XN000022-1981-08-02 — Page 5

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 1981

GUIDELINES ON MORAL EDUCATION

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THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL SHORTLY ISSUE GUIDELINES ON MORAL EDUCATION PREPARED BY THE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE FOR THE REFERENCE OF HEADS AND TEACHERS, MR COLVYN HAYE, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).

HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE HONG KONG RED CROSS YOUTH SILVER JUBILEE REGIONAL WORKSHOP.

+THESE GUIDELINES SHOULD HELP FOCUS THE AWARENESS OF ALL CONCERNED ON THE IMPERATIVE NEED TO INCULCATE MORAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FROM THE VERY EARLIEST AGE THROUGH THE FORMATIVE YEARS IN WHICH OUR BOYS AND GIRLS BECOME MEN AND WOMEN, READY TO TAKE THEIR PLACE IN A HEALTHY SOCIETY, MR HAYE SAID.

TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES BRING ABOUT SOCIAL AND MORAL CHANGES OR AT LEAST RAISE MORAL QUESTIONS FOR WHICH TRADITION CAN PROVIDE NO READY ANSWERS.

+THEREFORE IF WE TRY TO GIVE A DOGMATIC TYPE OF MORAL TRAINING TO OUR PUPILS, THEY MAY FIND IT DIFFICULT TO RESPOND TO MORAL PROBLEMS FOR WHICH THEY HAVE NOT BEEN PREPARED,+ MR HAYE SAID.

MORAL EDUCATION SHOULD AIM AT CULTIVATING IN THE PUPILS MORAL ATTITUDES AND SOCIAL VALUES THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF REFLECTIVE OR CRITICAL THINKING, HE SAID.

HOWEVER, A PERSON CANNOT THINK REFLECTIVELY OR CRITICALLY WHEN HE IS ANGRY, EXCITED OR SHOCKED, THEREFORE IT IS ALSO ESSENTIAL FOR THE STUDENTS TO DEVELOP THE ART OF SELF-CONTROL.

+IT IS ONLY THROUGH SUCH CONTROL OF ONESELF THAT MORALITY CAN BE DEVELOPED, FOR WITHOUT IT A PERSON MAY ACT IRRATIONALLY,+ THE DIRECTOR SAID.

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