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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1977
TOPLEY CALLS FOR LEARNING THROUGH DOING
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THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY SAID TODAY THAT SECONDARY SCHOOLS SHOULD REDUCE THE QUANTITY OF DIRECT ORAL TEACHING AND ENCOURAGE PUPILS TO LEARN THROUGH DOING AND BY EXERCISING THEIR CRITICAL FACULTY.
MR. TOPLEY WAS ADDRESSING THE AUDIENCE IN CANTONESE AT THE SPEECH DAY OF ST. LOUIS SCHOOL HELD AT CARITAS HOUSE.
HE WAS STRESSING TWO GENERAL PRINCIPLES FUNDAMENTAL TO SECONDARY EDUCATION.
+ THE FIRST IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE IS THAT A SECONDARY SCHOOL MUST REALISE THAT ITS DUTY IS TO ITS STUDENTS AS INDIVIDUALS. EACH OF THEM MUST BE REGARDED AS A UNIQUE PERSONALITY WITH HIS OWN NEEDS AND ABILITIES. THE SCHOOL MUST SATISFY THE STUDENT'S NEEDS, FIND OUT HIS ABILITIES AND DEVELOP THEM,+ HE SAID.
THE SECOND PRINCIPLE TO BEAR IN MIND WAS THE IMPORTANT ROLE PLAYED BY EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
DESCRIBING 1977 AS AN EXCITING YEAR FOR EDUCATION IN HONG KONG, MR. TOPLEY SAID: AS YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNMENT HAS JUST PUBLISHED THE GREEN PAPER ON SENIOR SECONDARY AND TERTIARY EDUCATION AND IS INVITING COMMENTS FROM ALL QUARTERS ON ITS PROPOSALS.+
THE DIRECTOR PRAISED THE SALESIAN FATHERS FOR RENDERING +YEOMAN SERVICE TO EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG.+ THIS WAS REFLECTED IM THE IR PROFESSIONAL DEDICATION AND FAR-SIGHTED PLANNING.
THE SALESIAN FATHERS COULD BE JUSTLY PROUD OF THE SIX SECONDARY SCHOOLS- THREE GRAMMAR AND THREE TECHNICAL UNDER THE IR AEGIS.
MR. TOPLEY NOTED THAT ST. LOUIS SCHOOL STRUCK A NICE BALANCE BETWEEN CURRICULAR AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
HE SAID: +1 AM AWARE THAT THERE ARE ALTOGETHER 30 CLUBS AND SOCIETIES OFFERING A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES.+
THE DIRECTOR CONGRATULATED THE SCHOOL ON ATTAINING ITS 50TH YEAR SINCE ITS TAKE-OVER BY THE SALESIANS IN 1927.
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