GSIS and Ma On Shan

[happyhour]

genome,

Don't get me wrong. I never meant that we are supposed to keep our mouths shut and voice no opinion. Having discussion is great and that's why I keep on talking even though many people may not share my views. But there is one thing that I hope will not happen tonight. I hope that everybody will keep his or her emotion under control. Any shouting and finger-pointing will not help and we must avoid doing so.

The truth is I will go along with whatever the Board decides. If they think it's in the best interest of the school to move to MOS, I will go along with it. If they think it's no longer the case because of a change of circumstances, I have no objection either. I have considered the matter carefully but I feel that I am not in a position to make a better judgement of the school than the Board. So long as they are doing all these in good faith and with their best abilities, I have no problem. My only concern is whether the school's standard will remain the best or at least among the best in HK. So I will keep monitoring the quality of education and the public results achieved by the pupils. If there is a deteriorating trend, I will jump ship no matter what. I send my kids to GSIS because I want them to have the best education available in HK. That's the only reason.

By the way, not only the requisitionists have a choice of leaving the school, everybody has the choice if they are not happy with the outcome including the 41.45% of the respondents who voted against the move in the survey, the 38.2% who voted for it, the 18.81% who left it to the Board to make the decision, the vast majority who failed to respond and even the Board members could resign. So nobody is permanent except perhaps the school. Looking at it from this angle, it's the best interest of the school that's important because there will be a lot of students coming in long after our kids left.

Happy hour I hear you re the commuting times and not to be rude but the examples you have given are where people have chosen these times and not had the times forced on them. You have also chosen places where education is still a privelage and not a right. In Hong Kong the education of our children is our right as parents and we have a right and an obligation as parents to be involved in this education and it would be remiss of us just to farm it out to a board without voicing an opinion if something they were doing did not seem right.

You mention trusting the board at this present time I don't. I am worried that they may do something reckless due to the fact that they feel they have no choice and it would be wrong of me as a parent and a member of the GSIS community to allow this to happen without saying anything. They have already closed of the transparency of the vote by asking it to go to ballot. Is this not all about openess and discussion?about parents having the ability to make choices?

It seems to me that if MOS goes ahead you will go along with it I wish you all the best if you decide to do this. I however won't in that I will not be dictated to by a board that has no interest in the views of the parents for whose interests they are meant to be looking out for.

 

[genome]

I agree that the meeting should not turn in to a fight but with emotions running high I think that it might. Especially after the press has now gotten involved with the article in the SCMP.

Re your absolute faith in the board making the right choice that of course is up to you.

I would just like to tell you of a recent story I read where a pilot on an aeroflot flight believed he could fly to New York from Moscow even though he was four times over the legal drinking limit.

The only reason the plane didnt leave was that the passengers protested and had him removed.

 

[happyhour]

The difference is (1) that individual pilot was drunk and (2) the passengers found out that he was drunk and (3) they had him removed. What is happening here is that (1) nobody knows for sure whether the Board is really making a wrong decision and (2) some of the parents take the view or suspect that the decision is wrong and (3) they never try to remove the Board. They continue to let the Board to run the school! Consider what would happen to everyday flights if (1) there is no proof that an individual pilot is drunk and (2) some of the passengers think or suspect that he is drunk and (3) they do not seek to remove the pilot. They continue to let him do the flying. They will just give him direction even though they might not be qualified or even know how to fly a plane. Funny, isn't it?

I agree that the meeting should not turn in to a fight but with emotions running high I think that it might. Especially after the press has now gotten involved with the article in the SCMP.

Re your absolute faith in the board making the right choice that of course is up to you.

I would just like to tell you of a recent story I read where a pilot on an aeroflot flight believed he could fly to New York from Moscow even though he was four times over the legal drinking limit.

The only reason the plane didnt leave was that the passengers protested and had him removed.

 

[genome]

I agree the world is a funny place. I think everyone now just wants to vote to get this over with so we can move on . Happy hour good luck to you and your family and thank you for sharing your opinions I have enjoyed reading them.

Genome

 

[nvmom]

Here is my 2c after observing the discussion here:

1. The HK government will not consider granting a HK island site to GSIS because the parents feel the travel time is long. The reasons being many children in HK travel just as long to school everyday, not to mention those cross-border, those live in outlying island, etc...

2. A friend of mine's son goes to Singapore International School. They live in Northpoint. The travel time is 50-60 minutes each way. Another one live in Olympian city. Travel time each way is 60-90 minutes. Yes, it's a choice. But again, this is not uncommon in HK.

3. There are many examples of children from HK island travel to schools in New Territory. These are Renaissance college, Japanese International School, International Christian School, etc.. So why is this a problem to GSIS children?

I am just trying to point out that your argument on long commute and unsafe drivers will not be sufficient for the board to go back to the government to ask for another site on HK island.

The best thing is to work it out with the board. Accept the site, figure out the best and shortest route, demand for smaller but more buses so to minimize the pick up point.

If these all does not sound acceptable, then you need to consider other schools. Life is short. Don't agonize over these.

 

[genome]

I agrree life is to short. Everyone knows what the issue are everyone will have the right to vote on their opinion this evening and that is it as far as I am concerend. Stay or go up to you.

Hope you all have a good weekend.

 

[Tabby]

nvmom

I think any of the remarks of the concerned parents is not going to change the boards view. They have been so disconnected over the past years. Their track record is apalling. Just think where they got us to? Not getting anything done with the buildings. And now playing one against the other! We are a community and all want the same, the best for our children. But the board does not want to listen to the parents, so we can't even help them figure things out, as you suggested. Having a taskforce set up was one of the first things we wanted to have. What would they have lost by saying yes to that? It just proves that they are afraid that we could actually be more competent than they are!

 

[happyhour]

Genome,

I enjoy talking to you too. Although our views are different , I appreciate it that you keep a open mind and are prepared to listen to views that others might reject outright. One thing is for sure - we are all doing what we think is best in the circumstances. It's now too late to do anything else apart from reminding each of our parent friends to attend the meeting tonight. See you all there!

I agree the world is a funny place. I think everyone now just wants to vote to get this over with so we can move on . Happy hour good luck to you and your family and thank you for sharing your opinions I have enjoyed reading them.

Genome

 

[Tabby]

oh and the best, the logo of the school:

GSIS , the school of choice.

When did we ever have a choice, regarding anything? Like the Campus Development Plan? The decanting site? The new school hours in MOS?

 

[courtbas]

Good luck. Let us know how it goes.