Newsletter No. 23

N o 2 3 October 1991 • C U HK N e w s l e t t e r - A C l o s e l y - Kn it C o mm u n i ty The School of Education started o ff as a place for training university graduates to become p r o f es s i onal teachers at the senior secondary level. In the first year, only CUHK graduates were admitted and there were merely 21 f u l l - t ime students. Although the school was later open to graduates of other recognized tertiary institutions and part-time students, student enrolment remained small in the early years. It was largely because a diploma-in-education wasn't then a prerequisite for the teaching profession and couldn't help teachers gain any extra increments in salary. Bu t smallness had its obv i ous merits. Teacher-student ratio was high and teacher-student relationships were close. It was not uncommon that several lecturers worked together to teach one course; neither was it unusual for a teacher to lecture to a single student in a large classroom. Relationship among staff members was equally cordial in this small community. Wh i le the first and second directors of the school were appointed on a concurrent basis and could visit the school only once every week, they took pains to maintain close interaction with all teachers and staff. The first director of the school was Mr. H. T. Wu, the University Registrar, and the second one was Mr. T. C. Cheng, head of United College. Both organized outings, visits and social gatherings for staff members and their families from time to time. Mr. T. C. Cheng particularly liked to treat staff members to sumptuous meals in his residence or in the Country Club. He also took them to junk trips and even led tours to mainland China. The School of Education was a small school then but also one big family. G r a d u al Changes Over the years the School of Education has grown a lot: more staff have been recruited, student numbers have steadily increased, and the number of courses currently offered amounts to over 160. It moved on to the Chung Chi campus in Sha Tin in 1973 and was later relocated to the Ho T im Building. In 26 years it has trained for Hong Kong some 6,000 secondary school teachers and educational specialists, and by 1991-92, it has attained equal status with the six other faculties of the University: arts, business administration, engineering, medicine, science, and social science. W i t h this newly acquired status, the Faculty of Education's four constituent departments (ie, Edu c a t i onal Psychology, Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Administration and Policy, and Physical Education) w i l l strive for further progress and greater achievements in teaching and research. But their veterans w i ll still miss their first home in Nathan Road • S e r v i c e s t o t h e C o m m u n i t y a n d I n t e r n a t i o n al O r g a n i z a t i o ns - Mr. Stephen C. Yam, lecturer in accountancy, has been coopted a member of the Health, Education and Welfare Committee of the Sha Tin District Board from 1st September 1991 to 30th September 1992. - Prof. Patrick C. P. Ho, professor of surgery, has been reappointed a member of the Preliminary investigation Committee, Medical Council of Hong Kong for one year from 1st September 1991. - Dr. P, Y. Tsao, lecturer in music, has been reappointed by the Urban Council as an honorary adviser of the Hong Kong Museum of History from 16th September 1991 to 30th September 1992. • Prof. S. T. Chang of the Department of Biology was elected a member of the Board of the Biofocus Foundation of the World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS), Sweden, in September 1991. (All information in this section is provided by the Information Office) CUH K Newslette r W e w e l c o m e y o u r c o n t r i b u t i o n s 1 Items for the next issue (mid-November 1991) should reach the Editor by 26th October 1991. 2. A ll contributions and suggestions should be sent to the Editor, CUHK Newsletter, c/o the Publication Office, University Secretariat, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (ext. 7297). 3. Contributions should bear the writers name and contact telephone number, and may be published under pseudonyms. Articles without Chinese translations will appear in the English version of the Newsletter only No anonymous letters will be published. 4. The Editor reserves the right to reject contributions and to edit all articles for reasons of clarity,lengthor grammar. Those who do not wish to have their articles amended should indicate clearly in writing. 5. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced without the written consent of the Editor. 6. This publication has a circulation of 1,100 and is primarily intended for staff members of CUHK.Copiesare also sent to local educational institutions and individuals associated with the University, Those who wish included on the mailing list please contact the Newsletter direct. Published by the Publication Office, The Chinese University of Hong Kong . Editor: Amy K. Y. Leung Assistant Editors : K. L Wan; Florence Chan Graphic A r t i s t: StellaP.C.Lai 8