Comments on: Review: ‘Does it Have to Be Like This? Education and Socialisation in Hong Kong’ by Anthony J Solloway http://biglychee.com/blog/2010/02/01/review-%e2%80%98does-it-have-to-be-like-this-education-and-socialisation-in-hong-kong%e2%80%99-by-anthony-j-solloway/ Watching the sun set, little by little, on Asia's greatest city Fri, 30 Jul 2010 05:58:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Angela http://biglychee.com/blog/2010/02/01/review-%e2%80%98does-it-have-to-be-like-this-education-and-socialisation-in-hong-kong%e2%80%99-by-anthony-j-solloway/comment-page-1/#comment-735 Angela Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:31:59 +0000 http://biglychee.com/blog/?p=1307#comment-735 Rather scathing. Proof is in the pudding, does HK produce productive, well adjusted young adults? Compare them to their peers from around the world. If HK didn't teach all three bands to the same exam then their would be hue and cry that they were dismissing the potential of the children. Rather scathing. Proof is in the pudding, does HK produce productive, well adjusted young adults? Compare them to their peers from around the world.
If HK didn’t teach all three bands to the same exam then their would be hue and cry that they were dismissing the potential of the children.

]]> By: Professor Tuppy Brough http://biglychee.com/blog/2010/02/01/review-%e2%80%98does-it-have-to-be-like-this-education-and-socialisation-in-hong-kong%e2%80%99-by-anthony-j-solloway/comment-page-1/#comment-616 Professor Tuppy Brough Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:13:17 +0000 http://biglychee.com/blog/?p=1307#comment-616 Off-topic, but just wondering if this is the same Anthony J Solloway who founded the Dorset branch of the Red-Headed League? If so and you are reading this Anthony then you may like to know that we're still going strong! Ginger FOREVER, Ginger FOREVER! Off-topic, but just wondering if this is the same Anthony J Solloway who founded the Dorset branch of the Red-Headed League? If so and you are reading this Anthony then you may like to know that we’re still going strong! Ginger FOREVER, Ginger FOREVER!

]]> By: Murdo Morrison http://biglychee.com/blog/2010/02/01/review-%e2%80%98does-it-have-to-be-like-this-education-and-socialisation-in-hong-kong%e2%80%99-by-anthony-j-solloway/comment-page-1/#comment-615 Murdo Morrison Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:44:14 +0000 http://biglychee.com/blog/?p=1307#comment-615 Anthony J Solloway has written a series of rants on Dave's ESL under more than 50 names, the most interesting being 'Ludwig'. '11.59', 'Moriarty', 'And your bird can sing', 'Zero hero', 'Robert Lubeck', 'The Weakest Link', 'Bertrand' and 'Jehan Cottard' among. Looking back at these now it's fascinating to see how his thinking has progressed over the years. Anthony J Solloway has written a series of rants on Dave’s ESL under more than 50 names, the most interesting being ‘Ludwig’. ’11.59′, ‘Moriarty’, ‘And your bird can sing’, ‘Zero hero’, ‘Robert Lubeck’, ‘The Weakest Link’, ‘Bertrand’ and ‘Jehan Cottard’ among.

Looking back at these now it’s fascinating to see how his thinking has progressed over the years.

]]> By: Stanley Barker http://biglychee.com/blog/2010/02/01/review-%e2%80%98does-it-have-to-be-like-this-education-and-socialisation-in-hong-kong%e2%80%99-by-anthony-j-solloway/comment-page-1/#comment-614 Stanley Barker Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:20:36 +0000 http://biglychee.com/blog/?p=1307#comment-614 Yes, Anthony J Solloway was a NET. He came to Hong Kong after working for EF for some time in Shenzhen. He was until very recently a 'lecturer' at City University. Yes, Anthony J Solloway was a NET. He came to Hong Kong after working for EF for some time in Shenzhen. He was until very recently a ‘lecturer’ at City University.

]]> By: Ah http://biglychee.com/blog/2010/02/01/review-%e2%80%98does-it-have-to-be-like-this-education-and-socialisation-in-hong-kong%e2%80%99-by-anthony-j-solloway/comment-page-1/#comment-608 Ah Wed, 03 Feb 2010 07:48:20 +0000 http://biglychee.com/blog/?p=1307#comment-608 Virgil If you analyse your response starting wtih 'untrue', is not only racist but also incomprehensibe. Are you an English teacher? I do hope not. Virgil

If you analyse your response starting wtih ‘untrue’, is not only racist but also incomprehensibe. Are you an English teacher? I do hope not.

]]> By: Virgil Tibbs http://biglychee.com/blog/2010/02/01/review-%e2%80%98does-it-have-to-be-like-this-education-and-socialisation-in-hong-kong%e2%80%99-by-anthony-j-solloway/comment-page-1/#comment-605 Virgil Tibbs Wed, 03 Feb 2010 02:26:57 +0000 http://biglychee.com/blog/?p=1307#comment-605 Untrue. NETs are better paid than their local equivalents, and take part in far fewer school activities. Most NETs do the bare minimum. That you made the mistake of marrying a mainlander is irrelevant. I was just wondering if the ineffective NET scheme and its overpaid and underworked functionaries came in for criticism as well as the rest of HK society. Seeing as Solloway is (was?) a NET, I doubt it. Untrue.

