饮水思源与校园文化、学校的特色

联合早报
今日观点

也谈饮水思源
（2009-07-11）
● 张春玉 (作者是中学教师)

校园文化、学校的特色需要一大批老师坚守在自己的岗位上一以贯之地延续并推广。大风吹的走马换将，固然有好的一面，但一朝天子一朝臣的结果，也只能唱一出起承转合的折子戏，充其量不过是三年五载的断代史。
　　
日前读了李慧玲的文章《我们的此涨彼消》，深有感触。慧玲毕业于八十年代的一所特选学校，进入报界之后，她工作日益繁忙，但只要有机会或者学校有需要，她都会回母校和校友们聊天，参与校友会的工作。饮水思源，她最了解，也最有感触。当年的这所学校，还是老校长执掌，这位在学校一待就是将近三十年的老校长，常常把一句话挂在嘴边：学校就是我们的第二家。

在 “家”里，校长、老师、学生，大家既各尽本分、各司其职，又相亲相爱、同舟共济。在 “家”里，没有人不畏惧这位“家长”，因为一旦你做错什么事让她抓到，她会批评得你无地自容，恨不得找个地缝钻进去。可是，也没有人不爱她、敬重她，她常常是最早到校最晚离校的那个人，也常常是在你还没开口向人求助就已经问你是否需要帮忙的那个人，她一句体贴的问候常常会让你心窝子温暖好几天。

在她的管理下，老师的团队里没有人会斤斤计较谁教的课多一点或少一点，大家都能互相理解、互相支持，更没有谁会拉帮结伙、排挤异己，在所有老师的心目中，把孩子带好，教她们做人，教她们知识才是最重要的事。也许就是这样温暖的工作氛围，亲和的同事关系，使很多老师在这个“家”一待就是几十年，直到退休。

每所学校有自己的风格

当年，每所学校都有自己不同的风格，“家”里的孩子都是温文尔雅、高贵大方、谦恭有礼的。早上见到老师，孩子们会停下脚步鞠躬行礼，老师也会回礼。在公共场合孩子们不会高声谈笑。你从来不会在大街上看到这“家”孩子校服的腰带会松松垮垮地垂在臀部；出国浸濡用餐时，如果校长、老师或家长、校友和学生们一起用餐，孩子们都会在食物摆好后齐声说“校长吃、老师们吃、叔叔阿姨吃、大家吃”，然后才开始用餐，而当自己用餐完要离开时，会说“老师们慢用”，再把自己坐的椅子摆放整齐才离开。温文尔雅的气质是贯彻在孩子们日常生活的举手投足之中的。

学校的风格，不仅仅在于它与时并进、标新立异开了什么课程，更在于它培养出来的学生具有怎样的素质和教养，怎样的谈吐、气度和胸襟。

校园文化、学校的特色需要一大批老师坚守在自己的岗位上一以贯之地延续并推广。大风吹的走马换将，固然有好的一面，但一朝天子一朝臣的结果，也只能唱一出起承转合的折子戏，充其量不过是三年五载的断代史，归属感的培养靠的不是排名不是评估，不是把学生、老师甚至学校放在磅秤上称出个半斤八两、比出个高低贵贱、斗得个你死我活，而是润物无声的温情渗透和春去秋来的岁月累积。如果一所学校面临太多的人员流动，太多流水的学生流水的教师，又如何让人们对学校有归属感呢？纵然一些有心的孩子学成归来、饮水思源的时候，面对物非人非、徒有其名的学校，恐怕能凭吊的也只是操场边的老树和池塘里仅有的几尾锦鲤了，而此时，“便纵有千种风情，更与何人说”……逝者如斯夫，不舍昼夜”，孔子面对滔滔江水发出这样的感叹。旧的总是要更新的，老的总是要隐退的，但是在新旧更替的当儿，我们该保留什么？有没有什么被我们忽视了？有些东西，走了可以再来，有些走了就再也不来了。
　　
This article caught my attention. it talked about remembering your roots, esp about loyalty, affiliation, and commitment to school and how the implications of school culture and ethos has on the students and staff's morale and loyalty.

In our system, the State pumps in alot of budget and investments into Education, even in this economic situation to beef up the hardware and getting quality staff to mould our generations of youths, rolling out initiatives after initiatives to keep our education system ahead of the challenges that the economy is facing. Change becomes constant, everything is in constant flux, diversification takes over.

However, in such a constant flux, when we are spoilt with choices, when the perception of education becomes transactional (though this is not the original intent), when it becomes so frequent that any social issues pertaining to youths, character and values go wrong, the fingers all points to the education system, to the teachers, to the schools, when awards, appraisals, KPIs that must be measureable dominates the agenda, then it is perhaps time to reflect and take a hard look. Are we missing the essence of education?

anyway, it is my ranting. I am probably affected by the fact that some in this sch family are thinking of greener pastures thru DSA. And when probed further, the reasons given tends towards the superficial. Perhaps, only they have the real reasons in their hearts.

well, we do what we can and I dun think education is about pleasing everyone and trying to appease to the whimsicals and demands. To me, it is about building character and giving platforms for the many students and colleagues, whom we or I have the privilege to cross paths with, to shine; i.e. to make a difference in lives.

reminds me of my fav quote from the movie Coach Carter:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our dark that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people don't feel insecure around you.We are all meant to shine as children do. Its not just in some of us; its in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsiously give other people to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

From another perspective, we can point the fingers at the system, becos it allows one to pick and choose, thru DSA, and it encourages one to take risks. On a personal level, I dun really buy this kind of argument. Like what i mentioned in my earlier post, no matter what the system is, it is ultimately the person who will make the decision, circumstances and situation only play a part to a certain level.

For those who choose to leave this school/this family, I am truly disappointed, but I won't bother to persuade you to stay. If you have the heart and you really regard this as your family, your "second home", you won't even think about leaving, no matter how difficult the circumstances might be. I would have wished that we work together to make and change the school into a better place, for you and for me and for all of us.... mmm... reminds me of MJ's song "heal the world".

God bless and wish you all the best

shall go and read my book. haiz.