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Letters | Hong Kong’s stressed-out teachers should speak up and challenge unfair treatment

  • If voicing their objections at school doesn’t help, teachers must publicise their concerns through the mass media

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Hong Kong teachers protest over stressful conditions and appeal for better emotional support in September 2009. Photo: Felix Wong
Letters
I am writing in response to the article “Hong Kong teacher and librarian killed in campus fall ‘did a demanding and misunderstood job’” (March 11).
As I work in the field of education myself, I was extremely saddened by the news. It appears that stress from work got the better of the teacher. My thoughts go out to her family and friends, as well as school staff, students and parents who are undergoing an emotional time.
To teachers under stress from work, I hope you can find ways to relieve your stress and frustration and that you will never choose the path of no return.
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In the face of unfair treatment, stand up for yourself by making your voice and stance clearly and firmly heard. Exhaust all existing mechanisms of lodging a complaint and, if justice is still not done, publicise your experience by making full use of the mass and social media, such as YouTube, Facebook and newspapers. Let the public help direct the unreasonable stress back to where it belongs.

Consider taking a break or another job if the stress still proves too much. There is more than one way and one place to realise your dream as an educator.

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We always tell our students not to see death as the solution to problems. Therefore, we should also be good role models for them.

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