edit] The assembly

School Assembly In the early days of the school, the morning assembly was held in the hall. As the Headmaster strode up the stairs, leading to the stage, where the teachers were seated in a semi-circle, the Colour Captain (present House Captain) who was on duty would step on to the 'Castle'. The 'Castle' was a

platform about one and half feet high and a yard square. It had four massive but beautifully carved legs, and a couple of steps led up to it. The 'Castle' was placed immediately in front of the stage on the cement floor. In his hand the Colour Captain held a wand about four or five feet high, painted with the colours of his House. The top of the wand ended in a knob on which was mounted a trophy with the Colour(House) had won. The trophy was usually in the form of a statuette. The Colour Captain then would lead the boys in reciting The Compass and in the singing of the Colour Song. The value of this ceremony cannot be expressed more precisely than in the words of the first Headmaster, Mr. E. La M. Stowell, "As, in Malaya, the boys have so many religions, I think something, like the Compass or Statement, is the best kind of substitute we can give them for a good, shared, basic ethical purpose with which to start the day " Moreover, he says, "They lennd solemnity, and a little ceremony and formality to the opening of the School Day".

[edit] The School Motto The school motto is Aut Coepisse Noli Aut Confice in Latin which means "Accomplish or Do Not Begin".

[edit] The School Crest In 1948 the school had its own crest. A competition was organised and Mr. Soon Eng Kong and old boys of the school presented a prize to the winning entry, which was a design submitted by Mr. Oh Boon Tat. The design has the outline of the Bukit, by the side of which appear grains of padi to indicate the dominant agricultural activity of the local environment. On the scroll is inscribed the High School motto, Aut Coepisse Noli Aut Confice.

[edit] The School colours The school was divided into four 'Colours' named Red, Green, Blue and Yellow, each having a Leader. Each Colour would be run by a nominated council, which would look into all cases of breach of out-door discipline and administer suitable punishment. In the early days, there were only four sport houses; Red House, Yellow House, Blue House and Green House. Red House was renamed Cheeseman House, as an honour to Mr. H.R. Cheeseman, the man behind the establishment of the school.

Yellow House was renamed Stowell House, as an honor to Mr. E. de La M. Stowell, the first headmaster of the school. Blue House was renamed Colin King House, as an honour to Rev. Colin King, the headmaster during the World War II. The Green House was renamed Soon Eng Kong House, as an honour to Mr. Soon Eng Kong, a donor who contributed to the school scholarship - the Soon Eng Kong Gold Medal. In the 1990s a new house was added - Tun Salleh House with Orange colour. It was named after Tun Mohd. Salleh b. Ismail, an old boy of the school who was the first Inspector General of Police of Singapore and Malaya.

[edit] School song The School Song (earliest school song) Composed by Mr. E. La M. Stowell In the cold and frosty North, There are ancient schools we hear, Famous sons have sailed forth, Borne their honour far and near. Some have fought and conquered 'dragons', others nature's secrets won. Here within out sunkist province Deeds are waiting to be done. At the high school by the Bukit where Mertajam lies her plain. Rears her head the boys are ready, to face danger, conquer pain. What though from our backs in gallons Sweat is poring all the day. Shall we in the shady Tuck-Shop, Drinking syrup seek to stay? Change your shirt, the ball is thudding; Teams upon the fields are lining. Bring the gloves or get a Scout pole,

The School By the Bukit (present school song) Composed by Git Kim Ann In the land that is the north, There's an old great school we hear, Famous sons and daughters have sailed forth, borne their honour far and near. Some have fought and conquered 'dragons', others nature's secrets won. Here within out sunkist province Deeds are waiting to be done. At the high school by the Bukit where Mertajam lies her plain. Rears her head the boys are ready, to face danger, conquer pain. To the future we'll preserve. with these proud words as our guide Aut Coepisse Noli Aut Confice We'll take everything in stride, Everyday you'll see us toil,

Ere the sun has ceased his shining.

without grouse without whine. And everybody you'll see us stand tall, till the sun has ceased to shine. Everyday, you'll see us stand tall, till the sun has ceased to shine

[edit] The Compass Colour Captain: Assembly: Colour Captain: Assembly:

Accomplish or Do Not Begin

Expect diffiulties,in coming there is great delight. A man's worst enemy is himself, and from his own sloth, cowardice or evil thoughts arise his greatest difficulties. Be brave enough always to tell the truth in little not less than in big matters; be strong enough to drive from the mind pictures or thoughts which shame or dishonor, and face wearisome duties squarely. Colour So shall difficulties be conquered and excellent work Captain: accomplished. Who will be worthy or our School and whom shall the School be proud? Assembly: Even he that leadeth an uncorrupted life and doeth the thing which is right, and speaketh the truth from his heart. He that hath used no deceit in his tongue nor done evil to his neighbour, and hath not slandered his neighbour. He that setteth not by himself but is lowly in his own eyes, and he that sweareth unto his neighbour and disappointed him not, thought it were to his own hindrance.