Tuesday, September 05, 2006

New and sad beginning

450"So what have they come up with this year?"
I guess local educators have much much more to ponder about than this boy does. When the new school year officially started yesterday came the sad news that a Form 3 (Grade 9) retained student committed suicide, leaving a note saying the pressure from school was unbearable. There are lots of madness going on in HK's education system which led to this tragedy and I just feel sorry for that boy.
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posted by Lisi at 5:28 PM

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Comments on "New and sad beginning"

　

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (September 05, 2006 6:53 PM) : 

This is a really sad and shocking news. Unbearable as in too many work to do, or as in too many hours to attend the school? What's happening to extra time activities - in school- which do not include studying, but more like outside activities, does that exist there too?

　

Blogger Ineke said ... (September 05, 2006 7:19 PM) : 

That is really horrible.
I think in general there is more pressure on Chinese kids (but i may be on slippery ice here)to perform at school than we have here. I too have heard of the suicide rates of school aged children.

　

Blogger Lisi said ... (September 05, 2006 7:57 PM) : 

I'm no expert in education, I just feel sorry for these kids. The boy who killed himself was in an elite and very competitive boys' school, and the pressure of going back to school as a retained student was probably too dreadful to him...sigh...and I do know of some HongKongers emigrating for the good of their kids.

　

Blogger Chantal said ... (September 05, 2006 8:39 PM) : 

nice capture.

　

Blogger Kala said ... (September 05, 2006 9:36 PM) : 

thats quite sad - just thinking about school starting must be terrifying for some kids knowing the pressure to perform. Hope the educators will do something to prevent this tragedy from happening again

　

Blogger Jean said ... (September 05, 2006 9:39 PM) : 

Such a sad story but I feel it is happening all over the world. Great photo!

　

Blogger Felicia said ... (September 06, 2006 2:04 AM) : 

It is very sad that school has become more stressful and competitive for young people. There are also kids killing other kids as is the case in the US. When I look at your photo, it makes me hope for children to have of lives of innocence and joy.

　

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (September 06, 2006 3:04 AM) : 

i pity the kids these days. After school they have to go for tuition. On weekends go for special classes..non-stop! Parents fail to realise some kids take pressure better than others.. *sigh*

　

Blogger Citizen_Stu said ... (September 06, 2006 4:43 AM) : 

That's sad to hear.

　

Blogger Bob said ... (September 06, 2006 6:28 AM) : 

All in uniform. My daughter (11) goes to a state school and they wear what they like (except when parents tell them no).

Maybe there should be more emphasis on emotional and social development than performance - or maybe I'm just being naive.

　

Blogger Ame said ... (September 06, 2006 11:21 AM) : 

So sad Lisi...All very valid comments here...and it's heart-wrenching hearing about incidents like this...unfortunately, knowing the Asian push for education from my husband's side of the family, sometimes the parents feel the pressure almost more than the kids themselves...and then they in turn push their children to keep up with the "Joneses"...too bad the communication lines aren't as open and the counselling sevices as readily available as they could be. )=

　

Blogger Meg said ... (September 06, 2006 4:04 PM) : 

Very sad story, but a great photo.

　

Blogger ~tanty~ said ... (September 06, 2006 6:09 PM) : 

Oh my God, that was shock and very tragic. I feel so sorry for that boy. I just wondering what kind of pressure he had from school. I hope the government and the educators pay extra attention on this matter.

　

Blogger Lisi said ... (September 06, 2006 7:45 PM) : 

Yes, you are right in saying that counselling and some kind of emotional support are essential. It is also, as Ame knows, the sense of value that emphasize too much on a child's academic performance that needs to be changed.

I have a big extended family in Canada and Europe, and I always consider those who attend schools overseas the luckier ones...shhhh, don't tell my sister...

Thank you for your footprints and maybe I'll show you more about the education here. :-)

　

Blogger Mary Stebbins Taitt said ... (September 08, 2006 1:25 PM) : 

How very sad, a good photo to go with a sad story.

Mary IMAGIK

　

Blogger Matthieu said ... (September 09, 2006 5:26 AM) : 

A studious looking child wearing a nice uniform. Gorgeous !

Greetings from Cherbourg-Octeville (France)

　

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