[School space and environment]School space environment

The school environment has an important impact on the people in it. Of course, the school environment does not only refer to the external physical environment and space, but also includes the school's organizational culture and psychological climate. Lewin borrowed the theories of "electric field" and "magnetic field" from physics and proposed the "force field" theory that the direction of human behavior is determined by the interaction between the internal force field and the situational force field (environmental factors). The proposal of this theory undoubtedly provides further theoretical support for our understanding of the role of school environment and space.

One afternoon in February 2007, I and my classmates from the Chinese University of Hong Kong visited the "Federation of Chinese University of Hong Kong Alumni Associations Chen Zhenxia Secondary School". This is a teaching link in the general education course "The Structure and Process of School Knowledge" taught by Professor Xiao Jin, allowing students to experience real school education. As a person who audited this course, I also got a rare opportunity to understand Hong Kong education.

1. A typical Hong Kong middle school

At two o'clock in the afternoon, we arrived at this school in Ma On Shan. Students are already in class and the school is quiet. Professor Xiao Jin was busy making contact, so I observed the school carefully. This is a very typical Hong Kong standardized school. The school is located in a dense community of buildings, surrounded by tall residential buildings, which makes people feel depressed. The school only has a small playground, which can accommodate two or three basketball courts. In addition, there is a 6-story multi-functional teaching building. The space on the lower floor of the teaching building is very similar to other primary and secondary schools I have seen in Hong Kong. There is a canteen, plastic tables and chairs, benches, table tennis tables, and some school bulletin boards. I saw on the bulletin board that the student union was holding a competition titled "Millennium Daughter Red", and posters of this event were posted on many wall pillars. A display board displays a number of stationery of different specifications and brands, including different prices and physical pictures. I guess it is for students' reference when purchasing. There was also a bulletin board that caught my attention: the organizational structure and activities of the "Teachers-Parents Association", which included various training classes, including computer tutoring, flower arrangement production, etc. I think close home-school cooperation is a very important feature of Hong Kong education. Not only in this school, I also see the position and role of parents in school education in other schools.

2. Unique "School Introduction"

Under the guidance of the school staff, we came to the school's underground exhibition hall. The principal is a very gentle gentleman and an alumnus of CUHK. After we introduced each other and exchanged pleasantries, the first part of the activity - "School Introduction" began. To my surprise, the person who introduced us was not the principal or other teachers in the school, but several female students in school uniforms. I saw that the school had made a special PPT for this event. One child was operating the computer, two children were explaining in front, and several others were standing behind us. When I introduced the "glorious history" of my school, I saw these children's faces glowing red and they were very proud. Although they spoke in Cantonese, which I basically couldn't understand, through the PPT, I learned that this school has developed a very rich school-based curriculum and educational activities. One item that particularly caught my attention is that the school allows students to choose their own uniforms. In mainland schools, many schools often cause conflicts between schools, students and parents because of issues with school uniforms. I once participated in the evaluation of a school in Mainland China. Many students reported that the school's uniforms were expensive, not sturdy, and the style was not spiritual. However, because of the school's regulations, they had to wear them even if they didn't like them. I have seen that students in Hong Kong are also required to wear school uniforms, and most of these school uniforms are of a more traditional style. This school is no exception. It is commendable that although the school does not give students much choice, the school still gives students the right to choose. This reminds me of the display board that helps students choose to buy stationery.

3. "School Tour" embodying "educational wisdom"

After a brief introduction, we started to visit the campus. Five or six generous and polite girls acted as guides. They paid special attention to me, a "guest" who spoke Mandarin, and tried their best to communicate with me in less proficient Mandarin, trying to explain to me everything worth "showing off" in their school. I found that in the visit schedule sent to us by the school, this content was called "school guided tour" instead of "campus visit."

I was wondering, what kind of educational philosophy does the simple difference between the two words reflect? Behind the word "appreciation", what kind of ideology and educational intentions of the administrator are contained? As far as I know, some well-run schools generally have some daily reception tasks. The receptionists are often school leaders or faculty members, and students are rarely asked to take on this work. However, Chen Zhenxia Middle School dares to let students take this responsibility, making full use of opportunities in daily activities to give students opportunities to participate and exercise, so that students can experience their pride as a member of the school during the guided tour of their own campus. Although on the surface, participating students may lose a lesson, I think these students may gain more! Isn't it a kind of educational wisdom worth learning to regard daily work as an opportunity for education, find unusual educational significance in ordinary times, and give full play to the function of education?

4. The independent space owned by teachers and students

During the next visit to the campus, my biggest feeling was vividness. I think this school has a very commendable feature: it provides a space for self-expression for both teachers and students. On the stairs of the corridor, I saw slogans posted by students to promote the "Millennium Daughter Red" event. There were also very personalized professional layouts and promotions on the walls of various professional classrooms in the school. Members of some organizations such as the school’s radio station and career guidance service group also use a very lively way to convey their work information to the whole school: “Who are we? What can we do for everyone? What have we done?… …” The layout of the walls and blackboards in each class, the decoration of the doors and windows of each class, and the design of the class schedule are all diverse and distinctive. As the Spring Festival approaches, some classes still retain the Western Christmas style, while others have pasted red Spring Festival couplets and the characters "Fu" on doors and glass, creating a strong traditional Chinese New Year color. In the corridor outside each class, there are also flowers and plants adopted by each class. The types of flowers and plants are different in each class, and the surrounding decorations are also unique.

