Key Words: moral and national education course in Hong Kong, Teachers' Day

HK schools have free choice on national education: HK Chief Executive

The controversy over the "moral and national education course" （MNE） have captivated Hong Kong and Chinese mainland media in recent weeks, producing a wide range of voices and opinions on the future of Chinese national identity. 

Protests sparked after the Hong Kong government mandated local schools to administer the MNE curriculum by 2015, with some local residents accusing the government of "brainwashing" Hong Kong students.

As a result, the city's Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying compromised by allowing Hong Kong schools to decide when and how to carry out the MNE themselves.

Many mainland media outlets countered the stance of protesters. Op-ed website Guancha.cn, which refuted the claims of "brainwashing" and explained the course does not contain any indoctrinating contents and the small government of Hong Kong is ill equipped to control the circulation of information in such an international metropolis.

The site went on to accuse some aspects of the protest are actually brainwashing people.  "During a protest on July 29, protesters taught children to yell slogans they don't understand at all. This was ridiculed by Hong Kong residents as brainwashing," said the site.

Hong Kong-based Ta Kung Pao asserts that people should view the MNE course from various points of view and that perhaps some are contesting the curriculum on a reflex without having read it carefully.

The paper regards national identity as the essential element to construct and develop a country and that the MNE would give Hong Kong students a competitive leg up in the future. 

News site Caixun.com appealed for people to calm down and single out the essence of the controversy - disagreement over national education policy. Though there is difference of ideology between the mainland and Hong Kong, this is not a conflict between enemies. The site said that as long as the Hong Kong government takes the first step, students should respond and allow for progress to continue. 

Low pay, public opinion diminish teachers' dignity

In anticipation of Teachers' Day, instead of merely praising educator's efforts this year Chinese media has been carefully examining what we as a nation still need to do to improve the education system and the social status of teachers after a slew of recent scandals has challenged their public image.

The Beijing Times ran an article with the headline "Everyone Must Protect Teachers' Dignity" saying one real way to show our appreciation is to reflect on the immense pressure on teachers, and the fact that with all the opportunities for bribery that come with an exam-oriented education system, it is difficult for teachers to resist.

However, the paper still emphasized that among the 17 million teachers and educators across the country, there are some that from time to time provide us with genuine acts of compassion and dedication.

The Changjiang Daily echoed this view, saying that this current public image crisis is the product of the times, citing recent scandals such as plagiarized essays, teachers abandoning students during earthquakes and cases of molestation. Such incidents have shaped recent attitudes toward teachers' dignity, morality and integrity.

Dignity is the foundation of teachers' integrity, said the paper, and if society does not compensate its educators, it can't expect them to remain fair and just. "How can you talk about teachers' dignity when their salary is much lower than a public servant, for example?" asked the paper.

Chrsi.com, a higher education information site, said despite their contributions to society, teachers do not get the understanding and recognition they deserve, blaming unfair public opinion for restricting their advancement in society.

"We owe our teachers three debts," said the Xinhua News Agency blog. First, we lack sincere respect and veneration for them. Also, we are still far from investing enough into education, such as increased salaries. Finally, we owe teachers a hope for reform, such as the imbalance of development in compulsory education and the bureaucracy of the administrative-style education system.