Letters | Teachers have rights, but also a duty to keep political bias out of the classroom

Teachers have a moral duty to be objective and professional, not least because impressionable students are inclined to believe whatever they say

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Young students are at an impressionable age and look up to their teachers for life guidance. Photo: Winson Wong

Published: 7:30am, 23 Oct 2020Updated: 7:30am, 23 Oct 2020

I refer to the letter from titled “Teachers still have rights to air opinions”, published on October 20. Recently, there have been quite a lot of comments on the issue.

Indeed, teachers enjoy the same rights as all other ordinary Hong Kong citizens but when they teach in school, they should be professional and objective in instilling knowledge in their students, without reflecting their personal preferences. Outside school and teaching, as ordinary citizens, such as when they gather in Victoria Park, they can fully express their political stance or ideals without restrictions or fear.

When teachers bring a personal stance, especially in politics, into class, this surely adversely affects students, bearing in mind that young people are inclined to believe what their teachers say. To do this is not only unfair to students but also very dangerous.

In the classroom, a teacher should act like a High Court judge answering questions from jurors, based on facts and the law to help them return a verdict in accordance with the laws and evidence – and not use personal views or stances to influence or direct jurors towards a verdict the judge deems fit. A presiding judge will never attempt to participate in jurors’ deliberations; it would render the verdict null and void.

Please do let our young people think critically and independently but without unnecessary political influences, as some teachers may prefer to do. That is just immoral and exploitative.

Ringo Yee, Tuen Mun