Looking up, I saw that the walls of the corridor were covered with student works, and these works can be replaced frequently. This reminds me of a principal from Mainland China who once said to me very affectionately that after working in the school for many years, she has regarded the school as her home. She carefully selected many of the famous works decorated on the school walls. I also thought that many well-decorated celebrity calligraphy and paintings hang on the walls of many mainland schools. However, when I asked the students around me whether they liked these calligraphy and paintings and whether they understood the content on them, the students' answer was that I had never paid attention to them. I still remember a school rule that classes were not allowed to have any postings on class walls. From this, I can't help but think of this question: Whose school is this school? How can you make the walls really talk? These questions are actually quite complex to answer. In Hong Kong, schools belong to the government, the board of directors, and the principal, but I feel that the school belongs to the students and teachers, because the walls of the school allow teachers and students to speak for themselves.

During my visit to the school’s professional classrooms, another outstanding impression left on me was—exquisiteness. Each classroom has a strong professional color and individual style, while still being organized and standardized. We first came to the English classroom. This classroom is very lively and comfortable, with a strong color of modern Western life, and the word "Cafe" is posted on the door. The wall cabinets are neatly placed with a variety of teaching resources, such as tape recorders, books, and English cards. A teacher and several students were sitting on a comfortable sofa chatting animatedly, not paying any attention to us foreign visitors.

When I came to the art classroom, the furnishings here opened my eyes even more. Every corner of the classroom is an art field, including photography, handicrafts, oil painting and Chinese landscape painting. The learning tools needed for art teaching are neatly arranged in different parts. There are sinks for washing hands and rinsing pens, iron racks for drying works, and a shelf with textbooks for all grades. This reminds me of some characteristics of primary school subjects. There are few teachers and many classes. I have heard complaints from primary school subject teachers in many schools in mainland China: they are not taken seriously, they teach too many classes, and it is difficult to organize teaching. Seeing the art teacher sitting in the corner of the classroom preparing lessons with peace of mind, I couldn't help but wonder, in such a professional environment, would this art teacher feel despised? What would it be like for her to teach in such an environment? I don't know.

But, I think, this classroom has provided her with enough professional self-esteem anyway. This sense of professional self-esteem is extremely important for teachers' professional life and development.

We often talk about allowing teachers to develop professionally. So what is specialization? In fact, it is a kind of "irreplaceability". When the work performed by teachers becomes irreplaceable, teachers' own labor also establishes an irreplaceable sense of value and professional dignity. This is a profound professional experience and self-achievement experience. When a teacher has such an experience, he will definitely devote himself more consciously to the realization of his own value, and ultimately shoulder his social responsibility.

5. Humanistic educational details are reflected in every aspect

When I visited the art classroom, what made me curious was the installation on the wall in front of the classroom. There is a record sheet next to the "Red Cross" sanitary box, which neatly records the inspection and replenishment of the assembly contents in the "Red Cross" sanitary box. I asked the principal why there is this device in the art classroom? The principal said that their school is a standard school. All equipment is equipped in accordance with government standards, and sanitary boxes are also equipped in accordance with government requirements. Because when taking art classes, students will use knives and scissors, which is a safety hazard, so this hygiene box is required. In order to ensure that the contents of the medicine cabinet are sufficient and the medicines are effective, the school requires regular inspections and records. After listening to the principal's words, I couldn't help but admire the humanistic care in detail in Hong Kong education.

When I walked into the science classroom, this feeling became even stronger. Various warnings are posted on the walls of this classroom to remind students of operational safety, such as "Use of Dangerous Drugs", "Heating Precautions", etc. They also have clear regulations on the disposal of waste. A strange large glass cabinet against the wall aroused my curiosity. The principal said that this is a device specially used to operate toxic gas tests. In this way, the health of teachers and students can be effectively ensured by operating under relatively sealed and advanced ventilation conditions.

We finally walked into the school's computer room. The equipment here was not first-class, but the student guide told me that the computer room is open to students during lunch and after school. I saw a full schedule on the door. This reminds me of the phenomenon that many schools in mainland China would rather leave facilities and resources idle than let students and teachers use them because they are afraid of wearing out the equipment, and I can't help but feel a little sad.

6. A free and happy world of growth

At 3:30 in the afternoon, we went to the library on the first floor to gather on time for the final exchange. Because of the language barrier, I seemed to be excluded from the exchange of this activity. So, I carefully observed the environment here. The library is very advanced. Except for the fewer types of books and the smaller size, the environment and layout here really make me feel that it is no different from the university library: a large borrowing desk, comfortable coffee tables, tables and chairs, fresh and Elegant; the graduation photos of previous students are uniquely placed under the glass plate of the coffee table; a large public English dictionary that can be read at any time is placed in a very conspicuous place; more than a dozen computers used by students to access the Internet are arranged in an orderly manner Placed in every corner. On the display board in the library, there is a column called "One Minute Good Book Recommendations", which has the name of the recommending teacher and his evaluation of the book. It all feels very convenient and relaxing. I feel that this is a world for students and a paradise for learning.

At four o'clock, school was over and students began to come to borrow books one after another. It was time for us to leave. Walking out of the teaching building, the school playground was already full of active students. In the small space, some people play basketball or volleyball, some conduct table tennis training, and some go to the canteen to eat rice noodles and snacks. The school presents an active and noisy scene. I raised my head and looked around at this most typical school in Hong Kong - small space, three-dimensional structure, standardized equipment, and standardized management. All this seems to make people feel monotonous and constrained, but behind these standards and constraints, I can clearly feel a kind of freedom and liveliness, a kind of autonomous space shared by teachers and students, and a kind of action. The warmth and relaxation of being respected and cared for. Where did this space come from? I think it may come from their education and management concepts.

References

[1][US] John Dewey. "Democracy and Education" [M]. Translated by Wang Chengxu. Beijing: People's Education Press, 2001.

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[2] Huang Xiting. "Psychology" [M]. Shanghai: Shanghai Education Press, 1997.

The author is affiliated to the Basic Education Curriculum Research Center of Capital Normal University

(Editor Wang Yongkang)