STILL GOING STRONG
STORY // Koh Eng Beng
PHOTO // Kenneth Lin & Courtesy of Kok Wai Tong
What is it like to teach PE to students more than 40 years younger than you? Army Regular-turned-PE teacher LTC (Ret) Kok Wai Tong shares his experience.
Most people in their fifties would prefer a slower pace of life to enjoy their golden years. But not Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) (Ret) Kok. At the age of 48, he put himself through a back-breaking physical proficiency test, all in a bid to become a physical education (PE) teacher.
"Imagine standing on your hands, doing the cartwheel when you are almost 50," recalled LTC (Ret) Kok, now 66, who is working at Serangoon Junior College.
"I wasn't sure if I could even do it, but somehow I managed," he laughed.
Apart from his initial lack of flexibility, being older was never an obstacle. The former Artillery officer, who spent 29 years in the Army, is still in tip-top shape. He never failed to ace his annual Individual Physical Proficiency Test.
Imparting values
What he enjoys most in his job is being able to influence young people. LTC (Ret) Kok recalled one incident vividly. In his first school, as the teacher-in-charge of Riverside Secondary's football team, he once banned his best player because of disciplinary problems. The team captain and other students petitioned against his decision, but he stood firm.
"Discipline is important; there are no two ways about it. If you make a mistake, you pay for it. But more importantly, you don't stop there, you have to move on, and learn to re-organise the team," he explained.
The captain rallied the team, and they emerged among the top four in the North Zone. A good result, said LTC (Ret) Kok, because this was the school's debut in the national school games' football tournament.
"I was very proud, in the sense that I allowed the students to work things out among themselves."
Inspecting his battalion as CO of 20 SA.
Fond memories
Although he has left the Singapore Armed Forces for over a decade, LTC (Ret) Kok is still a soldier at heart. In August this year, he took part in the National Day Parade (NDP), marching proudly in his old Temasek green uniform. "I really cherish my memories in the Army."
In fact, he was eager to sign on when he was only 16, immediately after his O-levels. That was in 1966 when Singapore had just turned Independent. His application was rejected as he was considered "stateless" then, since he was born in Malaya.
He later attained Singapore citizenship at the age of 19, and enlisted for National Service. He made the cut for Officer Cadet School, and subsequently signed on. One stint, in particular, stood out for him: when he was Commanding Officer (CO) of 20th Battalion, Singapore Artillery (20 SA) from 1980 to 1983.
"Short of going into a conflict, this role gave me a sense of what running an operational unit is like. This was where I learnt about soldiering."
With students during a trek in Sarawak in 2011.
Still raring to go
Today, LTC (Ret) Kok looks at least a decade younger than his age. His hair may be greying, but he is lean and fit. He still trains with his students during lessons.
"When we do overseas community service in poor villages, I always tell my students that they won't see a fat farmer - because the villagers are always working, tilling the soil and carrying equipment. I live by the same principle," he said.
Now a year away from retirement age, he hopes to continue teaching PE for as long as he can.
"Every day, I feel happy coming to school, simply because I love talking to the students.
LTC (Ret) Kok marching in this year's NDP vintage parade.
"For as long as the school wants me, I will stay on. Physically, I can still carry on. In fact, I heard that there are PE teachers who are close to 70 years old!"
