The dean of the Graduate School is investigating the concerns registered about several other students and will take any necessary action to ensure compliance with all university policies.

Yale is committed to being the best place for international students.

It has an extremely generous financial aid package for international students. And all students, including international, who are admitted to any of the PhD programmes in the arts and sciences pay no tuition and are given an annual living allowance of at least US$18,000 plus free health care.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF THE

YALE CLUB OF HONG KONG

Caroline Hsiao Van, Yale '79, Nelson I. Miu, '76, Randy Kwei, '58, Alice Au, '81, Laurence Li, '94, John Chung Lee, '93, Renu Bhatia, '88, Vince W. Chan, '02, Sam J.L. Wong, '89, Edith Terry, '74, Mark Sheldon, director, Yale-China Association Hong Kong Office, Patrick Caviness, '64, William Stork, '62.

Balance is possible for the child's benefit

I have two children in a local school on Lantau Island and cannot praise the teachers enough for their diligence and patience. The staff at Mui Wo Primary School are doing an excellent job teaching children from a mixture of backgrounds, many of them from non-Chinese families (including ours), with a level of understanding that relieves the pressure that could result from the local curriculum.

The teachers realise that each student has different abilities and levels of concentration and, therefore, reward and encourage each individual accordingly. They give up their lunch breaks and time after school to tutor those who need extra help and are always available to parents who have questions. At worst, my daughter in Primary Two comes home with one hour of homework, but each week there are days when she has completed all the homework during the last lesson, designated for extra-curricular activities or homework.

So despite a challenging curriculum (with its tests, dictations and exams) it is possible to find a balance that is beneficial to the children if teachers and parents work together.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED

Who wouldn't envy pampered teachers?

Now that the furore over the ESF teachers' cash bonanza is dying down I offer my own views - as a parent and heavily taxed working man.

It is obvious why construction professionals come to Hong Kong - for the opportunity to work on a number of the world's greatest projects, such as the airport, the rail system, the bridges, the skyscrapers - great challenges despite the hard physical work and dangers.

It is equally obvious why ESF teachers come - and stay. It's the high-on-the-hog lifestyle with matching benefits.

What I found disturbing was reading the letters of support from mothers and children - the Stepford wives and children syndrome - ever present, ever obedient.

Who in the real world of high-density living with 14-hour, six-day working weeks would not envy those dedicated toilers in the halls of ESF academe? They work nine-to-four pontificating to the little Justins, Nigels, Saras and Abigails, never to be questioned, never challenged, never contradicted. By a very early age the little ones have already been taught to read, write and do their number drills, all else is in the main quite useless. They are then free to play and learn from their computers while the teacher supplants his teaching work with the imposition of homework.

This particular construction worker grudges them not a single dollar as they milk the system, legally, for what they can get. I do look forward to their threatened strike action. Victoria Park will come alive with hundreds of captive pupils trilling 'we shall overcome'. It will be a welcome relief from the usual boring political protests. But the teachers will be belting out a more appropriate song, paraphrasing that old pop hit of the 40s 'nice work if you can get it, and you can get it from the ESF'.

In support, I'll be happy to rattle their collection box to the tune of $500.

J. CHARLESTON,

Tai Hang Road