Tuesday, 4 September 2012

再問梁振英、林鄭月娥和吳克儉,以及所有支持國民教育科的人

上星期寫過問胡紅玉的問題,現再貼出問梁振英、林鄭月娥和吳克儉,以及所有支持國民教育科的人:

第一,委員會的認受性問題,這個委員會純粹是政府為了臨時倉促回應729要求撤回國民教育科大遊行而成立的,就算是這個委員會的成立,政府亦沒有向市民諮詢過,請問程序公義在哪裡?

第二,國民教育科三年開展期理據在哪裡?請解釋。

第三,國民教育科的指引要求學生培養情感。在不斷向傳媒講教材應以客觀事實作討論,請問若要培養情感如何能客觀?請解釋。還有,當有學校要學生唱國歌、參觀毛澤東睡衣等等的時候,如何能客觀分析,而不培養偏頗和洗腦的情感?

Saturday, 1 September 2012

懇切希望母校香港華仁書院不要招聘國民教育教學助理

我愛我的母校香港華仁書院,至今最要好的朋友仍是華仁的舊同學,記得當年學校學習氣氛自由,像我這樣資質平庸的學生,沒有能力在公開試考得好成績,但學校的自由學習氣氛,至今難忘。8月18日當時得知母校公開招聘國民教育教學助理,我實在不能理解,雖然華仁是修會學校,但香港教區亦已表明香港教區的中小學新學年不推行國民教育,為何一間曾出過多名知名校友的老牌名校仍執意以國民教育的名義招聘教學助理?我寄了以下的英文電郵給香港華仁書院譚兆炳校長,並抄送給校監周守仁神父和華仁舊生會,但一直沒有收到回信。雖然我只是一名不值一提的舊生,但對母校這樣冷待舊生的提問,實在感到很不受尊重。畢竟在那裡成長,幾年寒暑認識了一些畢生摯友,以及一些令人尊敬的老師。不希望母校變成一間教授國民教育的學校,我在電郵中亦提到覺得公民教育和人權教育更為重要。不錯,譚校長在回應傳媒的時候有提到華仁的耶穌會傳統都很關心中國,譚校長亦說會有批評性的做法,不會教共產黨等於中國。我亦是當年受耶穌會神父(特別是已故的鮑善能神父Fr. Bosnan)那樣的薰陶而一直關心著中國的事,但我們需要的絕不是國民教育,而是學習如何做好一個公民。因此,我仍不明白為何需要招聘教學助理教國民教育。

耶穌會中華會省的教育理念(Vision Statement)如下:
「我們是在學習團體的氛圍中,提供學生和教職員工一個全人發展、思維開放和不斷成長的天主教教育;
培育他們逐漸成為卓越能幹、犧牲奉獻、充滿熱忱、富於靈性和具備倫理分辨能力的人;
他們同時擁有一顆胸懷普世的心,願意為世人謀求福樂,特別是為那些貧窮和被忽略的人。」

雖然明天便開學,但仍在網上看到華仁招聘國民教育教學助理的廣告,深切希望我的母校香港華仁書院能考慮應該要招聘的是公民教育教學助理,加強公民教育,而不是國民教育。

希望其他華仁舊生也能表達一些關注。

附:我在8月18日寄給譚校長和抄送給周神父及華仁舊生會的電郵

To: Mr. Tam Siu Ping
Principal
Wah Yan College, Hong Kong
sptam@wahyan.edu.hk

cc: Fr. Stephen Chow
Supervisor
Wah Yan College, Hong Kong
stephenchow@wahyan.edu.hk

Wah Yan (Hong Kong) Past Students Association
wyhkpsa@netvigator.com

Dear Mr. Tam,

Re: Enquiry about recruitment of Teaching Assistant (National Education)

I have recently read in a newspaper advertisement that Wah Yan College, Hong Kong, is recruiting a Teaching Assistant (National Education) (See: http://jump.mingpao.com/cfm/JobSearch3.cfm?AdID=357897
 
).

As an alumnus of Wah Yan College, Hong Kong, I feel very shocked that my alma mater would employ a Teaching Assistant for national education. Could you explain why Wah Yan needs to do national education?

The issue of national education is highly controversial and it is doubtful why we need to do national education but not strengthen civil education. The Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong earlier also promised that national education will not be implemented in diocesan schools in the new school year. As a prestigious Catholic school in Hong Kong, I wonder why Wah Yan doesn't follow this practice and now even intends to employ a Teaching Assistant for national education.

As an alumnus, I still remember clearly how liberal the learning environment was when I was studying in Wah Yan. We were exposed to different views and learned Chinese history and world history. I sincerely hope that Wah Yan can keep this good tradition and will not fall into the trap of conducting national education.

It is now the digital age and we all live in this global village. I strongly believe that it is far more important to let students learn how to understand various cultures and how to be a responsible citizen concerned about social and human rights issues than learning how to embrace our nation.

Thank you very much for your attention and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Patrick Kar-wai POON

Graduate of 1994