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In Response to Mrs. Fanny Law's Comment

文：Cogitatio

Dear Mrs. Law,

I am writing in response to the comment you made on 9th January, 2006 in defence of the Education Reform as the reason for the two teachers committing suicide recently. Your comment went as follows, "If the Education Reform is the real cause for the teachers committing suicide, there should not have been so few cases as two." This comment sturred up strong resentment among the teachers and the general public. As a secondary school teacher, I would like to express my views on your comment, so that my students could see the errors and "stupidity" behind your comment.

First of all, the timing of your comment was inappropriate. The two cases of teachers committing suicide happened within the time span of four days. This aroused concern and worries from the general public for the heavy pressure that Hong Kong teachers are facing. In such a situation, the EMB officials should do or at least say something to calm down the negative emotions and assure the educational field that the government was able to handle the situation. What you said, however, was the exact opposite. You spoke for the government instead of the teachers, and it was the teachers who were influenced the most by the suicidal cases. You took a defensive position and did not show your care and concern for the teachers' feelings. In such a sensitive point of time and while emotions were heated, you sturred up more negative feelings from the teachers and the general public. Don't you think it is unwise to do so if you come out to speak when you are totally not prepared?

You said that there should not be only two cases if the Education Reform was the real cause of teachers committing suicide. Human life is precious and normally we do not want to see any deaths in any situation. But from your wordings and your tone while making the comment, it seems that these two human lives are not precious, and the situation is not yet serious because there are just two deaths! Do you expect more deaths in order to convince you of the pressure faced by Hong Kong teachers? If this is really the message that you give to the teachers, aren't you trying to push us to death?

You said that there would have been more cases of suicide if the Education Reform was the cause of the problem. If you foresee that the Education Reform could push the teachers to the extreme and force more teachers to commit suicide, shouldn't you stop the Education Reform right now?

The teachers in Hong Kong are now facing heavy pressure from all sides --- the Education Reform from the government, expectations from the society, complaints from parents and needs from students. The government should do something to alleviate the pressure faced by the teachers. Your comment, made in such a sensitive point of time, proves that you are not sensitive enough towards the feelings of the general public. In order to calm down the emotions sturred up by your comment, I would like to suggest you to make a public apology to all the teachers.

Cogitatio