XN000022-1978-02-10 — Page 6

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1973

TOPLEY URGES STUDENTS TO TAKE PART IN

VOLUNTARY COMMUNITY SERVICE

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THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY, TODAY CALLED ON STUDENTS TO TAKE PART IN VOLUNTARY COMMUNITY SERVICE AS PART OF THEIR PURSUIT OF SOCIAL STUDIES.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE TENTH HONG KONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS SEMINAR AT MORRISON HOUSE, HATTON ROAD, MR. TOPLEY SAID: +VOLUNTARY COMMUNITY SERVICE IS A KIND OF SOCIAL EDUCATION, THROUGH WHICH STUDENTS CAN DEVELOP SUCH QUALITIES AS CO-OPERATIVENESS, CONCERN FOR OTHERS, SOCIABILITY, RESPECT FOR THE ELDERLY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO ONESELF AND OTHERS.

+ IN THIS HECTIC WORLD OF TODAY, IF EVERY STUDENT IS ABLE TO USE HIS LEISURE WISELY AND TAKE PART IN SOME FORM OF VOLUNTARY COMMUNITY SERVICE, THE JUVENILE CRIME RATE SHOULD FALL APPRECIABLY,+ HE ADDED.

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MR. TOPLEY SAID THAT ACTIVE VOLUNTARY SERVICE EXTENDED OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS FOR GAINING FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE OR A 'REAL FEELING' OF WHAT THE SOCIETY IS LIKE. THIS IN TURN WILL CULTIVATE A SENSE OF BELONGING TO THE COMMUNITY ONE SERVES.+

ON STUDENTS' INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY-ORIENTED EXTRA- CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, HE SAID: +NOWADAYS STUDENTS ARE BEGINNING TO REALISE THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR ROLES IN SOCIETY AS WELL AS THEIR RIGHTS AND DUTIES HENCE THEY ARE MUCH MORE READY AND HAPPY TO BE INVOLVED.

+FOR INSTANCE, STUDENTS HAVE BEEN SPONTANEOUS IN JOINING THE COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB, THE JUNIOR PCLICE CALL, THE JUNIOR RED CROSS, THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARD SCHEME. AS A RESULT, THEIR OUTLOOK IS BROADENED AND THEY ARE BECOMING AWARE OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS.

+THROUGH THE SHARING OF EXPERIENCE IN VOLUNTARY COMMUNITY WORK, STUDENTS LEARN NOT ONLY TO BE TOLERANT, BUT ALSO TO BECOME CRITICAL-MINDED CITIZENS ABLE TO SOLVE THEIR OWN PROBLEMS AND READY TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO REDUCE THOSE OF SOCIETY.+

REFERRING TO CRITICISM ABOUT SOCIAL SERVICES IN HONG KONG, MR. TOPLEY TOLD THE STUDENTS: +THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS IN WHICH YOU CAN HELP. AS TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION IN CLASS, IN DEEATE OR IN ORDINARY CONVERSATION, SCRUTINISE WHAT SOCIAL SERVICES ARE INADEQUATE, ADEQUATE, OR OVER-GENEROUS.

+THINK OF THEIR EFFECTS, EXAMINE A PARTICULAR ASPECT OF SOCIAL SERVICE IN WHICH YOU ARE INTERESTED AND THEN OFFER POSITIVE SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT.

+YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO PASS ON YOUP VIEWS TO YOUR LOCAL CITY DISTRICT OFFICE, + HE SAID.

HE ALSO STRESSED THAT EVERYONE SHOULD BE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN DOING GOOD TO THE COMMUNITY, +RAGING A DONATION IS AN ACT OF CHARITY, BUT YERE DILINE 1ST ENOUGH BECAUSE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION 13 EVEN MORE SATISFYING. SEE THAT YOU DO NOT MISS ANY OPPORTUNITIES, OR YOU WILL E THE LOSER AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY. +