XN000022-1975-09-26 — Page 8

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1975

BE CONSCIOUS OF COMMUNITY PROBLEMS, STUDENTS TOLD

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A VITAL PART OF ANY STUDENT'S EDUCATION IS THE CONSCIOUSNESS HE DEVELOPS OF THE PROBLEMS OF HIS COMMUNITY, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (CHIEF INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS), MR. JOHN WINFIELD

SAID TODAY WHEN HE OPENED THE JOINT SCHOOL GEOGRAPHY ASSOCIATION'S EXHIBITION ON +SATELLITE TOWN DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG+ AT QUEEN'S COLLEGE.

MR. WINFIELD SAID: +IDEALLY THIS SHOULD LEAD TO HIS PLAYING AN ACTIVE PART IN RECORDING AND ANALYSING THOSE PROBLEMS AND PROPOSING (OR AT LEAST PREDICTING) SOLUTIONS TO THEM - GEOGRAPHY LENDO ITSELF TO THIS PROCESS MORE THAN MOST SUBJECTS OF THE CURRICULUM.+

MR. WINFIELD SAID THAT THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR'S EXHIBITION WAS WISELY CHOSEN.

+THERE IS A GROWING CONCERI IN THE GEOGRAPHY CURRICULUM WITH URBAN STUDIES AND THIS SEEMS TO ME TO BE APPROPRIATE, CONSIDERING THAT SO MANY OF US SPEND PRACTICALLY THE WHOLE OF OUR LIVES IN TOWN OR CITY AND THAT OUR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT IS HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY THE OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS OF URBAN LIFE.

+I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU HAVE NOT TAKEN 'URBANISATION' IN THE ABSTRACT AS YOUR THEME BUT THAT YOU HAVE RELATED IT TO THE ACTUAL AND POTENTIAL GROWTH OF THE SATELLITE TOWNS OF HONG KONG - IN OTHER WORDS, YOU ARE LOOKING AT GEOGRAPHY IN A LIVING CONTEXT SEEING IT IN TERMS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH YOU LIVE, RATHER THAN AS A STERILE TEXTBOOK EXERCISE.+

MR. WINFIELD URGED MEMBERS OF THE JOINT SCHOOL GEOGRAPHY ASSOCIATION TO TRY TO STIMULATE INTEREST AMONG YOUNGER PUPILS IN THEIR OWN SCHOOL OR IF THEY WERE AT UNIVERSITY, AMONG INCOMING STUDENTS, SO THAT THE ASSOCIATION'S ACTIVITIES WERE CONSTANTLY REFRESHED BY NEW IDEAS AND NEW APPROACHES.

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