How can we apply the movie to Hong Kong context?

The History boysGroup 5

Jennifer MoRyan LeeKatrina Tsang Phoebe YungCarson Poon Ryan WongSmith Tsang

PLOTIn the early 1980s

Cutlers' Grammar School, Sheffield

A group of history pupils preparing for the Oxbridge entrance examinations

Under the guidance of three teachers (Hector, Irwin and Lintott) with different teaching styles

Do all students in the school experience the same curriculum?NO.

Is what taught aimed at the interests or needs of academically inclined students who will go to on to higher education and elite roles?

YES AIMS OF EDUCATIONThe headmaster:To cope with exams and get into famous universities like oxford and cambridge

Hector:To inspire students in different aspectsGet rid of the constraints of the education systemRecapIdealism (Plato)Idea Vs. Ideals

Realism (Aristotle)We live in a world of objects, personal& phenomenon that are external to us

Pragmatism (John Dewey) Ideas are instruments

Postmodernism (Derrida)Challenge the canonHeadmasterDecision marker of this Grammar SchoolVery keen to see the 8 boys to enter OxbridgeStrategicSeek for perfection

6Movie Time Short summaryTeaching/supervision practices

- Advocates General Studies and PE lessonsA renaissance man- Hires Irwin To help preparing the boys for theOxbridgeentrance examinations.

Discussion TimeWhat philosophical perspectives does the Headmaster possess?

What is your rationale behind??

Idealism

IRWINSubject matter? Both official& unofficial history Visiting historical sites

Classroom practices? Student-oriented Process-oriented

IRWINRespect students background? Without any disrespectful attitudes towards different races

Opinions about education? Analysis Discovery

Movie Time Discussion TimeWhat philosophical perspectives does Irwin possess?

What is your rationale behind??

IRWINPhilosophical position:

Postmodernism

Challenge& deconstruct the canon Give equal opportunity to all students

IRWIN2. Pragmatism Teach out of classroom (ie. Out of the boundary).

Allow students to discuss freely among themselves

Hector

Introduction to HectorGeneral studies Compound adjectives Poetry

Lesson is hardly organizedCan easily be distracted by students Insists way of teaching

Students perspectiveenjoys acting no use for examination human round accept Hector is a strange person Movie Time Discussion TimeWhat philosophical perspectives does Hector possess?

What is your rationale behind??

IdealistHectors idea on knowledge Specific Accumulated by peopleBehavior of people Accept the knowledgeNeed not to understand at oncePass it on

Postmodernist Challenge the canon of school rulesBeat his studentsChallenge social normQuestion his students for attending Oxford / CambridgeTouching students genital area

Not PragmatistHectors viewknowledge is long lasting

Mrs. Lintott

Introduction to Mrs. LintottSchool history teacherAn excellent teacherTraditional teaching methods to teach historyNot only for their examination - can improve and increase their mind of historyWrite lots of essay to build up the knowledge

Use concise and orderly statement to express the content of the subject(history)Facts! Facts! Facts!Talk to RudgeFactfactfact Want the students to share their problem and give the nickname to her(Irwin , Hector)

Discussion TimeWhat philosophical perspectives does Mrs. Lincott possess?

What is your rationale behind??

Movie Time Realism

Require their students to know and remember the fact of the history and use the fact for their historys essayShould have the evidence to answer the question(FACT)The students should make the decision to choose which facts is suitable for the essay

Pragmatism

requires the students fully remember the facts and know how to answer the question and write the essay. It is connect for the situation(exam)she hope her students can have the good future and ask them what they do now. It expresses she think the education can connect to the society( in the end of the film)

How can we apply the movie to Hong Kong context?The students in the movie and the HK students are both examination-oriented.They both aim at getting high marks in exam and therefore put the emphasis on memorizing all the facts instead of developing their own thinking.As a result, students fail to develop analytical skills and critical thinking ability.

Have we made any attempts to solve this problem?In fact, the introduction of Liberal Studies is aimed at solving this problem.As there isnt a fixed syllabus, teachers can act as a guide to help students explore different issues instead of forcing students to memorize the facts.Students can truly develop their own individual thinking.

Conclusion(i) What is the theme/message of this film what are we being asked to accept?

(ii) Do we accept/reject the views?

Timms: I don't always understand poetry!Hector: You don't always understand it? Timms, I never understand it. But learn it now, know it now and you will understand it... whenever.Education is about inspiring.It is the quality of teaching that matters, but not the quantity.

As prospective teachers, we should bear in .

Thank you