Singapore’s newest legendary mother and son – Serene Ong and Ryan Ang from Unity Primary

Story summary on how Serene Ong and Ryan Ang achieved legendary status in Singapore (and maybe worldwide soon), via StraitsTimes.com:

Teacher cuts pupil’s hair, mum files police report

A mother has lodged a police report after her 12-year-old son’s teacher cut his hair an hour before his PSLE oral exam last Thursday.

The mother, Madam Serene Ong, is outraged that the teacher did this just before a crucial exam, that it was done without her knowledge – and that it ruined the boy’s $60 haircut.

She claimed the teacher – Ms Belinda Cheng of Unity Primary – also threatened to deduct marks from the boy’s exam if he refused to have his hair cut.

On Wednesday, the school’s principal, Mrs Jasmail Singh Gill, agreed with Madam Ong that the teacher had no business cutting the boy’s hair.

When I was in school, I was one of those “naughty” boys who always run into disciplinary problems because of long or dyed hair; all the way from primary school to junior college.

I hated the teachers and prefects for making a big fuss over haircuts.

To me it is about individualism, to them, it is probably seen as an open act of defiant which needs to be clammed down for collectivism.

I was a good student – studious, good grades and respectful of my teachers. Yet I get sent to detention many times and even got shaved bald a few occasions by my school for hair violation.

Hence I am sympathetic to Ryan Ang. It must have felt really crappy having your fringe and sideburn snipped off by your teacher, especially when the haircut cost a whopping $60. Time has changed. Such practices may be acceptable a few decades ago, but Singapore society had progressed from third world to first and our school systems should too. The teacher’s action is unacceptable.

Nonetheless, I am shocked that Ryan Ang’s mother, Serene Ong went to the extent of making a police report against the teacher and whistle-blow to the media, exposing the school, the teacher’s identity and even her own son’s identity.

I pity the teacher and Unity Primary School.

Why the need to name and shame over such a trivia matter?

Complain to the principal not good enough?

Good lor, now all the major media in Singapore picked up on the story and Ryan Ang’s face has been plastered all over. Overnight superstar.

I am sure over the next few days, this news will be picked up by foreign media on their international tabloid pages reserved for the weirdest and silliest news around the world.

Thanks to his mother, Ryan Ang has achieved legendary status as the $60 haircut Singapore boy. Thanks to herself, Serene Ong also achieved legendary status as the Singapore mother who would make a police report over her son’s haircut.

Here are two nice “before and after” pictures of Ryan Ang provided to the media by his loving mother:

Remember his face. He is a legend.

If you come across Ryan Ang in person, remember not to any how touch his hair. His mother will call the police to arrest you.

Too bad Serene Ong never provide a photo of herself for the media too. She is a bigger legend.