E. W. Jesudason

Edward Wilson Jesudason (27 February 1913 – 31 August 1982), better known as simply E. W. Jesudason, was a Singaporean educator who served as the headmaster of Bartley Secondary School from 1955 to 1962 and Raffles Institution from 1962 to 1966. He is best remembered for guiding the latter institution through a tumultuous period and penning the lyrics to its school anthem, in addition to the various programmes he instituted in both schools.

Early life and education Jesudason was born in Seremban in the state of Negeri Sembilan on 27 February 1913. He had two sisters and one brother. In 1930, he began attending Raffles College in Singapore on a government scholarship, graduating in 1933 with a diploma in arts. At Raffles College, he stayed at the same hostel as Methodist bishop Theodore R. Doraisamy. Having graduated into a severe economic downturn, he accepted an offer to teach at the Government English School at Batu Gajah for $20 a month, then considered "half-pay". He arrived there on 15 May and was put in charge of a Primary One class, where he "could do the least damage". There, he started the school magazine, the first issue of which was negatively received by the headmaster for criticisms it had made. He was later asked to write in simple English as opposed to "Raffles College English".

In January 1936, Jesudason was transferred to the King Edward VII School in Taiping, where life was "a little easier" for him.

On the conclusion of the course, Jesudason returned to Singapore and was posted to Raffles Institution in February 1950. He was also to serve as one of six instructors in a three months-long intensive study course for student teachers, held at the Anglo-Chinese School's former premises on Cairnhill Road in the second half of 1950. In January 1951, he was a part-time lecturer and librarian with the Teachers' Training College.

By 1958, he was the president of the Singapore Graduate Teachers' Association. A heated dispute on policy between Jesudason and the association's secretary, Chan Joon Gek, arose in that year; this culminated in both Jesudason and Chan resigning from the association in November. In December of that year, he was elected the president of the newly established Singapore Teachers' National Congress, which was initially to be formed by the association to "raise the standard of teaching in English secondary schools." He supported the proposed merger of the congress with other unions representing teachers in Singapore into one "single giant union" representing all teachers registered with the Ministry of Education.

Bartley Secondary School In 1955, Jesudason became the headmaster of Bartley Secondary School. in addition to programmes intended to "foster interest in the Fine Arts" and a Prefects' Day for the swearing in of prefects. Jesudason introduced music and singing during assembly to the school; this was reportedly yet another first for the country. He would invite performers from Radio Malaya to entertain or talk in the assemblies. The institution of Malayisation led to an exodus of the expatriate staff, and many of the more experienced local staff were being transferred to other schools. The school then "found its standard of education dropping and its premises in chaos." A. K. Sigamoney, the school's senior assistant who would go on to serve as principal, recalled that Jesudason "came in like a breeze, shaking up the school when it was down and regaining for it its moral and educational standard." He "filled the leadership vacuum ably" and "infused enthusiasm and new blood" into the school. He again introduced a Prefects' Day.

Jesudason retired from Government Service in 1967. In 1980, he became the secretary of the newly-formed Association of Retired Teachers of Singapore, which was to served as a 'consultative body' to the Ministry of Education.

Personal life and death Jesudason was married with 11 children; He was known to be strict in disciplining his children. Jesudason's close friends included educationist Bertha Neo, best known for her work at Rosyth School. According to her, Jesudason "went out of his way to help others wherever he could, giving advice and moral support". Neo claimed that he would "speak on behalf of someone who needed a job or place in a school."

A musician, Jesudason played several instruments, with the piano, violin and accordion being among his favourites. He and David Lim composed the English-language theme song to the 1973 SEAP Games, held in Singapore in September. Lim had wanted to compose a tune for the event, and he requested that Jesudason write the lyrics. The song was translated into Chinese, Tamil and Malay. Jesudason wrote poetry, and it was through this medium that he "conveyed his thoughts and philosophy". Photography and literature were also hobbies of his.

In his later years, Jesudason suffered from diabetes and heart issues. He had retired from teaching in 1976 due to declining health. Jesudason died on 31 August 1982. He was cremated at Mount Vernon later that day.