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The campus becomes quiet in July with only hot sunshine and occasional shower.
Our graduates may be busy at job interviews right now. Those who wish to get a job in education sector probably have received news about their appointment already. Although the final approval of the HK$3.6 billion government’s funding boost for education would alleviate the plight of the lack of employment of prospective teachers, education freshmen still face lots of uncompromised challenges.
Our Centre has just initiated a new teacher fellowship for EdUHK graduates, hoping to create stronger support among participants, to uphold the calling and passion as a teacher. Apart from discussing skills to survive in that “hot kitchen” in the first year, group members can share among themselves how to live out the essence as Jesus’ disciples to serve others.
I was astonished to hear that some of them were advised by their seniors not to smile in front of students in order to have a strong image as a professional teacher. Although most of us agree on the principle of “Discipline before teaching”, we all feel the choking atmosphere in that school.
It reminds me of my child’s picture book years ago with the title “No Laughing”. A king did not allow his people to smile or laugh because of an unpleasant experience. He felt that when people laugh, they were not afraid of his kingship, leading to disobedience and finally to rebellion.
One day the king was trapped in the toilet bowl. Being afraid of unavoidable laughing at the king’s funny look, all servants ran away and no one came to help. Only the young prince laid a helping hand without hesitation, saying to his father, "I love you, and know that you love me. I am not afraid of laughing in front of you. Love can drive out fear." This story has not yet come to the end and it was attractive.
“Smile is our common language which can touch someone at heart and bridge the gap between people,” as written by a school principal in the recent ICAC Moral Education Periodical. She greets her students with a smile every morning at the school gate, hoping to receive smiles from them in return. Students will be encouraged to have a happy mood to start a school day. "The students can get lots of knowledge in the smile of teachers. They enjoy the warmth and love in the smile of their parents." I hope every prospective teacher can start and end a tough teaching day with a smile, in the mission of educating the young generation.
Servant pastor
Rev. Benedict Shum
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