HKBU row shows moral deficit afflicts education
Chow Pak-chin takes Hong Kong’s education system to task over emergence of entitled students who blame only others
he time has come for closing books and long last looks must end. And as I leave I know that I am leaving my best friend. A friend who taught me right from wrong and weak from strong. That’s a lot to learn, but what can I give you in return?”
These lyrics from the song in the famed 1968 British drama film, To Sir, With Love, immediately came to mind when I saw a shocking video showing a group of Hong Kong Baptist University students barging into their campus’ language center last Wednesday, protesting over the university’s language assessment. In the clip, students demand lecturers let those who had recently failed a Putonghua assessment sit a retake, and publish the marking scheme for public viewing.
The stand-off stemmed from students’ dissatisfaction over a Putonghua assessment which 70 percent of test takers had failed. The university requires students to pass a language assessment if they wish to be exempted from the Putonghua module, otherwise they must enroll in the class and pass the final test if they wish to graduate. Those who failed the assessment claimed it was far too demanding and tested students well beyond basic Putonghua communication.
The protesting students would do well to consider the To Sir, With Love lyrics, “A friend who taught me right from wrong”, which they seem to have forgotten in their (hopefully) momentary lapse in judgement.
The movie is about how a teacher wins the respect of his wayward students, who have been rejected by other schools, by giving them the care and respect they deserve. Over the course of the film, the teacher does all he can to instill the principle of right versus wrong in his students without expecting anything in return, as any good educator should be expected to do.
Unfortunately, respect was nowhere to be found last Wednesday when these protesting students, led by its student union president Lau Tsz-kei, forced their way into the language center and effectively “occupied” the area for eight hours, during which Lau was seen swearing at a teacher while a fellow student used aggressive words in response to a teacher’s request that he step back and give her some space.
Since Hong Kong returned to sovereign rule by China in 1997, Putonghua has been taught in schools across the region. The city officially uses two written languages (Traditional Chinese and English) and three spoken languages (Cantonese, Putonghua and English). With this in mind, why is it that these students, who have failed to reach required standards to graduate, are blaming the school instead of reflecting on their own inadequacy? This brings me to another important question: What has happened to our education system?
Has our education system produced a generation of entitled youth who, in the face of personal failure, blame anyone else but themselves? There is a famous Chinese saying: “Failing to educate the child is the fault of the father.” In Chinese culture, we attach great importance to education as it fosters not only personal academic standards but good personal traits and a steady moral compass. Teachers in China are given the highest respect, demonstrated by the saying: “Teacher for one day, father for life.”
Up until the late 19th century the Three Character Classic — or Sanzijing in Putonghua — extolled the core credos of Confucianism and was one of the first texts used to teach children the importance of following Confucian morals. In short, the classic text postulated that people are born moral and good but grow up following different habits. Therefore, without proper guidance and education, children will fall short of their instinctively good nature.
Education is a lifelong process. When one is born, initial education falls squarely on the shoulders of parents, who teach their children basic morals and principles. As they grow up and attend school, that duty is transferred to teachers and principals who lay the foundations for academic excellence but still keep a child’s moral compass pointing in the correct direction.
Coming back to the HKBU students, I wonder what pivotal moment in their education or upbringing made them believe in a false sense of entitlement. Whatever it may be, their education has certainly failed them in some way. In any stage of education, students are taught and influenced by teachers, who in turn are instructed and guided by principals. Just like any organization or company, its failings are down to its captain at the helm and not just its crew.
In response to the student bombardment, HKBU President Roland Chin Tai-hong said the institution would pursue the matter in accordance with school disciplinary procedures if its regulations were found to be violated.
In my mind, there is absolutely no question in pursuing the matter. But more importantly, I believe the university and those in charge should ask themselves how this could happen on their watch. Reflection and scrutiny are absolutely necessary if the university is to get to the bottom of the matter. First and foremost, we need to find out what values our teachers and schools cultivate in our youth, and we must do our utmost to prevent any more disasters such as this.