| This
is the biweekly bulletin of the Rotary Club of Kingspark Hong Kong Club Website: http://www.rotary3450.org/kingspark-hongkong | ||||
 | Kingspark News Rotary
Club of Kingspark | | ||
| Chief
Editor : Francis Wann Club Webmaster : John Wan | ||||
Editorial
(Unliberal Studies) - By Francis Wann | ||||
District Website | RI Website | RI President | TRF | News Room | Global History Fellowship | ||||
|
Unliberal Studies
Our education today is in bad shape. Not only are we not sure what should be included in the curriculum, we're also not convinced if whatever we do would be in our students' best interest. The call to do away with exams is leading the way, and within a decade, our Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (aka School Cert) will become a thing of the past, together with the British modelled Advanced level examinations which has remained an UK institution for advanced studies for 50 years. The changes to the A level curriculum will mean students taking up to five subjects in the first year - which will be called advanced subsidiary or AS levels - before specialising for three full A levels in the second year. While the A levels in Britain are about to be phased out roughly at the same time, the main criticism is that the grades do not accurately reflect the reputation of A level exams. Put simply, there are too many distinctions at A levels which could not be reasonably justified. At present, the exams as they are are not as challenging as what A levels should be, and that means the most able students are not fully stretched whereas the less academically-inclined would find it too difficult as the range is not broad enough. Some readers might still remember the scandal of A level marking (UK) in 1999 which resulted in the remarking of tens of thousands of scripts, the resignation of the Education Secretary, a full inquiry, and naturally, an overhaul of the A levels. The decision to add one more year to university education has been disguised as an educational decision. It might be easy to argue that students should benefit better given the enormous resources at universities, but once at university, the cost of education is ten times more expensive while the advantages could only be measured in retrospect. The decision, however, must be welcomed by students across the board as it means an earlier admission to tertiary education, and it must be welcomed by universities as it means more resources and funding from the government. While our education officials are charging ahead with their plans - all in the name of education, the bureaucracy which has generated mountains of documents is staggering to say the least. The proposed Diploma of Secondary Education, which will replace the current exams, will test the students in Chinese, English, maths, and liberal studies.There will also be a greater emphasis on course work, rather than exams. Meanwhile the arguments and counterarguments over what constitutes liberal studies go on, and are likely to become academic points of interest. The Liberal studies syllabus at A level is seldom challenged simply because not many schools are offering it, but it will be a totally different scenario if it becomes an integral part of our senior school core curriculum. When a qualification is standards-referenced, it's also likely to penalise candidates from disadvantaged backgrounds. Despite its packaging, the reform seems to be creating confrontations rather than making consensus. And liberal studies might only be the tip of the iceberg. | ||||
President's
Column Five Suggestions
Before I took up the presidency, I often heard from PPs that "No matter how good or bad you perform the duties of the President, time will not wait for you and soon you will become history too." At that time, I did not have any clue on the wisdom of the statement because I was busy preparing for my office. After 5 months, I was shocked to find that I felt exactly what our past presidents told me. Regardless of whether I have conducted a good regular luncheon meeting or whether I have not performed well in a public speech, time would pass and I can only concentrate on my remaining tasks. Besides, some Rotarians always consider it not the appropriate time for them to play the role of Club President because they are not ready. When will it be appropriate then? Facing uncertainties in our ever changing world, I believe that there is no such thing as "Appropriate Timing" and we can only do our best to serve our Club, our Community and our World. Let me set our below a few suggestions - 1. Plan for your year as early as possible so that we can identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of our Club in the process. 2. Solicit support from members because their participation will contribute to the success of our Club. 3. Learn more about Rotary such as the Rotary Foundation, Youth Exchange, and the objectives of Rotaract Club & Interact Club etc through the RI and district website. 4. Follow the "Service Above Self" motto and commit yourself to serve because your enthusiasm will influence other members to follow. 5. Obtain support from your family by involving your spouse and children in Rotary activities because without their support, you will never be able to succeed and serve. Dear friends, it's time to start planning because the future of our Club, our Community and our World would depend on it. | ||||
|
Advent
Just as Christians this week have started Advent, Rotarians can look upon this month as the advent of the future leadership, for in this month, most clubs and districts will return the leadership for the year 18 months down the road, which could be why, as I had surmised before, RI has not assigned a special theme for December to enable the membership to elect or select the future leadership and thereafter to prepare them for greater responsibilities and challenges. When it comes to service, and service is what Rotary is all about, the single most important aspect is perhaps the readiness of the individual to commit to the ideal of service. For that matter, while the contribution of an individual would of necessity be a function of his background, experience and talents, it will be his preparedness and readiness to serve and to give that would be the deciding factor. That is to say it is not what he gives, but how much of what he has he has given. Today, Catholics celebrate the feast of Saint Francis Xavier whose examplary qualities had earned him a special place in the Church. As soon as he arrived on the west coast of India, the Saint put himself totally at the service of the people among whom he worked and whom he was determined to serve. He had the mission that every single person should come to know Jesus Chrsit and thus experience the love of God that come through Jesus. To achieve his objective, he travelled far and wide, to great distances, to bring the Gospel to people from India to Japan in circumstances that are hard for us to imagine today. Those in Asia are the beneficiaries of his work. The Readings today speak of the extraordinary things which happened to him and through him as a missionary. We may not travel as far and wide as he did, but we have all chosen to respond to the calling and responsibility to share Rotary and the Ideals of Service with all those we meet, particularly those who have yet to hear about Rotary or its ideals of service. We do not need a particular time to start, but now is certainly an appropriate time. | ||||
Views in any article in Kingspark News reflect those of the authors. They are not necessarily the views of the Rotary Club of Kingspark or of District 3450. You are welcome to write to Chief Editor Francis Wann or Club Webmaster John Wan on any topic, particularly in response to articles published in Kingspark News. We would publish all contributions as long as the authors identify themselves, the contents are not offensive or abusive, and would not offend common decency or common sense. You need not be a Rotarian to write to us and you have a choice to withhold your name in the published version. Where the contents make reference to statements or policies of individuals or organizations, we would try to obtain a response fro the latter for publication in the same issue if possible. | ||||
Chief
Editor : Francis Wann The Board of Directors President
: Thomas Chan | ||||
| Return to Contents | ||||
| Send
a message to Chief Editor Francis Wann 2004 Issues, Back Issues, Home | ||||