INTRODUCTION

Early History of Saint Joseph’s Secondary School

In September 1888, four sisters of the Saint Joseph of Cluny originally from
France but who had been teaching in Saint Joseph De Cluny schools in Noumea, New
Caledonia came to Suva to open a school at the request of Bishop Vidal, the Roman
Catholic Bishop of Fiji and Rotuman at the time. “The names of the first four sisters
were: Mother Saint Martin (French); Sister Tarcissius (French); Sister Francis
(Newfoundland) and Sister Mary of the holy Name (Irish).” Sister Mary spent forty-
five years teaching in Suva but Sister Francis contracted a painful illness and died at the
age of 32 on 29th December, 1889. For the first two years, the Sisters lived at the corner
of Toorak Road, on Beverly Hill, where the present Suva Hotel is built. They were given
Mrs. Huon’s house, which served as the Convent and school. “The Sisters opened the
school in Toorak on Monday, 3rd of December, 1886 with 15 pupils. As their
numbers increased the building became inadequate.”

In 1890, three small cottages were bought in Pratt Street by the Bishop, for the
Sisters. There were used as a Boarding and Day School for fourteen years. Again the
numbers of children had greatly increased, so Saint Joseph’s primary and secondary
Boarding and Day Schools were built in 1904. The architect for this building was Father
Bourdier S.M. Also at this time, the Saint Josephs Sisters started another School in The
Sacred Heart Cathedral Crypt known as Saint Peter and Saint Paul’s School. “This was
replaced by the present Saint Anne’s, which was built and opened in 1932. Its
Architect was Father Bourdier S.M.”

In 1938, the Golden Year Jubilee of the Sister’s arrival in Fiji, Mother Ursula
opened a Secondary School. For over 50 years Saint Joseph’s Secondary School was
conducted in Pratt Street. In early 1950, Arch Bishop Foley procured the Suva Gold
Course land at Waimanu Road, where the present Saint Joseph’s Secondary School is
built. The land was leveled and first wing, from the Library to the Biology Lab, was
opened in 1956, when the Secondary Department from Saint Anne’s were transferred to
Waimanu Road and amalgamated under the name of Saint Joseph’s Secondary School.
While Sister Louis was Principal, the school buildings were erected and finished by 1956.
In 1968, Sister Eileen, Principal at that time got the Swimming Pool built. In September
1988 the Cenetary of Saint Joseph’s Secondary School and the arrival of The Sister’s of
Saint Joseph of Cluny to Fiji was celebrated.
BEHAVIORAL CHANGES OBSERVED

Before I gave out my questionnaires I had observed the attitude of

students in their behavior.

Firstly, the current students of Saint Joseph’s Secondary School

have forgotten to show respect for themselves which will in turn lead to
showing respect for other students and teachers more difficult.

Secondly, they do not show dignity and pride in wearing their

uniforms. Most girls have their blouses tucked out in and out of school
and at the same time have their skirts hemmed up to their knees which
does not look formal.

Thirdly, manners! These are just some of the basic etiquette that
we were supposed to learn from primary school. Some girls speak and
laugh loudly, especially when they are in the central city or near other
students from other schools.

Fourthly, girls do not have the passion of using every minute that
comes wisely, especially in the handling of their academic projects in
due time. Most girls do now know that this may affect their work in
their future work environment as managers or supervisors may want
work on time. A future side-effect or consequence resulting from this
behavior could be losing your job. The repercussions are bountiful.

Lastly, most girls do not hold dearly life values in their lives.
Some examples of these values are honesty, for example, just being
honest to parents about the happenings in school and in one’s life. If
one is honest at home, she will be honest here in school as we as being
honest about everything in her life and around her environment.
CAUSES OF CHANGES (Behavioral changes in students)

There are many causes of the behavioral changes in Saint Joseph

students. These changes cannot be stopped or maneuvered to out
likeness for those living in urban areas. Yes, we as individuals have the
right and the power to choose what is necessary in one’s life.

Some of the causes are westernization. Most girls nowadays see

hear what most Europeans who come to our shores say and wear. They
believe that this makes them really pretty and unique. This has affected
the way they wear their uniforms with short-hemmed skirts and big
earrings although the school rules are against this.

Secondly, the media; this has changed the way people talk
everyday. Some girls do not even know their very own mother-tongue.
Those that speak English are now putting in newly-coined words or
‘slang’s” to make it sound cooler. Students take or hear more music in
one day than study or read things that were taught from school. It has
been a disturbance and it pollutes children’s minds (rock music, action
movies, etc). Because of this, most girls have changed their priority.
They have put money, music, and other things before God and their
struggle towards a successful education.
THE EFFECTS OF THESE CHANGES

I have observed and seen for myself the effects of these changes
in student’s life. Some of the effects are lack of honesty. They have
made their social life more important that they take interest in other bad
stuff like going clubbing and drinking at the same time. This has even
led some girls to sell and give themselves easily to any male friends
that they think satisfy them fully in a physically sense.

