The First Six Years 1963-69

Selected principals o f local secondary schools ， invited to serve as the School's Honorary Supervisors ， give personal guidance to the students in their teaching practice. The Honorary Supervisor System is not only o f invaluable assistance to the student as he gains practical experience in the classroom, but also serves as a good link between the School and the local secondary school system. In 1967/68 ， the School o f Education introduced a two-year part-time evening course leading to a Diploma in Education for the advancement o f those who are already engaged in teaching in the secondary schools. This conforms to the policy enunicated in the “ Report on School o f Education" that the programme w ill be designed to satisfy the needs o f the community, the employers and the students. In the curriculum, emphasis is placed on teaching practice ， which occupies ten weeks o f the academic year and provides for strong subject matter specialization. Theoretical studies are con centrated in four months from December to March each year w ith the exception o f a short introductory course o f about five weeks which is given at the beginning o f the academic year. In line w ith the practice o f other units o f the University ， the diploma exami nation is conducted not only by the staff o f the School ， but also by external examiners to maintain the necessary high academic standard. The Advisory Board on policy matters is chaired by Dr. the Hon. P. C. Woo ， a member o f the University Council and the Government Legislative Council. Members o f this Board include two from overseas, namely, the Director o f the Institute o f Educa tion o f the University o f London and Professor George B ereday o f Columbia University. The Hong Kong Government Education Department is represented by its Director. The School o f Education has its own reference lib ra ry w ith some 3,370 Chinese and Western books on education and related fields. In addition, the library subscribes to more than 70 periodi cals. Although lim ited in resources and personnel, the School o f Education is keenly aware o f the critica l need for research in the field o f primary and secondary education in Hong Kong. This need is reflected by the constant criticism o f the present system registered by parents ， teachers and the community at large. The Vice-Chancellor feels very strongly that the University has a major responsibility to propose improvements in the educational process and is personally negotiating w ith outside sources to obtain funds for research on specific educational projects. Among those selected for urgent attention are the curriculum in secondary schools and the teaching o f Chinese Language and Literature. 54