Debriefing students on the death of Mr. Ng

Today, I went invigilating HKCEE English in Tin Shui Wai. I distributed question papers and checked the attendance. After returning to Shung Tak, I shared with 4L what I saw. I let them discuss in groups before speaking out to the whole class what they thought about.
Question #1: In which year were most of the candidates born?
Connie gave the correct answer: 1991.
Question #2: Some candidates were born in 1989, 1988. Suggest a probable identity for them.
Anita gave a cautious answer. She was very careful in her wording: They retook the examination. Then Jenny was brave enough to give one of the correct answers: They are repeaters. I supplied the other one: They are S6 students who want to score a better HKCEE English result.
Question #3: One candidate was born in 1971. She took English exams only; and another 1968 and she took many subjects. Suggest reasons.
They discussed among themselves but I let them keep their opinions.
Question #4: After half an hour, 6 out of 150 candidates began to leave. Obviously, they did not write much. Why did they bother to sit for this English exam?
After discussion, Tom said they did not like the subject. Steven or Kelvin, I can't remember clearly who, said they were forced to take the English exam. Actually, this is an open-end question. I myself have no answer. The whole process aimed to facilitate reflection on the purposes and difficulties of study. Study is a life-long process. It is essential for our growth but it is not an easy task.

Though yesterday was a holiday, the school administration held meetings to prepare debriefing students today on the death of Mr. Ng. Today, the first 2 periods became class teacher periods. The school social worker prepared some worksheets to help students release their emotion. I missed the action. But I was told that very many students were emotional and a lot of tears were shed. This is a healthy sign. However, a certain number of them were unable to express their emotion. They mocked others who wept. We should not blame them. Our schooling has almost always been focused on the brain, not the heart. More needs to be done.
After school, it was the teachers' turn to be debriefed. We spent one and a quarter hour in the Conference Room to review students' responses. Most of them are very positive, seeing the fragility and precariousness of life. Through this incident, they treasure more whatever they have in hand --- time, friends, studies and family members. Some students left their worksheets blank. Probably, they were not yet able to handle the incident, did not allow it to sink deep enough into their hearts. The school social worked promised to follow up.
Teachers raised concern over 根叔, a school janitor who worked alongside Mr. Ng in the D&T Room. On Wednesday, at the moment of the traffic accident in which Mr. Ng died, he was repairing a cracked window glass and a broken projection screen in 4L! Of all people in Shung Tak, 根叔 spent the most time with Mr. Ng. May the merciful Lord console him in his quiet depression.

Brenda used to be the Iron Lady in Shung Tak. Today, her eyes were swollen. She had been too much occupied with all sorts of administrative work and she regrets not spending sufficient time to have a good talk with Mr. Ng over the maintenance works in school. Another Ms Li, the Home Economics teacher, is a co-class teacher with Mr. Ng. She fondly remembers Mr. Ng's trademark loud voice. He was strict with students for safety reasons. She said that Mr. Ng had been a very cheerful father-figure to her. The other teachers did not say much. We adults keep our emotions firmly controlled and prefer to remain reticent.

My sweet Jesus, I will not argue with You why, at this moment, You removed Mr. Ng from us, from his family members. Life is a mystery which we may never fathom. May Your will be done. I am sure You are able to bring good things out of sufferings and evils. The time of pains is also a time of grace. May his death sink deeply into our hearts, touch our nerves and bring us closer to You, Lord of Life. Amen.