They forget to put all possible concentration on the subject that

they are learning in their classes. Most girls spend their time doing
their homework and assignment in class when they are supposed to be
done alone at home.

Some girls have adapted the European culture, that they forget
their own. This development then leads to an attitude problem at home
and as well as school. Respect can only be seen in a student’s life in
school only until she can listen and obey her parents or guardians. So,
this can be one of the reasons students nowadays do not respect and
obey their teachers.
ANALYSIS
Saint Joseph’s Secondary School students have changed in
the last 3-5 years

To prove this statement, the pie –chart below shows.

0%

YES

100% NO

The pie chart states that all the people to whom the
questionnaires were given believe that SJSS students behavior have
changed.

FINDINGS
Questionnaire Analysis

Pie-chart; showing the behavior changes and dedication of teachers and

students.
0%

YES

100% NO

This shows and explain that all students believe that they can
change their behavior and can be more respectful to other students and
teachers.
SUGGESTIONS

From the questionnaires that I have gathered, the students have

all suggested, that the behavior of Saint Joseph’s students have
definitely changed in the last three to five years. This has not been
satisfactory to some past students and as well as school teachers, and
they believe that the causes of these behavioral changes which is the
change in hair styles, attitude problems, and language adoption of
westernized culture. Most of them have seen this in the media, for
example; the magazines, newspapers and the most aggressive one is the
television.

For all this adopted western behaviors from the media, most
students have lost their place in school or have failed their exams each
year. With these changes, some students have suggested that they
should take moral values more importantly in their lives. One of them
could be putting God first before everything than school work. After
adopting this old but good moral values everything will later fall into
its own and rightful place (e.g. following school rules, respecting and
obeying teachers as we as senior prefects).

I had recently found out as well that the past pupils of Saint
Joseph’s Secondary School had more dignity and pride in wearing their
uniforms. Also, values taught in school were taken seriously and
manners were of a high standard and the public always thought of Saint
Joseph’s Secondary students as those coming from a disciplined school
and this was the reason most girls would do anything to be accepted as
a student at Saint Joseph’s Secondary School. At the end of the day, it
is up to the individual to choose and adopt a good behavioral change or
otherwise.
CONCLUSION

To conclude my project I think that this topic have me the

changes to understand why most girls of Saint Joseph’s behaviour has
changed; its causes and as well as the effects it has on each and every
girl’s life here in Waimanu Road.

Time travels fat and this brings in the different ways of life in a
girl’s life. Change in inevitable. Everyone is aware of how or the
causes (media; television, magazine) of the changes, so this tells us that
one is aware of the change but does not choose to preserve their own
cultural ways (dress-code, hairstyles, languages).

After completing this project I strongly believe that if we want

change our behaviors towards our parents and/or teachers we should
ask God the Holy Spirit to touch and mould our hearts to become
obedient and caring. Only God can change a person’s life.
BIBLIOGRAPHY

BOOK REFERENCE
Saint Joseph’s Secondary School staff hand book; Saint
Joseph’s Secondary School.

INTERVIEW
Mrs. Bhagwan- Personal interview, 3rd August 2007.
Mrs. Kitolelei- Personal interview, 3rd August 2007.
APPENDIX

ENGLISH PROJECT – 2007

TOPIC: How the behaviors of Saint Joseph Students have

changes in the last five years?

AIM: The aim of doing this project is to find out how the
behaviors of students of this school have changed?

Name: _________________ Age: ____________

Gender: ________________ Marital status: ___________

QUESTIONS

1. Do you think that Saint Joseph students have changed in the last three to five (3-
5) years?

Yes

No

2. If yes, is it a good change?

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
____________________________

3. What are some of the changes you have observed?

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
____________________________

4. How has it affected their academic work?

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
_____________________________

5. What are some of the influences that have contributed to this change?
 ___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
_____________________________
6. In your opinion, has everyone or only some?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
______________________________

7. Do you think we could change our behavior to being more respectful and
dedicated to our teachers and yourself?

Yes

No

8. If yes, state two ways we could change?

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
______________________________

9. If no, then please state at least two reasons?

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
______________________________

10. If we were going to change our behaviour to being more respectful and
dedicated, do you think we could keep it up?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
______________________________

Name: Mereisi Wilikibau.

Form: 5I Arts.
School: Saint Joseph’s Secondary School.