Faded pages, missing pieces

This is the cover of a very old edition of the Penang Free School Magazine, published in April 1923. It was kindly lent to me by a distinguished Old Free, Lim Chong Keat, who turns 95 this year. Although the magazine is a real gem, it's unfortunately incomplete—only the first eight pages remain. The rest is missing, so I can’t even tell how thick the original issue might have been.

Among the surviving pages is a section titled "School Notes," essentially a diary of events that took place at the School since the previous issue. Reading these notes—whether from this edition or others—helps paint a vivid picture in my mind of how the School operated in years past. While today’s school magazines still include a "School Notes" section, I must admit, the quality just doesn’t feel the same as it once was. The writing tends to lack depth and polish, and often reads more like a list of events than a thoughtful reflection of school life.

Much as today’s editorial board must relearn the art of writing with clarity and engagement, the responsibility also falls on the teacher-advisors to guide and mentor the students properly. Unfortunately, it sometimes feels as though the advisors themselves are unsure of how best to provide this guidance, or perhaps prefer to take a hands-off approach for convenience. With a bit more effort and attention, I believe both students and teachers can once again produce a school magazine that lives up to the proud tradition of its earlier editions.