Many old boys and girls of Beatty Integrated Primary School (培德) may not know the meaning of their school name in Chinese. Beatty (Peide) in Chinese is in fact very meaningful. Pei is to nurture and De even has a greater meaning. De is a very important Chinese philosophical concept emphasized by both Confucius and Laozi.
Confucius taught people to have De. Ones need to practice and spread De. Leaders must be good to their people and practice good policy (德政). De refers to kindness, good attitude, doing good things, considerate…..
In Laozi’s published book of Dao De Jing (道德经), De is the second part of the book. Human beings need to practice and study De so that they can have the right way (Dao) forward.
To make things more complicated, Confucius and Laozi interpreted and gave different meanings to De. But we really cannot go further here. If you are interested, you may read books on these two great philosophers to have better understanding of De.
Although the primary school named Beatty is no more in existence, the secondary school next to it (at Beatty Road) carried the same name has moved to Toa Payoh. However, these are two different schools, except those students continued their education at Beatty Secondary after Beatty Primary.
As for Whampoa, you may view www.whampoasecondaryschool.sg for more details.
Even the school was closed in the 1990s, it is glad that graduates still remember their school and held a reunion in 2009.
The site of Whampoa is now occupied by Bendemeer Secondary School. Whampoa is named in honour of a famous Chinese, Mr. Hoo Ah Kay. However, in China, Whampoa Military Academy was an important institution in the 20th century. The Academy produced leaders for both the Nationalists and the Communists.
What a coincidence! The first principal of Whampoa Secondary School happened to be a graduate of the Academy. He built up the school in the 1960s with the “Whampoa Spirit”.
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