XN000022-1975-11-13 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1975

MR. LOWE STRESSED THAT THE 6TH FORMS SHOULD BE USED AS PREPARATION FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF FAIRLY GENERALISED CAREER AND TRAINING OPTIONS. THERE SHOULD NOT BE TWO SORTS OF 6TH FORMS.

THE J.C.E. PROPOSAL, HE SAID, IN SPITE OF FREQUENT PROMISES OF OPEN DEBATE HAD NEVER BEEN FAIRLY PUT TO THE PUBLIC.

+ IF THE PEOPLE WANT IT, THEY CAN HAVE IT. BUT I THINK ALL THE PEOPLE REALLY WANT ARE MORE SECONDARY PLACES, PROBABLY MORE THAN THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY AND HOUSING.+

THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE ABSURD AMOUNT OF HOMEWORK CHILDREN WERE GIVEN.

HE EMPHASISED THAT +THE ROLE OF HOMEWORK IS FAIRLY CLEAR IF SET IN VAST CONSOLIDATION. IT CAN BE COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE. QUANTITIES, CONFUSION AND EXHAUSTION SETS IN. IF A GREAT DEAL OF HOMEWORK IS NECESSARY TO COVER THE SYLLABUS, THE ANSWER IS NOT TO SET MORE AND MORE BUT FOR HEADS OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO INSIST ON A SHORTER SYLLABUS.+

MR. LOWE CAUTIONED THAT TOO MUCH HOMEWORK WAS

PARTICULARLY BAD AT THE PRIMARY LEVEL.

SAYING THAT HE WAS A STRONG ADVOCATE OF THE EDUCATION OF GIRLS, MR. LOWE SAID GIRLS NEEDED EDUCATION MORE THAN BOYS BECAUSE THEY AS MOTHERS WERE THE EDUCATORS OF THE FAMILY. THE SCHOOL'S ROLE WAS LESS IMPORTANT EDUCATIONALLY THAN THE FAMILY'S.

ADDED.

+FAMILY EDUCATION IS VITAL FOR COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT,+ HE

THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR EXPRESSED HIS GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION OF THE TEACHERS IN HONG KONG.

+FORMAL EDUCATION,+ HE SAID, +BEGINS AND MAY WELL END WITH THE TEACHER IN THE CLASSROOM WITH 40 TO 45 PUPILS. IT IS WHAT THE TEACHER DOES, HIS INTERACTION WITH THE PUPILS THAT COUNTS, NOT SO MUCH THE PRECISE TEACHING TECHNIQUES.+

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE VITAL THING WAS THAT ALL CHILDREN OF ALL ABILITIES MUST BE GIVEN THE ASPIRATION AND EXPECTATION OF DOING REASONABLY WELL.

+GIVEN THAT EXPECTATION THEY WILL DO WELL. FAR TOO MANY CHILDREN ARE WRITTEN OFF IN PRIMARY BECAUSE THEY ARE WEAK, IN, SAY MATHS OR WITHOUT EXPLORING AND FOSTERING THEIR OTHER ABILITIES.+

MR. LOWE ALSO CONGRATULATED THE PUPILS OF HONG KONG AND IN PARTICULAR THOSE OF ST. PAUL'S CONVENT SCHOOL.

HE WISHED THE SENIOR PUPILS OF THE SCHOOL EVERY SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS WHEN THEY VENTURED OUT INTO WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS +THAT STRANGE, ALARMING YET EXCITING OUTSIDE WORLD WHICH IS ADULT LIFE+ AND FOR WHICH SCHOOLS EXISTED TO PREPARE THEM.

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