| Message from the Principal |
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New focus for education – Knowledgeable, principled, sociable Eva Charisa Hsu, FSSAS Principal
Why do we still need school? Technology has made learning so much easier than before. School is no longer the best place for gaining knowledge. There is no doubt that people will start to rethink the purpose of schooling.
In the past, cognitive ability, high motivation and diligence were the main reasons for good academic performance. However, advancement in technology has contributed much to the removal of obstacles in pursuing higher level education. The society which our children are facing, is a society where possessing higher education is the norm. We have too many university graduates and the average salary has been decreasing day by day. What will make our children stand out by the time they leave school?
We do not need experts to tell us that academic performance is important, as it determines whether we can work in a specific career. Nonetheless, research shows that people who shine and are indispensable in their career, are those who are confident, self-disciplined, sympathetic and sociable. This has definitely given us an answer to the question: Why do we still need school?
Over the past 15+ years working in the field of education, I have served as a teacher, an officer and a principal in different kinds of schools, such as aided schools, direct subsidized schools and international school. My scope of work includes classroom teaching, developing school based curriculum and teacher training. I have seen the characteristics of different schools and the strengths and weaknesses of them too. From there, I truly believe that it is important for schools to help students fully reach their academic potential; but more than that, I believe it is also the responsibility of the school to educate young generations with what Peter Senge and Daniel Goleman raised in their book, the Triple Focus: 1. Focus on yourself – Building realistic confidence, acquiring good self-management skills, staying cool under pressure, striving toward your goals despite setbacks, and being self-motivating. 2. Focus on others – Be empathetic, develop good communication skills, be a good team player. 3. Focus on systems – Understanding the dynamics of the greater world, the surrounding environment and one’s own role. Realizing the importance of oneself, contributing positively and being influential with a vision.
According to the research of Peter Senge and Daniel Goleman, learning in social and emotional development can compensate for the inadequacy of knowledge acquisition. By placing equal emphasis on both, children will be exposed to a more complete kind of education. In FSSAS, we care about students’ academic performance, and at the same time their social and emotional performance. We provide on campus: an excellent school culture**, effective media for instruction and curriculum, which make our school the best place for developing great individual quality for students’ future success. In the upcoming 3 years, the major concerns of our school are:
As seen, the third major concern places a strong emphasis on the social and emotional development of students, parents, teachers and staff. The school is eager to support the learning of all stakeholders for positive values, as well as enhancing the social skills and ability of individuals. On top of that, improving learning and teaching effectiveness, and raising academic standards, is also an area that we have prioritized. Let us, school and families, work hand in hand – to educate our next generation to be knowledgeable, principled and sociable. **FSSAS is highly commended in the Sept，2022 External Schol Review Report |