My conviction about RS

When I first came to Shung Tak, I made myself clear to Mr. Yau, the then vice-principal, that my first priority is RS, then Computer and English last. My CEE and AL English results were mediocre, if I may praise myself as such. I did not study English in the university. I have never spent any time in any English speaking land, except for one week in Malaysia. If you think I am proficient enough, credit should go to La Salle College and Shung Tak. Teaching in English for more than 30 years definitely leaves its mark in me.
RS is an examination subject. These days, not many diocesan schools offer it. Lucky me, I have never stopped teaching it in my career and I tell myself if, one day, the school did not offer this examination subject, it would be high time I left. I have no reasonable defence for my position. Why does the Church operate schools? Its aim must be the Christian formation of young people. Equipping young people for their future is already a noble enough aim. But Catholic schools can never rid themselves of their responsibility to bring young people near to Christ. Granted this, why take public examination? Isn't Ethics and Religious Education good enough? I agree. Given the different situation each Catholic school is in, it is up to each of them to decide. Say, they may not have Catholic teachers confident enough to take up the challenge. They can only opt out. But I would say that RS has its effective advantages in Christian formation. As an examination subject, RS is more effective in sinking the Christian values deeper into the hearts of these young people. This is my conviction and here is a donkey stubborn enough to take up the challenge. Period.
Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and get gain";
whereas you do not know about tomorrow. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes (James 4:13-14).
Therefore, Mr. Kwok, don't be so confident in your plans. See? Mr. Ng has left you so suddenly. Rather, seek the will of your God.
Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and we shall do this or that." (James 4:15)
Thank you, James, for reminding me of my arrogance. I should be more open minded.
Last Sunday, Shung Tak held an S3 parents meeting to explain the S4 curriculum to be offered next September. The school plans to put English Literature back to the formal curriculum in the coming academic year. Naturally, parents asked why not make RS elective. The principal was not able to give a convincing answer. He knew little about the curriculum. Neither did John. The principal could only reiterate the official position of the Church, that the School Sponsoring Body has the duty and the right to make RS compulsory. But here lies the chink of her armour. The school has allowed the science students to choose between RS and Computer! She is now suffering from this bad decision, inviting more demands for choices between RS and English Literature, RS and Economics etc. Indeed, had the principal known the syllabus better, he would have made use of the pornographic pictures of artists on the Internet to explain that RS would be the best candidate to deal with this issue in the classroom. This issue covers at least 6 topics in the RS syllabus. What is more, these topics would be the hottest ones to appear in the next examination paper! OK, Mr. Kwok, why didn't you attend that meeting to persuade the parents? May I decline to answer?

My Advocate, guide me and channel my energy to wherever You will. I am not a good enough defender of RS. I am only a teacher, a not so useful servant of Yours. Have mercy on my students and enkindle their interest in this subject. Our Lady, I don't have enough wine. You see our poverty. Ask your Son to satisfy our needs. Amen.