- My School Daze
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My School Daze
(书包太重)Genre Education Format 16:9 Starring Rui En
Chen Hanwei
Ann Kok
Terence CaoOpening theme 书包太重 by Darren Tan Sze Wei Ending theme 给别人多一点时间 by 杨佳盈 Country of origin Singapore Language(s) Chinese No. of episodes 20 Production Producer(s) Soh Bee Lian Running time approx. 45 minutes per episode Broadcast Original channel MediaCorp Channel 8 Original run 29 April 2009 – 26 May 2009 Chronology Preceded by Table of Glory Followed by The Ultimatum External links Website My School Daze (simplified Chinese: 书包太重) is a Singaporean Chinese drama which was telecasted on Singapore's free-to-air channel, MediaCorp Channel 8. It made its debut on 29 April 2009 and ended on 26 May 2009. This drama serial consists of 20 episodes, and was screened on every weekday night at 9:00 pm. It reflects the education system in Singapore.
Contents
Cast
- Chen Hanwei 陈汉玮 as Tan Xiang Chun 谭向春
- Ann Kok 郭舒贤 as Kang Qiao Zhen 康巧珍
- Cynthia Koh 许美珍 as Tao Gui Juan 姚贵娟
- Rui En 瑞恩 as Zhang Luo Yun 张洛芸
- Terence Cao 曹国辉 as Tan Xiang Feng 谭向风
- Darren Lim 林明伦 as Tang Andi 唐安迪
Supporting cast
- Chen Tian Wen 陈天文 as Ma Guo Liang 马国良
- Lin Meijiao 林梅娇 as Huang Li Qin 黄丽琴
- Eelyn Kok 郭惠雯 as Lin Yu Xuan 林羽萱
- Boon Hui Lu 文慧如 as Ma Jialing 马嘉玲
- Jarren Ho Jin Yang 何俊扬 Tang Dehua 唐德华
- Foo Fang Rong 符芳榕 as Tan Yixin 谭艺欣
- Zong Zi Jie 宗子杰 as Jiang Jun 江军
Sypnosis
Tan Xiangchun is a traditional, Chinese-educated senior teacher who deeply feels unappreciated at work because of his poor command of the English language. The younger generation no longer sees the importance of their mother tongue and moral education. As such, they despise and disrespect him. Gradually, Xiangchun becomes disillusioned with education and upon facing some health issues, dejectedly leaves the teaching line.
Xiangchun’s wife, Kang Qiaozhen, used to compile textbooks with the Ministry of Education (MOE). She had left her high-paying job for more flexibility in juggling her children and career, and started a tuition centre in the heartlands, hoping to carve out a great career in the education industry. Not wanting to be a loafer, Xiangchun becomes a staff of her centre.
Xiangchun’s younger brother, Tan Xiangfeng, is free-spirited and uninhibited by nature. A trend-setter, he’s a freelance DJ, model and because of his travel articles, is a celebrity of sorts. Their father died young and Xiangchun had been shouldering the responsibility of caring for Xiangfeng. As a doting elder brother, he even attends match-making sessions with his wife in tow, in the hope of finding Xiangfeng a suitable other-half. Because of this, Xiangfeng becomes involved with sassy teacher, Zhang Luoyun, and the two later become an item.
Luoyun belongs to the new generation of teachers who is skilful at using innovative methods (like bringing students for a ride in her sports car, giving them CDs of their idols, etc.) to bring her students close to her. Wildly popular with her students, she manages education like a career, with lofty ambitions of scaling the hierarchical ladder. Overly eager for success, she spoke harshly to her student, Ma Jialing, because the latter’s grades were below expectations, a move which hurt Jialing’s pride, thus many students started feeling uncomfortable with her. She had always been confident of being promoted to head-of-department, and upon not getting selected for promotion, she leaves teaching in disappointment.
Through Xiangfeng, Luoyun joins Qiaozhen’s tuition centre. To raise the standards of the centre, Luoyun suggests the starting of elitist classes, much to Xiangchun’s objection as it contravenes his philosophy that education should be non-discriminatory. The difference in ideologies causes Luoyun to leave the centre, and she brings Xiangfeng along with her. Together with Yuxuan(her friend who had just graduated and returned from abroad) and Xiangfeng, she starts a premium tuition centre that accepts only outstanding students.
Tuition centres proliferate with parents’ over-anxiousness for their children to get ahead in life through academic excellence. Regardless of their children’s needs, “kiasu” parents usually jam-pack their schedules with courses and classes. Qiaozhen’s neighbour, Tang Andi, is a typical example. Due to his wife, Tao Guijuan’s, wish to groom their son for success, the two become a money-grubbing couple who think of all means to raise money for their son Dehua’s tuition fees. Andi, a hawker, even piggy-backs his wife for a medical drug test, causing much hilarity.
