STUDENT, REFUSED ONE MARK MORE BY TEACHER, PLUNGES TO DEATH

Adeline Ng Ai Choo, aged fourteen, plunged twelve storeys to her death, because she had asked for
one more mark for her answer script in an English Language examination, and had been refused. This
was what our reporter learnt from a teacher in Adeline’s school. Her body was found lying at the foot
of a block of flats in Toa Payoh this morning. She had jumped form the twelfth storey from which
police recovered a pair of slippers and a handbag. A note found in the handbag and addressed to her
parents read, “Dearest Dad and Mum, sorry to be a disappointment to you.” A diary was also found
in her bag. Adeline was an only child.

‘Sir,

I beg to correct something in the report which appeard in you paper yesterday (15 October) and
which had the heading: ‘STUDENT, REFUSED ONE MARK MORE BY TEACHER, PLUNGES TO DEATH.’ I
am the teacher who marked the English Language script of Adeline Ng AI Choo in the recent end-of-
the-year examination in the school. I found that on the whole, Ai Choo didi not do satisfactorily, and
she obtained a grade that was marginally below the pasing grade. When the scripts were returned to
the student, Ai Choo approached me and asked if I could give her the few marks necessary for her to
achieve the passing grade. I told her this is not possible: it cannot be the practice of teachers to give
additional marks, even if were only one mark, enable students to pass, as this would make
examinations a farce.

It is deeply regretted that AI Choo should resort to such a drastic action, as a result of this. But a
decision made in the course of duty, even if that decision resulted in tragic action, cannot be
regretted. I write this to make clear my position, and to prevent any misunderstanding that mat arise.

I nevertheless propose, said Mrs Ramalingam, that for future examination, especially end-of-the-year
exams and the prelims, that we either give a clear pass mark or a clear fail mark, so that we shall not
have any more trouble like this. It brings a bad name to the school.

Can I say something? –this from Mrs Tan Cheng Kwee—With all due respect to Mrs Ramalingam—but
don’t you think this is being very artificial? Why shouldn’t a student know she has failed by one or
two marks? That will encourage her to work harder and not to take things for granted. As I said in my
letter, will make the examination a farce—

Can I say something? It’s true what Mrs Tan says, but is I’m not mistaken—correct me if I’m wrong—
in the real G.C.E> O Level examination, the examiners will pass those students who are borderline
cases, who need one or two marks more to pass—I’ve heard about it, correct me if I’m wrong.

I think the Cambridge authorities do fail those student even if they need one more mark to pass—
after all, there is a definite scheme for awarding marks, such as 40-44 Pass, 25-50 Credit and so on.

May I propose that we forget all this talk about marks and passing grade, whether a student deserves
one mark more, and so on and so on—and consider whether we did the right thing in giving the
student back their correct scripts? I know that some schools do not return the scrips at all. This is
because when the student get theit scripts they tend to compare grades with one another and feel
disappointed—then they feel they must go to the teacher and get oner or two more marks—all this
is nonsense—I propose that in future, we just give them their grades, like many schools are doing.

I thought we settled this question some time ago. We decided that for student to improve and
prepare well for the real exams in the G.C.D., we should let them see the mistake they have made, so
that they can see their carious teachers about them, know their weakness and improver in this way.
Didn’t we settle this issue some times ago?

Yes, but it is an unsastisfactory system because it makes them feel disconnected—they tend to
compare one another’s grades, and they asked all sorts of awkward questions, to try to get some
more marks. Bernard Hoo Sec 3C tried to get more marks from me, but I simply refused—

Perhaps we shouldn’t blame the school or examination system. As Ai Choo’s class teaches, I must say
that she was a very unstable girl—she used to be good and stable in Seconadary 1 and 2, but since
last year, she suddenly changed. I spoke to her a few times, and asked her what was the matter with
her, and why her work was going down, but she was very evasive and didn’t want to tell me
anything , so I had to leave it all that. I really don’t know why she change suddenly—she used to be
such a satisfactory student. But this year she didn’t seem interested in her work, she didn’t seem
able to concentrate, and always appeared nervous and distracted. She was often doing irrelebent
things in class, such as scribbling in her diary. From what I can gather of her family, her father is a
very well-educated person who showed a great deal of interst in her work. Last year she came to see
me about the results of her mid-year examinations, he really showed a great deal of interest in her
work…

She was improving in her work, she was getting better grades—her tutor himself told me that she
was improving—how could such thing happen?

The man was not in the habit of showing his emotions, but now his voice faltered in his distress and
he couldn’t go on. We’ve donr all we could as parents, so you’ve got nothing to reproach yourself
with. She said it loudly, almost aggressively to convince themselves, so that to their great sorrow
would not be added that of self-repraoch.

I took I upon myself to teach my daughter, to develop her abilities, I did what few fathers would do, I
supervised her work, and filler her mind with the insidious influence of her frindes—and this is the
results of it all—this is what she has done—

You mustn’t go on in this way—everyone knows—

I did everything for her—my own parents never did a fraction of what I did for my daughter—I
wanted her to become somebody of significiance and worth in this world—is this all I reap for my
efforts?

You really mustn’t…., it’s not use—

Why in hell was she wasting so much time scribbling in her diary when she should be studying and
revising her lessons? I recall the number of times when I came into her room to check on her work
and she was idling away with that book.

Would you like to have alook at it? Perhaps it will—

Of what use would that be now?

Dear Diary,

What shall I do? What can I do? I tell you frank manner I can’t go on like this, can’t go on! Father,
everyday he will tell me to study hard and get good marks, but even though I study bery gard, cannot
remember otr concentrate. My mind has gone blank,bkank,blank! I don’t know what is the trouble—
I think I’m suck or going to mad or what I don’t know. I cannot sit in the room for three hours to
study, I can’t concentrate. I wish I can watch TV or listen to the radio or go out, but Da says must
study hard for the examinations and pass well. Must past,past,past!!! I will sure to get a good caning.
If I fail, mum will be so very disappointed—they love me so much, my parents, so how can I
disappoint them! Dad has bought me a new watch—he says he himself sill go without a watch,
because he wants me to be happy to study hard—Mum loves me so much—she says she wull die if I
don’t pass the exams because it will be a great shame and Father, he will be the laughing-stick of
friends whose chlideren are very clever and study hard. I want to be clever, very clever for sake of my
dear parents who love me and sacrifices for my sake.

I must study!study!study! I must do weel in the exams and make my parents happy

Must study!study!study! even if I die, Adeline Ng Aii Choo, must really work hard to get at leat a pass
grade.