2005-2006 新入職教師工作坊

         2005至2006年度天主教學校新入職教師工作坊於八月二十二日假聖瑪加利大堂區中心禮堂舉行。出席的中、小、幼教師近五百人。工作小組特別邀請了陳志明副主教及嘉諾撒聖心學校校長黃若嫻修女為主講嘉賓。 

        工作坊開始前， 先由教育事務主教代表胡路明女士歡迎新教師加入天主教學校大家庭。她引用得撒洛尼前書的章節，指出教育事業是一種召叫，而非單是職業。 她鼓勵教師們要勇敢接受挑戰，為培育未來一代而努力。 

        繼而由陳志明副主教闡釋天主教辦學的精神。陳副主教指出，能進入一所天主教學校任教，是一種召叫及褔份，更是一個使命。由於教師的對象是人，因此先要認識自己，特別是認識自己的強項及弱項。教師要提醒自己不斷的學做人，才可以教導學生尋找正確的人生方向。天主教教育是愛的教育，因此教師們要在工作及人事上懂得如何去愛，而愛是要有諒解，包容，接納，體貼及積極的元素，這樣才可以有效地用愛去改變一切。 

        陳副主教進一步說明教師所扮演的角色。 教師們可以選擇只擔當傳遞知識的工作或是作為一位善牧。善牧以愛關心他的羊群，使牠們得到更豐富的生命。無論是信徒或非信徒，只要時常祈禱，相信耶穌常與我們同在，自然可以面對困難和挑戰。 

        第二個環節，是由黃若嫻修女詮釋天主教教育工作者的使命。黃修女指出教師的工作是培育靈魂，以人為本，屬於不同的層次。她引用不少實例說明要達到這更高的層次，教師要有使命感，更重要的是要用心眼去了解、體諒及關愛學生，才可以帶領他們，不會辜負家長、辦學團體及天主的委托。 

        黃修女再透過小組討論、短片及個人經歷分享讓參加�糽㳜梇郋エu作是一項使命而非職業。憑著犧牲精神、關心與愛，播於學生心中「愛」的種子便能生根成長；而每個學生都是教師生命樂章的延續。最後黃修女以這句說話，「相信我們所教導的，活出自己所教導的，並以身教證明我們所教導是可行的。」作為是次工作坊的結束。 

　

          The Induction Workshop for new teachers of all Catholic schools was held on 22nd August at the Hall of St. Margaret’s Parish Centre.  There was an overwhelming participation of nearly 500 new teachers from secondary, primary and kindergarten sections. 

        The Programme began with Miss Alice Woo, Episcopal Delegate for Education, addressing the audience.  She quoted verses from I Thessalonian to encourage teachers to nurture the younger generation in face of adversity. 

        The first part of the Programme was conducted by Rev. Fr. Dominic Chan, V.G.  He pointed out that it was God’s grace to be teachers in Catholic schools.  Teaching is not only a profession, but also a vocation and a mission.   Since the mission of teachers is to teach human beings, it would be important that they should learn to know more about themselves especially their strength and weakness. To understand oneself would be a continuous learning process.  It is upon knowing oneself that teachers would be able to guide their students.  At the same time, it is equally important to know how to love since the vision of Catholic education is to promote Christ’s teaching of love and service.  Knowing how to love would involve understanding, forgiveness, acceptance, consideration and a positive attitude.  It is with all these elements that teachers could nurture the younger generation to strive for the betterment of this world.  Teachers could choose either to be simply an instructor or a shepherd who cared for his sheep.  Fr. Chan hoped that through constant prayer and faith in God, new teachers could encounter all difficulties with confidence. 

        In the second session Sr. Cecilia Wong, Principal of Sacred Heart Canossian School, quoted real life examples from her own experiences that the teaching profession was not only a job.  Unlike a job which only demands excellence, effectiveness and efficiency, the teaching profession requires a much higher level of commitment, self-sacrifice, a strong sense of responsibility and genuine love for the students.  Teachers should believe what they teach, live what they teach and put their words into practice.   It is only in doing so that teachers could really be able to lead students to a brighter future.