Dehua is an average student, but has a flair for cooking. He is “force-fed” with tuition so much so that he feigns spirit-possession, then runs away from home. Dehua’s talent gets discovered by a celebrity chef, who gives his parents a talking-to. Enlightened, Andi and Guijuan finally come to terms that their son is not academically incline, and no longer subtract the possibility of letting him pursue his career in the food & beverage industry.
A dedicated and hands-on parent, Qiaozhen never suspects anything amiss with her teaching methods. Her daughter, Tan Yixin, is a star pupil who excels in studies, badminton and music. Unfortunately, she loses out to Jiang Jun, a student from China who joins her class in mid-term. Unable to face her own “failure”, Yixin completely loses it, much to her parents’ shock. It is only then that Xiangchun and Qiaozhen realise that their daughter has high IQ, but near-to-no EQ. Their son, Yijie, lies to wriggle out of tuition classes because of his passion for badminton. Upon deliberation and co-ordination, the couple finally instil correct values in their children and acknowledging Yijie’s aptitude in sports, lists the Sports Academy as one of the choices for the latter’s secondary education.
Luoyun’s preoccupation with elitist education causes a rift in her relationship with Xiangfeng. Troubled, she gets to know that Jialing is suffering from depression because of her studies and parents’ divorce. Luoyun wholeheartedly helps Jialing. In the process, she comes to identify with Xiangchun’s belief that education should be non-discriminatory and subscribing to it, gives up upon her tuition centre’s elitist education, returning to becoming a down-to-earth teacher with MOE again.
Others
Viewership Ratings
The serial had been relatively well-received so far, recording an average of 801 000 people watching up till Episode 15.
Star Awards 2010 Nominations
- Darren Lim was nominated as the Best Supporting Actor award, but lost to Zhu Houren in Reunion Dinner.
- Boon Hui Lu and Jarren Ho were both nominated for the Young Talent Award, but both lost to Regine Lim in Reunion Dinner.
MediaCorp Channel 8 Series in 2009 1900-2000hrs Love Blossoms II •The Shaolin Warriors • Romantic Delicacies • Welcome Home, My Love • Your Hand In MineSitcoms The A-go-go Princess • Mr & Mrs Kok2100-2200hrs The Little Nyonya • Reunion Dinner • The Dream Catchers • Housewives' Holiday • Table of Glory • My School Daze • The Ultimatum • My Buddy • Baby Bonus • Daddy At Home • TogetherImported Series
(originating country and TV station)The Unforgettable Memory (RoC/TW-FTV)• Love (RoC/TW-FTV)• Flaming Butterfly (HK-aTV) • Glittering Days (HK-TVB) • The Scarlet Kid • Trimming Success (HK-TVB)• Heart of Greed (HK-TVB)• The Gentle Crackdown (HK-TVB) • The Legend and The Hero • Return of Past Spring (RoC-Shanghai Television)2008 ← 2009 → 2010Albums Rui ∑n vol. 01 芮恩Rui ∑n同名專輯 (2002) • United Nations 共和國 (2008)Compilations Morning Express VI 阳光系列6 (2003) • Celebrating 25 Years Of Chinese Drama Collecter's Edition 戏剧情牵25 (2007)Dramas No Problem! 考试家族 (2002) • Chemistry (2003) • My Mighty-in-Laws 野蛮亲家 (2004) • You Are the One 1/2缘分 (2005) • Beyond The aXis of Truth II 法医X挡案II (2005) • A Promise For Tomorrow 拥抱明天 (2005) • Love at 0°C 爱情零度C (2006) • Honour and Passion 宝家卫国 (2007) • Metamorphosis 破茧而出 (2007) • By My Side 不凡的爱 (2008) • The Dream Catchers 未来不是梦 (2009) • My School Daze 书包太重 (2009) • Happy Family 过好年 (2010) • With You 我在你左右 (2010) • Unriddle 最火搭档 (2010) • A Tale of Two Cities 乐在双城 (2011) • The In-Laws 麻婆斗妇 (2011) • On The Fringe 2011 边缘父子 (2011) • Code of Honour 正义武官 (2011) • Unriddle Season 2 最火搭档2 (2012)Hosted Varieties Gotcha I (2003) • Lodge With Me 我行我宿 (2010)Singles Listen to Your Heart (2003) • Reach Out For The Skies (2005) • Listen To Your Heart - Remix (2009)Sitcoms A Toast of Love 吃吃面包谈谈情 (2003) • Achar II (2004)Categories:- Singapore Chinese dramas
- 2009 television series debuts
- 2009 television series endings
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