XN000022-1978-11-18 — Page 3

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1978

THREEFOLD RELATIONSHIP OF A SCHOOL HEAD

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MR. HO NGA-MING, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (PROFESSIONAL), TODAY (SATURDAY) SPOKE ON THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE HEAD OF A SCHOOL WITH HIS STAFF, HIS PUPILS AND THE PARENTS.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE HONG KONG TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION AT THE GRANTHAM COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, MR. HO SAID IN ORDER TO RAISE A SCHOOL TO ITS GREATEST POSSIBLE ACHIEVEMENT, A SCHOOL HEAD REQUIRED THE CO-OPERATION OF A CAPABLE STAFF WHO UNDERSTOOD HIS PLANS, INTERPRETED THEM INTELLIGENTLY AND WORKED CLOSELY WITH HIM,

+CLOSE AND HARMONIOUS CO-OPERATION WILL BE BEST SECURED BY FULL AND FRIENDLY DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN HEAD TEACHERS AND STAFF AND BY THE RECOGNITION OF THE TEACHERS' LIBERTY TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS AND DISCUSS MATTERS WITH THEIR LEADER, + HE SAID.

IT IS THE DUTY OF THE HEAD OF A SCHOOL TO FORM AN IMPARTIAL JUDGEMENT OF EACH TEACHER, AND TO DECIDE THE POSITION WHERE HE COULD PERFORM BEST, AT THE SAME TIME TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION AS FAR AS POSSIBLE HIS PERSONAL PREFERENCE.

+BUT IT MUST BE CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD THAT THE INTERESTS OF THE SCHOOL ARE THE PARAMOUNT CONSIDERATION, MR. HO SAID.

CRITICISMS AND SUGGESTIONS, ALTHOUGH DISTASTEFUL, WERE OFTEN NECESSARY, AND SHOULD BE FRANKLY ACCEPTED BY BOTH SIDES AS AMONG THE MOST IMPORTANT OF A HEAD'S FUNCTION, HE SAID. THE HEAD SHOULD ALSO NOTE THAT A LITTLE GENEROUS AND TIMELY PRAISE WHERE IT WAS DUE WOULD ALSO HELP.

MR. HO SUGGESTED THAT STAFF MEETINGS SHOULD BE HELD REGULARLY, IN WHICH TEACHERS COULD BE MADE TO FEEL THEY WERE COLLEAGUES, AND NOT MERE SUBORDINATES, AND IN WHICH THEY SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO MAKE COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS.

+ IN THIS WAY THE COLLECTIVE ABILITY OF THE STAFF IS POOLED, IDEAS ARE EXCHANGED, CRITICISMS ARE MADE, AND PROPOSALS EITHER ADOPTED, REJECTED OR POSTPONED, HE SAID.

AS FOR THE RELATIONSHIP WITH PUPILS, MR. HO SAID THAT A HEAD WHO WISHED TO EARN THE RESPECT AND CONFIDENCE OF THE PUPILS SHOULD DELIBERATELY SET HIMSELF THE TASK OF KNOWING EVERY PUPIL BY NAME.

IT WOULD ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO A CHILD'S SELF-RESPECT AND WOULD MATERIALLY AFFECT HIS ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE SCHOOL AND THE HEAD.

ANOTHER JUGGEST