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A letter to a teacher with Chairman’s encouragements and the contents was read out through a radio programme.

 

RTHK Radio Hong Kong Channel

20 August 2016 

A letter to a teacher with Chairman’s encouragements and the contents was read out through a radio programme. 中文原文

English summary of main points:

  1. It seems the education arena has recently been troubled by various issues such as heavy metal (lead) in drinking water and the Occupy Central Movement, just to name a few. Worse yet, the row over “Hong Kong Independence” has been troubling all.
  2. Teachers are already occupied with regular classes along with students’ assessments and the preparation for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education examination (DSE). This recent emerging commotion undeniably brings weariness and is certainly a blow to teachers. We are all worried about the future for our youth and the education of Hong Kong. 
  3. Our main concern as an educator is the well-being of students. So we would try our best to encourage them to look at issues from different perspectives. At the same time, we would listen to their voices and guide them through any controversial issues. This would foster critical thinking and nurture their analytical mind. This would also call forth much professionalism and art in guiding them along the proper line. If they are not allowed any space to develop these qualities and if there is only ‘suppression’, it is just easy that they would be pushed to the extreme, a result which is not desired by all.
  4. It is our sincerest wish for the government and society at large to trust schools and respect their political neutrality. Schools, after all, are places for the education and nurture of our younger generation. Neither do we allow extremism nor brainwashing in the school campus. Our students would be educated to understand every action has its consequences. The foundation of education should rest upon open-mindedness and teachers’ painstaking and thoughtful guidance on nurturing students’ all-round development.
  5. The chairman expressed sincere gratitude towards the ardent front-line teachers who has showered their students with unconditional love, care and perseverance. So long as we do not give up, there is still hope for education in Hong Kong.

   

香港電台第一台《香港家書》

20 August 2016 

香港家書 English-version

 

晞靖老師:

謝謝你每個暑假都來信,跟我談談香港教育,每次你總會興奮不已地和我分享你和學生的小故事。但這次,我感到你在字裡行間有點異樣,彷彿憂心忡忡。

正如你在信中所說,香港最近真的滿城風雨,有關港獨的新聞不絶於耳。不過回想過去多年,又有哪個九月開課天,我們沒遇上影響學校的重大社會事件?國教風波、佔中事件、鉛水問題,不一而足。但感覺上這次衝擊比之前更為嚴重,對老師的影響更加直接。

本來教師平日的工作挑戰已經夠大,既要預備新學制課程與及各種不同的考評、又要關顧學生身心健康成長的培育 ⋯⋯面對各種來勢洶洶衝著學校和老師的壓力,令教育前缐工作者舉步維艱,我們都同樣擔憂:香港這樣內耗下去,教育的明天將會怎樣?

作為老師,我們最關心的是學生。我們心繫每一個學生的健康、安全、成長和學習。青少年各有個性和自己的想法,勇於探究新事物,充滿理想熱情。作為學生同行者與啟導者的老師,我們會從學生角度了解、聆聽他們的心聲,彼此建立互信,以愛心和耐心循循善誘,適當引導、開解及鼓勵。無可否認,社會主流意見多認為港獨並非香港人的政治選項。但從教育觀點著眼,關鍵在於我們如何以適切的教育方式,協助學生認識這個錯綜複雜的議題,教導他們正向積極地面對現在以至將來的社會、國家挑戰,引領他們關心自己所屬的城市、國家、世界。我們深信教育之為教育,就是要讓學生有足夠的安全空間,學習多角度思考,分析各事物的來龍去脈,與及其對個人與整體社會好或壞的影響。任何反教育的壓制式管教只會適得其反,不但剝奪學生正常學習和發展,更容易將年青人推向偏激的危險邊緣。

老師要做好教育工作,學校教育專業必須得到家長、普遍社會和政府機構的信任及尊重。近年令我們越來越擔憂的趨勢是,許多外間不同陣營的政治力量,不斷嘗試入侵校園,企圖製造各種有形及無形的干預和影響,企圖指點老師如何進行教育工作。

我們與大多數熱心奉獻教育的學校同工觀點一致,認為學校應一地保持政治中立。學校有責任守護校園的整全教育,保護學生安全和學習權利,並根據學校特性和學生需要進行適切的教育。沒有一刀切的指定方法,可以適用於不同背景的學校和學生,這是教育的專業與藝術。

學校、社會以至政府均有責任,保護學校不受任何外來干預,無論是哪一種政治立場或意識型態。學校不會進行亦不能容許任何形式的偏激行為、洗腦教育、或思想禁制。老師的天職是鼓勵和引導學生正面學習,讓他們透過自己的思考與師生同儕討論,了解社會上各種行為的道德及法律責任和後果。

作為老師,我們絕對可以準確拿捏如何讓學生討論某一政治議題,而不是向學生灌輸某一政治思想,兩者在教育上有清晰界線。國際教育研究和實踐都提供了大量證明,開放思維式的學習經歷,對學生學習效能具極大的正面影響。香港多年以來造就了無數各行各業的傑出人才,主要成功因素正在於學校對栽培學生的專業持守與付出;過去如此,將來亦應如此。這是香港賴以持續增長、成功發展的基石。

說到這裡,我必須衷心感謝你們這一群站在前缐的教職員工,一直謹守教育崗位,或晴或陰,無悔無怨,默默耕耘,為學生、為學校付出汗水和淚水。我還要感謝許多同甘共苦、出心出力的校長同工,在教育專業領導的路上,彼此支持和協作,為香港教育的理想堅持下去。

晞靖,我相信,教育仍有希望,香港仍有希望,我們的學生仍有希望,只要我們不放棄。

晞靖,我們的學生,現在比任何時間更需要我們,所以,不要氣餒,不要放棄。

 

李雪英
2016 年 8 月 20 日