Hi all.....it's me, Meat Pao.
First of all, this is an interesting topic.
However, we can also say that this is not an interesting topic at
all.
A teacher wrote that he is gay, then the school and MoE became
uncomfortable.
So, what is the issue here..?
Everything is normal.
What do you expect?
A teacher wrote that he is gay, then the school and MoE welcomed
him and encouraged more gay teachers to do the same. They say that
it is his personal freedom, and the school and MoE can accept him
as a gay, no problem.
Do you expect this kind of line....?
If I read this kind of article in newspaper, I would be shocked,
and I dont know which country I live in. I would be confused and
surprised, how come now the education sector already changed so
drastically?
Will you be surprised too? You will be, right?
The response by MoE, and the school, is just a common, expected
response from one of main institutions of our society. As long as
our wider society cannot fully accept homosexuality, then this main
pillar will reflect this view.
Education is very 'pure' and conservative sector. Everything
concerning kids is 'conservative'. You see even violent movies are
supposed to be moved to midnight because kids are supposed to sleep
already and not watch TV by that time. We as a society want to
protect our kids.
The response by MoE is very telling: "...does not condone any open
espousal of homosexuality by a teacher through any form" as
"(teachers) are often seen as role models by their students"
From there it already captures the whole essence, the position and
the idea, the whole notion that education is 'conservative' ,
teachers are 'role models' , and kids are to be 'protected', and
this is true everywhere in the world.
I would be very concerned, the day MoE reversed this position. But
it will never happen.
As to the debate about the nature of homosexuality, lets just
say.....its irrelevant. It's not what the scientists say, and it's
not whether it is right or wrong, acceptable or not acceptable, but
rather, it is what the neighbourhood uncle, aunty, your next-door
neighbour say. What is the perception in society. People still
think homosexuality is a 'deviation'. This is what matters. As long
as the wider view of the society remains like this, the education
sector, as a bulwark, will reflect this view, for sure. And that is
what they are supposed to do.
Meat Pao.
