In one Hong Kong middle school, the “General Education” course is always controversial. The debate is focused on its relation with “brainwashing” and “patriotic propaganda.” Kwok Chun Ho, a “General Education” teacher at Lee Shau Kee College in Hong Kong, has taught the course for four years. He said, “Now with the spread of internet information, students can see all kinds of news on mobile phone. Therefore, I cannot force my students to believe in something(a prescribed opinion), and I will not do it either.”
Students like to call him “Kwok Sir”. In Hong Kong, male and female teachers of primary and secondary schools are called “Sir”, and “Miss” respectively, which makes it sound like they are policemen. However, this 28-year-old “Sir” is not fierce at all. He usually carries a big backpack, like any high school student on his way to school.
For many mainlanders, they have no idea what “General Education” is, and only know that it is a controversial course. With the implementation of the Hong Kong Education Reform in 2009, the General Education course became a subject for the college entrance examination. Since then, there has been a heated discussion among societal spokespersons and politicians as to whether it should continue.
What can students learn from this course? Kwok Sir told me that currently there were six sections in the General Education course in middle schools, including “personal growth”, “Hong Kong today”, “modern China”, “globalization”, “public health” and “energy technology”. Compared with the curriculum in mainland China, it can be seen as a combination of ideological and ethical education and political discourse. Among the six sections, the most controversial is undoubtedly “Hong Kong Today” and “Modern China”. Kwok Sir repeatedly stressed that the teaching content was not subject to the so-called “guidelines” of China, and teachers had no fixed outline for their teaching direction.
However, many in Hong Kong still have a feeling that this course is set up for the purpose of “brainwashing”, and persuading middle school students in Hong Kong to be loyal to Chinese communist party. In an earlier time and period, Hong Kong middle school students launched a campaign against “National Education” and successfully resisted the Chinese government’s attempt at instituting “brainwashing” education. However, afterwards, the course “General Education” was set up for Hong Kong middle school students.
Therefore, for such a sensitive topic, which concerns the relationship between China and Hong Kong, the stance of teachers is particularly important. In Kwok Sir’s class, these topics are usually used as topics for debate between two groups of students. At the end, he does not decide which side won, or which judgment is right. He pays more attention to the methods and techniques used by students to deal with problems and the quality of their logical expression.
When asked why he choose these sensitive topics for his class, and why he did not avoid them, Kwok Sir said, “Now social media is widely used in Hong Kong, and we cannot avoid these issues. Students will see “occupation”, “umbrella movement” using their mobile phones, and even participate in these activities. In such situation, it is better for us to talk about these topics and exchange ideas in class. In fact, these sensitive topics are also the best case studies for “Hong Kong Today” and “Contemporary China” sections of the course.
The topic of the “Umbrella Movement” aroused a heated discussion in Kwok Sir’s class, and he was surprised and moved by students’ attention and participation. The student Kelly Lau who went to Central said, she really enjoyed sharing her photos and feelings with other classmates in Kwok Sir’s class. They did not just bury themselves in books, but increasingly cared about social development, which is beyond normal imagination.
“With “Hong Kong Today”, students can understand where they live more, while “Contemporary China” tells students to learn about mainland China. You may not love it, but you need to know it, and then you can talk about whether you love it or not.”This is the reason why Kwok Sir believes that the discussions in general education are needed in class. His teaching principle is to objectively introduce the real Hong Kong and China to students.
However, although criticisms about general education are prevalent in Hong Kong, but teachers’ opinions about general education are not heard by the public. For thousands like Kwok Chun Ho, who make efforts to affect their students in class, and help them understand the historical development of Hong Kong. It is likely that their “persistence” will result in the fact that knowledge of Hong Kong will be embraced by a new generation of young people in Hong Kong.
Elaine Hon's Studio 