Saying sorry is good The word 'sorry' can help solve problems. For example, when you argue with your parents 'sorry' is very useful. Apologise when you have done something wrong or have caused a problem. Let that person know you are feeling sorry and ashamed. Recently, a good friend and I were angry with each other. I felt that it was my fault we had this argument. I wanted to say sorry and be friends again, but I was not sure. The other day I made up my mind to say sorry. She forgave me. So when you are wrong say sorry to that person. Sometimes it may not work, but apologising is better than not doing so. Leung Li-ling Our Lady of the Rosary College Creative freedom Education in Hong Kong stifles a student's creativity. The city follows the spoon-feeding way of teaching. It does not just teach a child knowledge, it puts them under stress to memorise all the information from the textbook without understanding the concepts. Today, it is still believed this is the only way a child can get good results, get into university and find a job. But a child's creativity is not considered important. Parents and teachers focus too much on academic results rather than on creativity. Therefore, the creativity of students is being stifled. We should try to break the traditional teaching method so students are encouraged to think outside the box to show their creative abilities and train them to think in different ways. Gloria Lau Eight smart ways What is the theory of multiple intelligences? It suggests there are eight intelligences: linguistic (word smart), spatial (picture smart), logical- mathematical (clever with numbers or reasoning); musical (clever with music), bodily-kinesthetic (adept at physical activities), intrapersonal (self smart), interpersonal (good at interacting with people) and naturalist (smart with matters of nature). Luckily, we don't have to teach or learn each one, but we should explore the possibilities of our talents and choose one or more that either interests you or you are gifted in. They also can be an effective tool for teaching or learning. We can learn many of these intelligences from school. Edwin Tsang Hiu-ming Shun Lee Catholic Secondary School Touching graduation Although I am only a Form Three student, I felt touched by one graduate's speech at our school's recent ceremony, and I know I may cry in two years' time at my own graduation. During her speech on the stage, the graduate could not stop crying. It was really heart-warming when she talked about how the teachers helped her to face her important exams. I think it is very important for students to be able to consider their teachers as friends. This relationship is great for there is love between the teachers and students. I felt it strongly during the school's graduation ceremony and it touched me. Yeung Fuk-wai Yan Oi Tong Tin Ka Ping Secondary School Ask me again At the Experience Conference of the 6th National Educational Course last week, I met many friends and we shared memories of what we learned from the course. The Education and Manpower Bureau's leaders reviewed our behaviour and performance. They felt the Hong Kong students were passive and shy compared with students from mainland China. This impression stems from a session in which professors asked students if they had any questions but we bowed our heads or looked away. Another professor told me of students' behaviour in other countries is the opposite to us, perhaps we should take a chance and ask questions. Chu Wai-kit STFA Tam Pak Yu College Shocking cruelty A short film on the internet I watched recently shocked me. It showed a woman in China being very cruel to a cat, trampling the animal to death with the heels of her shoes so hard that an eye popped out. Why can't the central government stop people from hurting animals? The government should set up a law to stop people from mistreating animals. Everyone should try to protect animals and be kind to them. Katherine Li Our Lady of the Rosary College Melon philosophy Do you like eating bitter melon? Do you think it tastes good? Do you like its appearance? So why am I asking questions about it? I'm like a bitter melon. It tastes bitter and some people like it but some do not. Just as some people think I'm nice and other's do not. I have my style and I will not swim in the mainstream, just as unique as a bitter melon is in its appearance and taste. I am who I am. Edith Liu Po-chi SKH Lam Kau Mow Secondary School
