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SCMP Reporter

New curriculum has been tough for teachers
It is tragic that some teachers have resorted to suicide, unable to cope with the mounting pressure they faced at work.  
Suicide is never a solution to one's problems. Yet these tragedies force us to ask if there are enough teachers to enable schools to function properly.  
Today's teachers have unusually heavy workloads.  
First of all, they are having to adjust to the new  curriculum. This curriculum recognises the importance of developing students' critical and analytical  skills. It requires a new approach to teaching and it takes time to adjust.
During the first stage of this curriculum teachers have had to explore the teaching material themselves.  
Second, education now places emphasis on real-life experiences outside the classroom environment. This involves a wide range of non-academic activities for teachers. They also face a great deal of administrative work. 
All these responsibilities lead to a heavier workload and obviously some individuals have been unable to cope. 
They have found the pressure has made it difficult for them to manage their negative emotions. After all, they are only human and striking the right balance in your job can sometimes prove difficult.  
Too much stress adversely affects the quality of a teacher's performance. 
This is exacerbated by  fear of being laid off because of school closures brought about  by falling student enrolment rates.  
There should be job security for teachers so they can dedicate themselves to passing on their knowledge to students and inspiring them.  Such job security is possible with small-class teaching. This policy would also help reduce teachers' workload.  
The present problem can be dealt with by appointing more teaching professionals so the workload can be shared. There could also be a more efficient division of labour.  For instance, some teachers should focus on teaching, while others could devote their time to administrative duties.
Help should be offered to those people who are finding they cannot cope with the pressure. This could avert a future tragedy.  
Irene Sze Ka-po, Kwai Chung
Class policy a false economy
Recently, someone orchestrated a visit to the Legislative Council by young athletes to try to persuade them to approve financing for the Asia Games in 2023, in which they have a close interest.
I wonder if someone could orchestrate a similar group of young people, with  broader interests, to try to persuade Legco not to approve false economies  in their education by keeping large classes. 
This would seem to have a far greater impact on the future economy of Hong Kong than one expensive sporting event.
Incidentally, would the  education minister please respond to my previous request in these pages for a cost/benefit analysis of the two alternatives: cutting the number of large classes versus keeping the number of classes with smaller numbers? 
I assume  he must have done this to have made his decision.  Apart from assisting a decision on what to do, it would be an interesting comparison with the cost of the Asian Games project.
S. P. Li, Lantau
Dog owners irresponsible
I appreciate that many people love to keep dogs as pets. 
In my estate, residents are allowed to keep them. However, it is important that  they recognise their responsibilities. They must ensure their pets do not foul public areas and that the animals are obedient. 
The problem I find is that such areas do have dog excrement, which causes hygiene problems. 
Owners do not obey estate rules when they are taking their dogs for a walk. 
They  often go out late at night, and residents are woken by the sound of barking. This is especially bad for people living on lower floors.  
Owners should always muzzle their dogs when they are taken outside, and the animals should be on a leash so they cannot walk around freely and possibly harm pedestrians. Not everyone likes dogs, and some people are afraid of them. They could feel intimidated if the animal is not muzzled, and this is unfair.  
Also, owners should listen to security guards when there has been a complaint. 
Public areas should be kept clean, and residents should be able to walk in safety. Dog owners should appreciate this and ensure their dogs  obey them and do no harm.  
Cynthia Sze, Tsuen Wan 
Michelin is  out of touch
I do not agree with the claim that three Michelin stars for Sun Tung Lok 'further cements the city as a gastronomic capital' ('3 Michelin stars for shark's fin restaurant', December 3).  This award further cements Hong Kong as one of the world centres for the barbaric and environmentally indefensible shark fin trade. It also shows how blinkered, anachronistic and out of touch the Michelin organisation is.
Sadly, this nonsense will further perpetuate the mystique of shark's fin soup among those for whom money and status are the only values that define their existence.  
Hongkongers must stand up and end this trade. 
Only by protesting  and, if necessary, boycotting these restaurants, will the message ever get through.  
Kerry Hasell, Tai Hang
Air pollution puts off tourists
It upsets me that the quality of Hong Kong's air has deteriorated over the past few years. It puts the health of residents at risk.
It is also having an adverse affect on our tourist industry, with many people deciding not to visit the city because of the high pollution levels.  
I believe that the government must do more to raise Hongkongers' awareness and help them realise the importance of environmental protection.  
Lily Ma, Tsuen Wan
Officials do not seem to care
Lyall Boswell ('Brain drain report misleads', December 7)  says that most Hong Kong people do not really care about the city's terrible air pollution. I would suggest it at least appears that way. Drivers sitting in their vehicles with idling engines in cool weather is one example. But it is certainly true the government does not care.
This is my 12th year back in Hong Kong. Pollution levels have not dropped, and roadside pollution is worse. To make matters worse, the idling engine ban will be useless  owing to the government caving in to protests.
Also, why as Asia's so-called world city, do we still have 1989 pollution standards? Maybe the Environmental Protection Department can tell me another international city that still has such an old standard. 
Why do we have so many highly polluting vehicles and buses still on our roads? Because government schemes to get old vehicles off our roads failed. Put a timeframe on the most polluting vehicles? No chance, as it would be a 'hardship' on these vehicle owners, so say our leaders. What about the hardship of breathing the filth while walking on our streets? Oh, I forgot, government officials don't need to walk like the rest of us.
The government has failed completely  to clean our air. It does seem that many in Hong Kong, like the government, only  pay lip service to the air pollution problem. I guess it all comes down to money and comfort, even at the expense of our health.
I wonder if any relevant authority would care to explain what a wonderful job they are doing. It should  make interesting reading.
Terry Scott, Sha Tin
Blue skies  can come back
Lyall Boswell's  letter criticised your coverage of a survey on air pollution ('Brain drain report misleads', December 7).  
I used to get angry when I felt shortness of breath during those days when we had hazy skies. Having been to many large cities in other parts of the world, I can tell how bad the air is here, by comparison.   
I had thought about migrating. But I realised that I could not find a place like Hong Kong, packed with all its   metropolitan conveniences and where people speak my mother tongue  of Cantonese. There is an emotional link for Hongkongers. We grew up and were educated here.  
Recently, there has been some good news, with talk of the harbour swim being revived as the water quality has improved. In some rivers in the Pearl River Delta the water is good enough to swim in. Therefore it seems that governments on both sides of the border are trying to improve our damaged environment, although progress is slow.  
I do hope, some day in the future, to see blue skies again in Hong Kong.  
Pang Chi-ming, Fanling
Highlight any access problems
It is good news for many in this city that better provision is soon to be made to enable ready access for the disabled and infirm to more of our public buildings and facilities ('Most public facilities to be accessible to all,' December 8). 
Certainly, in this compact and hilly city, which has numerous footbridges, underpasses and staircases at the approaches to buildings, much needs to be done. 
For example, I recently contacted the Government Property Agency in Wan Chai  asking it to provide handrails at the stairs leading to the Wan Chai Tower building. To  its credit, it very soon did so.
I urge readers to bring to the attention of the authorities any other glaring omissions in terms of missing handrails at staircases or other provisions  that would enable easier access for all.
Paul Surtees, adviser, Hong Kong Federation of the Blind



Letters