Letter to Yuk Shan, my student | 給玉珊同學的家書
| Letter to Yuk Shan, my student | 中文原文 |
Dear Yuk Shan,
We have not seen each other for a long time. Your classmates told me that you are now pondering whether you would really like to become a teacher after graduation. As your teacher and former principal, besides missing you a lot, I feel sad that the education sector may lose a good teacher. I can still remember the joy and confidence on your face on the day when you learnt that you were admitted to university. You told me that you were happy not just because you could study in university, but also because you could have an opportunity to equip yourself well to become a good teacher. However, you hesitate when your ideal is going to be fulfilled soon.
I understand that the current social and political situation is upsetting. During your field practice in school, you saw young students take to the streets for their ideals and there was a continuously growing rift in society. How will this group of youngsters work for their future? How will their relationship with those in public office be mended? I am aware that we both do not know how to answer those questions. The Chinese saying “The one who can untie the bell is the one who ties it” is actually very correct. I know it is not easy for you to get over the recent misunderstanding towards teachers from the outside world. During the period of “Occupy Central”, you and many teachers had strongly persuaded students to stay away from the danger on the streets, reminded them not to follow the mob blindly, advised them to discern right from wrong, to be considerate and tolerant. Yet, at the end, teachers were suspected to be the ones who incited students to go on the rampage. I believe that we are not afraid of inaccurate accusations, but we are worried that the complexities of the political conflicts in society are simply attributed to the ‘instigation’ by teachers who in fact care for students’ growth and development. These accusations do not only undermine the identification of the root of the problems but also impede the resolution of deep-rooted conflicts. I believe that we both worry when another student campaign will take place.
After “Occupy Central”, educators face mounting challenges, such as the uncorroborated allegation of “Ordeal Bean”, the overwhelming criticism towards the Secondary School Curriculum, etc. Some said, “It is detrimental to society’s harmony and stability to cultivate students’ critical thinking through Liberal Studies, and thus immediate rectification is needed.” Some others said, “Students do not have a good understanding of the Basic Law. So they do not accept the “831 Electoral Reform Proposal”. Thus, Basic Law Education needs to be strengthened.” Some even said, “At present, Chinese History is not a compulsory subject. Also, there are too few exchange programmes for our students to go back to Mainland China. So they cannot see China’s prosperous and robust development and do not love their country enough.”
We grow up in a comparatively liberal culture. Why are all our edges and our students’ qualities which we have been so proud of denied now? Are there really some big problems with education? Aren’t the political and economic leaders as well as many professionals in today’s Hong Kong all educated in the same education system? Hasn’t our government official ever said in public that education matters should be handled by the education sector? Then now, why does the school curriculum need to be changed because of the subjective views of people who are not from the education sector?
I heard that you were at a loss when you learnt of the suggestion that newly-appointed teachers should go through training in the Mainland. Yuk Shan, is that the reason which deters you from joining the education field? I understand that you love our country. I recall that I had led you and your schoolmates to go back to the Mainland for relief work many times. I saw that all of you worked very hard to prepare for the gifts to be sent to the students in the Mainland. I saw tears of compassion in all your eyes when visiting the poor families. Is it really true that you don’t love our country? Back then, you told me that you would go back to the Mainland to give tutorials to the students there during your free time. I have heard that during your study in university, you have regularly gone to the remote villages in the Mainland to serve the children there. Is it fair to say that you don’t have good understanding of the condition of our country? For you who have sound knowledge and are going to complete your study for the Postgraduate Diploma in Education, you may feel reluctant if you are asked to join the additional training in the Mainland all of a sudden. I believe that it is because of the lack of trust and fairness behind the suggestion, and not your reluctance to visit the Mainland. No other professional bodies in Hong Kong require their new blood to go through training in the Mainland before joining the industry. Why is this required only for new teachers? Actually, it is more important for them to receive school-based training to understand their students and schools as soon as they start their career than national education in the Mainland with its effects unknown yet.
Amidst the gloom and rift in Hong Kong, I still see hope in the education sector. Most passionate and devoted principals and teachers still uphold their vision and mission in education, and safeguard their profession, schools, and every student’s healthy growth and learning. They abide by the rule of law, love Hong Kong, respect our country, embrace the world, listen to the students with love, walk with them and guide them to be positive and proactive to pursue their dreams, and build the future of Hong Kong, China and even the world. I still remember the time we discussed about a famous line of Mr. Tao Xing-zhi, an educator of our country: “The reason for education is to pursue the truth; the reason for learning is to be a man of truth.” You have told me that you want to be a good teacher because you have met many good teachers and you would like to pass on the noble heritage for the best interest of more students.
