Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Cho-Yee To
71
CUHK Education Journal Vol. 10 No. 2 1982
72
Cho-yee To Teaching As A Profession
V. The Importance of Public Support for professional matters, they will not be able
to develop their potential. Thus, society will
So far, we have been discussing how suffer from a permanent loss, that is, the absence
teachers and their organizations should and of a fully developed education profession to
could upgrade their professional functions and serve it.
make greater contributions to society. We have The Hong Kong community has
not talked about how society in turn should traditionally valued the education of its
support the teaching profession. Dedicated children very highly. Here, the prospect that
teachers with clear objectives can accomplish the public will support the advancement of
a lot. Their initiative and effort can bring about teaching as a profession is good, so long as it
substantial educational and cultural changes. is persuaded that a strong teaching profession
But teachers cannot accomplish as much as and a good education are positively related.
they should unless the importance of their With committed teachers, efficient organizations,
non-classroom responsibilities is fully recognized and a sympathetic public, the teaching profession
by society. If teachers have too many subject to will soon transform itself into a leading
teach, they will not have adequate time and profession, and will bear this responsibility
energy to achieve professional growth and with confidence and pride.
extend their professional activities. Also, their
interaction with the young will be on a
Dr. Cho-Yee To is Professor and Director of
mechanical rather than on a human level. If
the School of Education, The Chinese University
teachers are thought to be unqualified or
of Hong Kong.
unprepared to assume greater responsibility
73