NETs are better paid than their local equivalents, and take part in far fewer school activities. Most NETs do the bare minimum.

That you made the mistake of marrying a mainlander is irrelevant.

I was just wondering if the ineffective NET scheme and its overpaid and underworked functionaries came in for criticism as well as the rest of HK society.

Seeing as Solloway is (was?) a NET, I doubt it.

]]> By: The Evil Anglo http://biglychee.com/blog/2010/02/01/review-%e2%80%98does-it-have-to-be-like-this-education-and-socialisation-in-hong-kong%e2%80%99-by-anthony-j-solloway/comment-page-1/#comment-587 The Evil Anglo Tue, 02 Feb 2010 03:46:58 +0000 http://biglychee.com/blog/?p=1307#comment-587 Dear Mr Tibbs, Since most NETs at secondary level at least, work very long hours and do a damn good job, they have very little to do with the problems in Hong Kong's education system. They comprise far less than 1% of the teaching population anyway, and the currrent scheme has only been around for a decade or so anyway. As for being overpaid, NETs are on the same pay scale as their local colleages (the living allowance covers basic housing in the current economic climate - and locals don't have to pay huge education fees for their kids and get much better retirement incentives). Many NETs, like me, are far better qualified but earn less than their HK fellow-teachers (I've got a PhD), because the EDB doesn'y pay more for higher quals, and often refuses to recognise perfectly valid teaching experience to save themselves cash. Then shall we add the huge expenses if you are married to a Chinese national and have to pay massive hospital fees, and for regular jaunts back to the mainland for her to get visas because the government won't give PRC nationals a spouse visa? What's next? Are we going to blame Chinese immigrant teachers in the US for the weaknesess the US education system? Just silly. Dear Mr Tibbs,

Since most NETs at secondary level at least, work very long hours and do a damn good job, they have very little to do with the problems in Hong Kong’s education system. They comprise far less than 1% of the teaching population anyway, and the currrent scheme has only been around for a decade or so anyway. As for being overpaid, NETs are on the same pay scale as their local colleages (the living allowance covers basic housing in the current economic climate – and locals don’t have to pay huge education fees for their kids and get much better retirement incentives).

Many NETs, like me, are far better qualified but earn less than their HK fellow-teachers (I’ve got a PhD), because the EDB doesn’y pay more for higher quals, and often refuses to recognise perfectly valid teaching experience to save themselves cash. Then shall we add the huge expenses if you are married to a Chinese national and have to pay massive hospital fees, and for regular jaunts back to the mainland for her to get visas because the government won’t give PRC nationals a spouse visa?

What’s next? Are we going to blame Chinese immigrant teachers in the US for the weaknesess the US education system?

Just silly.

]]> By: Virgil Tibbs http://biglychee.com/blog/2010/02/01/review-%e2%80%98does-it-have-to-be-like-this-education-and-socialisation-in-hong-kong%e2%80%99-by-anthony-j-solloway/comment-page-1/#comment-586 Virgil Tibbs Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:47:30 +0000 http://biglychee.com/blog/?p=1307#comment-586 And how much flak do the overpaid, underworked NETs get for their role in this failure? And how much flak do the overpaid, underworked NETs get for their role in this failure?

]]> By: Jackson Solloway http://biglychee.com/blog/2010/02/01/review-%e2%80%98does-it-have-to-be-like-this-education-and-socialisation-in-hong-kong%e2%80%99-by-anthony-j-solloway/comment-page-1/#comment-578 Jackson Solloway Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:46:57 +0000 http://biglychee.com/blog/?p=1307#comment-578 Nice one cuz Tony! Your Auntie Flo says 'see i told ya youd get a new job after the last one in hong kong!'. Nice one matey. Wish I cud understand your fancy talk!!! LOL :) :) Lookin forward to my next visit and more special fun eye eye! Nice one cuz Tony! Your Auntie Flo says ‘see i told ya youd get a new job after the last one in hong kong!’. Nice one matey. Wish I cud understand your fancy talk!!! LOL :) :) Lookin forward to my next visit and more special fun eye eye!

]]> By: Jackson Solloway http://biglychee.com/blog/2010/02/01/review-%e2%80%98does-it-have-to-be-like-this-education-and-socialisation-in-hong-kong%e2%80%99-by-anthony-j-solloway/comment-page-1/#comment-577 Jackson Solloway Mon, 01 Feb 2010 10:23:32 +0000 http://biglychee.com/blog/?p=1307#comment-577 Hello cousin Anthony! Congrats on getting your book out. See, I told you things would be fine after you lost your job in HK! Hello cousin Anthony! Congrats on getting your book out. See, I told you things would be fine after you lost your job in HK!

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