Video

The New Senior Secondary Curriculum being introduced in Hong Kong public schools is causing quite a stir, and fright, amongst the ranks of teachers. The professional development seminar which I attended, sponsored by the Education and Manpower Bureau, intended to mollify the fears of educators while sharing best practices established by pilot schools and their respective programs - the government's objectives, I believe, were successfully achieved. Hong Kong's public education system certainly needs reform, and the new curriculum, I hope, shall break the obstinacy that plagues the local pedagogy. The curriculum will hew the old into the relevant and prudent, quickly, please. That said, I am fiercely critical of these government-sponsored courses whose objectives include promoting obsequiously their agenda. Though I did gain, I freely admit, a few worthwhile, practical module ideas, I was more interested in what was not being shown than what, in fact, was presented during the afternoon meeting. I, as an educator, need to balance my perspective in teaching and learning, particularly since my most profound learning moments have struck me while in the analysis of failure, not victory. I was disappointed, although unsurprised, that the government and its test schools painted a ridiculously rosy picture of a thousand flowers in full bloom across this Chinese territory, sparing me timorous thoughts of struggle, success, and failure. I indeed like my pedagogical development to be framed in a realistic, balanced manner. I've spoken with EMB agents in regard to my concerns, but their ideological zealotry matches my own educational ardor step-for-step in the race to win the hearts and minds of a society in transition - might I add, I was told that there would have been a more reflective, realistic account of each school's pilot actions had there been more time! Hence, for the public whose time is less penurious, I present an unduly critical video that captures the essence of a typically fawning, government-sponsored showcase series. http://misterwoo.blogspot.com