What are some of the more unusual cases you've had to handle?

Well, I have shouted at students, I have shouted at girls, and I have gotten girls to shout back at me.

Can you tell me about any "success stories" that you've personally handled?

I won't say success stories, but we do see the fruits of our labour, especially when the kids come back. When the students go through our school, then at the 4th or 5th year after they leave, they come back and tell you things like "Eh Mr Bernard, we're so lucky to have this school, you know. Discipline in XXX is very bad, students there are constantly fighting..." And they are very glad that they have gone through our school, and they are so much more disciplined. Some will even come and thank me for caning them in the past. "Eh thank you Mr Bernard, for caning me ..." You'll hear these kinds of stories. Even the kids after the 'O' levels, they'll come up and say "Mr Bernard, thank you for everything you've done." It's these things that drive me to do my work.

When you were a student yourself, did you ever think you'd be doing this for a living?

Definitely not. I think being like any child, we were all very carefree, we were only thinking about playing. So not much about goals and directions. These days, it's a bit different.

You mentioned canings. What offences are students caned for?

In school, we mainly cane students for smoking, theft, defiance, rude behaviour, rioting, fighting, ...

In your six years as discipline master, how many students have you caned?

*laughs* [reporter then asks for just a rough figure] I hope it's no more than a hundred!

What are some things that most people don't know about being a discipline master?

As a discipline master, I don't show my other side. Some of the kids do capture my other side, when I relate to the teachers, when I'm speaking to my colleagues, or when I speak to my students leaders. I'm not only dealing with school discipline, I'm also dealing with school leadership programs. So when I am with my student leaders, the leaders do see this other side of me. They know that I'm not always so strict.

Has your personal safety ever been in danger?

On and off, but it has never materialized. My motorcycle has never been vandalized.

What's the toughest part of your job?

I would say working with the management, with the principle, because on one hand, we want to give these kids a chance, but on the other hand, we need to follow the rules, follow the guidelines, follow the procedures. If you have stolen, you've got to be ready to face the consequence, whether it's caning, whether it's suspension. And on the other hand, we do not want to just suspend the kids because by throwing them out, they will be up to other forms of activities outside school, so they get themselves into trouble. There's always this balance.

If you could dispense one piece of advice to young people in Singapore, what would it be?

Don't waste your time thinking of how to go against the authorities. Use your time fruitfully. Do good things that make yourself happy.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

yeah im posting this coz i still respect him although he is a pain in the arse and im the pain in HIS arse. LOL. mr bernard. rock on.

xoxo ♥