3325 Salesian Family Secondary Schools Seminar HK
austraLasia #3325

 

Salesian Family Secondary Schools Seminar HK

HONG KONG: 6 December 2013 --  The Salesian Family work as one where schools are concerned in China Province. Below is an account of the second of two seminars on the Preventive System - this time for Secondary School teachers:

Teachers from10 secondary schools belonging to the Salesians, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and Sisters Announcers of the Lord respectively, gathered in HK recently to learn, share and discuss the Preventive System and its application in school. 

Before the seminar day, the organising committee had distributed materials to each school for its internal preparation and discussion. Each school divided the teachers into different groups and they focused on several aspects: religion, discipline and counseling, academic studies and activities. Through this internal preparation, the teachers were invited to reflect on and discuss problems in schools. They then sought solutions by using the Preventive System. This process encouraged the active participation of the teachers in both internal and later inter-school discussions.

Mr. Lee Kam Hung, the representative of the organising committee, commented that he could see better active participation and commitment of teachers during the discussion session. Through these 2 levels of discussion, the teachers were able to consolidate the foundation, deepen the understanding of the application of the Preventive System.

During the sharing session, 10 school principals shared their unique experience in the Preventive System in their schools. At the end of the sharing, David, a past pupil of St Louis School and Emily, a recent student of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians Siu Ming Catholic Secondary School, shared their personal experience in school and the Preventive System.

David said that during one of their reunions they had noted that none of them had fallen foul of the law. They called the teaching of the Salesians and believed that the Ten Commandments had become their core values in life over time, as they were asked to recite them as youngsters in school and some of them were not even Catholics. He also mentioned the “strong admonitions” which had brought many bad students back on track. They also played soccer at school from Monday to Sunday. This was extremely helpful in preventing students from meeting gang members outside.

Emily thought that the role of teacher was very important for students. She mentioned that one word from the teacher had a greater influence than a thousand of words from parents. Even a small gesture of care would have great impact to motivate and energize students, such as postponing the deadline for homework submission for a few more days. Moreover, the friendly sharing among students and teachers would become their future memorable memories.

Mr. Lee said that the student sharing could encourage teachers, and that teaching according to the Preventive System would bear fruit for many years to come.