XN000022-1975-03-15 — Page 8

SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 1975

TEACHERS URGED TO IMPROVE TEACHING TECHNIQUES

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THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY THIS EVENING UNGED TEACHERS TO IMPROVE THEIR TEACHING TECHNIQUES, KEEP UP WITH MODERN EDUCATIONAL TRENDS AND MAINTAIN THEIR INTEREST IN YOUNG PEOPLE.

SPEAKING IN CANTONESE AT THE ANNUAL DINNER OF THE HONG KONG TEACHERS ASSOCIATION, MR. TOPLEY SAID THAT TEACHERS SHOULD READ WIDELY FOR THEIR OWN ́ ENRICHMENT, BE RECEPTIVE TO NEW APPROACHES TO TEACHING AND BE READY TO TRY THEM OUT IN THE CLASSROOM.

+MORE IMPORTANT STILL, THE TEACHER SHOULD DEVELOP AS FULLY AS POSSIBLE HIS OWN TASTES AND TALENTS. HE SHOULD APPRECIATE THE COMPANIONSHIP OF HIS FELLOW MEN AND WOMEN, WHETHER THEY BE DOCTORS, SHOP ASSISTANTS, FARMERS OR FACTORY WORKERS. HE SHOULD TAKE A LIVELY INTEREST IN THE WORLD DEYOND THE SCHOOL CONFINES.

*IN SHORT, HE SHOULD CONCERN HIMSELF WITH SOME INTERESTS UNCONNECTED WITH EDUCATION IN ORDER THAT HE MAY RUB SHOULDERS WITH HIS FELLOW MEN AND ESCAPE FROM THE POSITION OF UNCHALLENGED AUTHORITY THAT IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH CLASS TEACHING, HE SAID.

IT HAS BEEN SAID VERY OFTEN THAT TEACHERS ARE THE PILLARS OF AN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. THE DIRECTOR SAID THIS WAS WORTH REITERATING AT THIS POINT IN TIME →WHEN WE ARE EMBARKING ON AN IMPORTANT PHASE OF EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND WHEN WE ARE FACED WITH A VARIETY OF YOUTH PROBLEMS.+

HE EMPHASISED THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EDUCATIONAL POLICIES AND THE PROPER NURTURE OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE TO BENEFIT FROM THEM MUST DEPEND LARGELY ON THE PERSONAL QUALITIES OF THE TEACHERS, THEIR PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND THEIR SKILL.+

IN PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE WORK DONE BY THE HONG KONG TEACHERS ASSOCIATION MR. TOPLEY SAID HE WELCOMED THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THEM AGAIN SO SOON AFTER THE ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE LAST NOVEMBER.

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