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SCMP Reporter

Doubts over advantages of small classes
From a layman's perspective, it is probably  thought that smaller classes ensure better-quality teaching.
Because of this, more people are now calling for the number of students in secondary school classes to be reduced.  
However, the government should  not succumb to  public pressure.  
Small-class teaching is not a panacea. Cambridge University professor Maurice Galton's study  found that the benefit of small-class teaching 'was most effective in Primary One' ('Secondary school pupils thrive in smaller classes, scholars advise minister', September 18).  Its effectiveness decreases as students get older. Therefore, it is impractical to adopt this policy in secondary schools.  
Second, according to the Education Bureau, Form One  numbers will drop from 75,400 in  to 53,900 by the end of the 2016-17 academic year. 
It is a misconception that students will benefit from a reduction of class sizes.  
One academic noted that the potential benefits of small classes depend on the ability of teachers to make the best use of the environment, and their ability to promote group work.  
Most of Hong Kong's teachers lack the necessary training and experience for such classes, and our schools were not designed for them.  
Perhaps the main motivation for supporting this policy is to ensure future job security for teachers.
While it is important to protect the interests of teachers, it is more important to prevent  future generations from being exploited.  
Ho Kam-tong, Yuen Long
Good schools will lose out
I refer to the report ('Early retirement deal likely for teachers', September 15).
I do not think the best way to deal with the problem of falling rolls is to  cut classes and schools. Instead, we should reduce the number of pupils in a class. 
Pupils and teachers can benefit from smaller classes.  
The teacher will have the time to take a more interactive approach and this can help students to learn more.
We have to prepare for the fact that in five to six years student numbers will increase.  
I am opposed to proposals for an  early retirement scheme. 
If too many teachers take early retirement, we could face a shortage of manpower when student numbers go up again at the secondary level.  
Some teachers who leave the profession may have difficulty finding another suitable job that enables them to support themselves, because the environment in the jobs market is now very competitive.  
This could lead to a rise in the unemployment rate, which is bad for society.
I am also opposed to the idea of forcing good schools to cut class numbers to help the inferior institutions. 
The fact is that the good schools produce better students, because there is a superior learning atmosphere.  
I urge the government to try to  come up with better solutions to the problem of insufficient enrolment of Form One secondary students.  
Philip Chan Hang-chun, Tsuen Wan
We must save our heritage
Given the fact that land in Hong Kong is so valuable, heritage revitalisation schemes can often prove costly.  
However, more citizens have been calling for historical buildings to be preserved in the SAR, as they form part of our collective memory.  
I believe the government has approved some excellent schemes. We can all benefit from these projects, which preserve our past. 
They can help to educate future generations about the culture and way of life of old Hong Kong.  
Take, for example, the redevelopment of the Blue House in Wan Chai ('Heritage projects stay in hands of local groups', September 16).
After the renovation work is finished, residents will be able to remain in the building and maintain the lifestyle and relationships that have developed over the years.  Thanks to the project, conditions for the residents will improve, with better facilities.  
Also,  a revamped stone-house cluster in Lok Fu will provide a meeting place for young people ('Church to renovate stone houses', September 16).  
I believe these heritage projects can bring considerable benefits not just to residents but also to society as a whole.  
Nevertheless, they require adequate planning.
I do not want to see a situation where a lot of money is spent on projects that bring no advantages to society.  
Cheung Yin-ting, Fanling
Nations should work together
It is encouraging to learn that there is less poverty  ('World poverty eases sharply, but not everywhere', September 17). 
Thanks to economic growth on the mainland,  it is expected the number of people living  below the international poverty line will drop to 5 per cent by 2015. More  children  will have the chance to go to school, which is a basic human right. 
The major cause of poverty is uneven distribution of resources.  
If the gap between the rich and poor widens, this can lead to  increased public anger.  
It is important for all nations to work together to help the poor and to make a commitment to eradicate poverty.  
I would like to see more job opportunities being provided to the underprivileged, with the focus on agricultural productivity.
Developed countries must do more to help developing nations and help them to create more job opportunities.  We live in an era of globalisation, which is why countries must work together and push forward with economic development.
Poverty is an obstacle to economic growth, and can lead to stagnation. Countries must try to  ensure this does not happen.  
Becky Chan Lai-man, Kwun Tong
Gaelic games good for city
Your editorial questioning the value of 'vanity projects' such as the Asian Games was most welcome ('Time to enhance access to sporting facilities', September 20). 
Such events are very costly and don't attract great numbers of people to the city. 
Hong Kong already has a myriad of diverse sporting events that attract little attention outside their own communities. For example, on September 25 and 26 at King's Park, Kowloon, the  Asian Gaelic Games will be hosted by the Irish community. 
This event will attract more than 700 athletes from 14  countries and twice that number of high-spending visitors. 
It is organised by hard-working volunteers who sacrifice a lot  of their own time and money to bring  games such as Gaelic football and hurling to a wider audience. This and other events hosted by  minority communities bring enormous cultural and economic benefits to Hong Kong at no cost to the public purse but  go largely unnoticed in the wider community and in the media. 
John Hone, Mid-Levels
Road pricing is the answer
The proposed rise in the tolls for the Eastern Harbour Tunnel has resulted in the usual populist requests to give motorists more subsidies. 
The usual suggestions are either buying out the franchises or cross-subsidising from an increase in the Cross-Harbour Tunnel tolls. But a 2008  air quality report from the  Council for Sustainable Development  found that a majority of people surveyed  supported road pricing. 
More than half of the respondents also indicated that  road-pricing revenue should be used to subsidise environmentally friendly transport systems. So perhaps rather than calling for additional giveaways to motorists that will result in even more congestion, the more populist approach would be to tackle roadside pollution by trying to manage peak-time congestion. 
The additional revenue from road pricing schemes could be used to replace the ageing diesel fleet of buses.
Edward Rossiter, Kowloon Tong
Get banks to put HQ in city
It is rumoured that HSBC and Standard Chartered Bank  are considering moving their headquarters out of Britain. 
I hope if they decide to move, that the Hong Kong government will persuade them to relocate to Hong Kong.  
Because of the long historical links these banks have had with Hong Kong, they are allowed to issue banknotes here.  
However, if HSBC decided to move its headquarters to Australia, as some predict, then the SAR government or the Monetary Authority may have to consider whether they should still be allowed to continue as a note-issuing bank in  Hong Kong. 
It doesn't make sense for an Australian bank to issue notes here.
Alan Lo, North Point
Simple way to ease congestion
Traffic in Central is busy, and there is a point in Queen's Road Central where needless congestion is created and can be avoided. It is just in  front of New World Tower.  
There is already a parking area opposite this building  at the Landmark Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Therefore, the  section in front of New World Tower between Duddell Street and Wyndham Street should be  marked with double yellow lines.  
It would also make things easier for vehicles wanting to get in the correct lane before turning into  D'Aguilar Street.
Allan Leung, Central



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