Yuk Shan, it is the time to pick up the pieces and get ready to start over to ignite hope for our home – Hong Kong. It is the time for us to contribute to education earnestly and cultivate our younger generation who are brave to create their future professionally. As your teacher, I believe that you can stand the stress and hold onto your ideal for our children.
With my best wishes,
Yours,
Michael Wong Wai-Yu
(Your Principal)
| 給玉珊同學的家書 | English version |
給玉珊同學的家書
玉珊，許多年沒見了，您的同學告訴我，您正在為大學畢業後是否加入教師行列而躊躇忐忑。作為您的老師和前任校長，真的很掛念您，更為教育界可能失去一個好老師而感到悲哀。還記得當日您獲得大學取錄時的一臉喜悅、自信，您告訴我您不單單因入讀大學而喜，更讓您感到滿足的是，您能裝備自己，為將來做個好老師作準備。可是到今天理想即將達成的時刻，您卻猶豫起來了。
我很明白近來的政治社會現況讓人難過，您在學校教學實習，看著年青學子為著自己心中的理想走上街頭，又看到社會的不斷撕裂。這群年青人會怎樣走未來的路？他們與當政者的關係如何修補？我知道您和我一樣，也不懂回答，「解鈴還須繫鈴人」吧！外間對老師的誤解，更讓您難以釋懷吧！您和許多老師在「佔中期間」，都曾力勸學生遠離危險街頭，曾提醒他們不要盲目從眾，曾勸告他們要慎思明辨、體諒包容，但最後老師們竟被質疑搧動學生，推動學生走上街頭。我想我們都無懼指責，但一旦複雜的社會政治矛盾，簡單歸究於年青人和關心他們身心成長的老師，問題的真正起因不但將被煙沒，深層次的矛盾更難得到解決。相信您我都在擔心，何時會是下一次學生運動？
「佔中以後」，教育工作者面對的挑戰越來越大，例如不問情由的「毒豆論」、鋪天蓋地的對中學課程的指指點點。有人說，通識教育催生了學生的批判精神，不利社會和諧穩定，所以必需馬上修訂。又有人說，學生對基本法認知不足，因而不接受831方案，所以必須加強。更有人說，中國歷史不是必修科目；學生回國交流太少，因而看不到中國的富強發展，所以學生不夠愛國。我們都是在相對自由的文化下長大，昨天我們引以自豪的香港優勢與及學生特質，為什麼今天全被否定？我們一直接受的敎育，真的出了大問題嗎？香港今天的政經專才，不都是在這套教育制度下栽培成長的嗎？我們政府的領導人不是曾經公開講過，教育歸教育，現在又為何因著外行主觀意願，動輒改動學校課程？
當有人建議新入職老師須先往內地培訓，聽說您感到很惘然。玉珊，是這個說法讓您對投身教育界裹足不前？我明白您愛我們的國家。當年我帶著您們一班同學多次回國扶貧建校，我見著您們流著汗整理要送給當地學生的禮物，我見著您們在探訪窮困家庭時的兩眶眼淚，您們真的不愛國家？ 當天您曾說過，長大後會在工餘回國內替學生補習，聽說您在讀大學期間，一直定期往國內的窮郷僻壤服務當地孩子。說您對國情認知不足，公道嗎？對一個學問堅實，快要完成教育文憑的您，若真的再突然加上一個內地培訓，心中是萬般不願。我相信那不是因為您不願回國，而是建議背後所隱含的不信任、不公平。我相信香港沒有任何一個專業界別，需要在入職前往國內受訓，為何單單是新老師有此需要？對剛入職的新老師，盡快瞭解學生及學校特質的校本培訓，會比成效仍未見邊際的內地國情教育來得重要。
在香港一片陰霾之下，在各種撕裂當中，我見到的是教育界的希望，大多數有心有力的校長和老師們，仍然堅持教育理念，守護專業、守護學校、守護每一個學生的健康成長和真切學習。他們都恪守法治，愛護香港、尊重國家、面向世界，懷著愛心聆聽學生，在同行中引導他們積極進取，追尋夢想，建設香港、中國以至世界的未來。還記得早年前我曾和您談論過我國教育家陶行知先生的名句：「千教萬教教人求真，千學萬學學做真人。」您不是對我說過，您希望做一位好老師，正是因為您有過很多好老師，您很想把這一份好老師的傳統精神承傳下去，讓更多莘莘學子得以受惠。
玉珊，是時候收拾心情，整裝重新出發，為香港我們的家燃點希望，貢獻力量，以不亢不卑的教育真誠和專業栽培敢於創造未來的年青一代。作為您的老師，我相信您能抵得住壓力，為孩子而堅持您的理想！
祝健康、進步！
您的校長
黃謂儒