I thought that I had seen it all, when it came to educational 'horror stories' in Hong Kong. I know of principals who have driven injured students to hospital, rather than risk media exposure by calling an ambulance, and teachers who provide their classes with the full text of a forthcoming test. I have read about the closure of happy but under-enrolled primary schools in the New Territories and a millionaire principal who is allowed to manage three different schools and draw three separate salaries.
But now I have read your lead article, '1 in 7 teachers say affairs are OK' (Education Post, 29 October, 2005) and I am rendered incredulous yet again.
This article exposes a deep and serious problem in Hong Kong education - the very weak sense of professionalism that is held by many of those adults who work on a daily basis with young, impressionable children in our schools.
Elsewhere, the teaching profession has a long and noble tradition of high moral and ethical standards. There is no place whatsoever in any of the professions for inter-personal relationships other than that of client-and-provider.
Yes, we all know of situations in which teachers have married former students but this is not an excuse for any lowering of tolerance for unprofessional behaviour. The professional connections between the two people need to be severed before any informal relationship can progress.
I wonder whether the highly unprofessional responses of one out of seven teachers in the survey reflects on the continued presence of untrained teachers in Hong Kong schools. Too many secondary teachers are recruited with nothing more than a basic degree. I even know of one primary native English-speaking teacher who is teaching with only a four-week certificate and Sunday School teaching experience to her credit.