After reading the features from
CUP Magazine November 2009 Issue 94, I have the following the add to the discussion. I am in agreement with Mr. Chip Tao regarding the failed attempt in driving the Hong Kong's education system in including teaching subject of Liberal Studies or the so-called General Studies (通識教學)
I think placing a label or having a category of its own is already an incorrect approach to the concept of Liberty Studies / General Studies. It is a life long learning process or "life experiences" for a lack of a better word. It is an attitudes towards learning, there are no specific subject areas to teach; the quest to learn has to be self-motivated, knowledge-driven and self-experienced. I know it is lame to say it but it is not about what you have learned, it is about how you are to process / apply what you have learned. General studies to me is "living" or perhaps "
the desire to live your life to the fullest."
One of the main sources of knowledge is from the news / newspapers; however many students and youngsters in Hong Kong could not care less about current affairs. Go grab one of Hong Kong's Chinese-based newspapers and there is a high chance you may find the Entertainment related sections to be the thickest and that they are the only sections many youngsters care to read. Again, it is the
attitude towards knowledge that has to be changed, forcing the subject of General Studies as part of the school curriculum would change nothing!
How did we come to this? In my opinion, there are many factors in my opinion, the Chinese culture developed over the past few centuries is one major factor and the relatively short-sightedness of the Hong Kong's society (due to its unique history) can be another. I am not going to go into details of the reasons behind it because I am not an expert in social sciences or cultural studies; but what I do know is that we should act fast before our next generation starts to have difficulties in developing logical & independent thinking or even worst, no interest in learning!
Cover Page from
CUP Magazine
