Lee Johnson, Educator at an international school | Working Together for the Future of Hong Kong
Lee Johnson has been an international educator for over 15 years, having lived in Hong Kong since 2017. He also resided in Hong Kong during the Umbrella Revolution in 2014. With the current social and political unrest, and considering the range of perspectives within the school community, Lee tries to focus on ensuring the school is a safe, joyful space for the children and adults in his care, while continuing to foster a tolerant and open-minded global community.
“It is very important that all students in Hong Kong, local and international, learn how to challenge ideas, to question the information people give them, to think for themselves, and to take action to improve the world around them.”
Journalist: Cave Bliss
Translator: Whatever 1 Takes
Illustrator: Orange Peel
Cultural lenses
A consultant visited my school to talk about how international schools could better understand their local community. She explained the idea of ‘cultural lenses’, where differences in language, mindset and communication norms impact how people interact with and view the world around them. I find there’s a lack of understanding of this idea of ‘cultural lenses’ here in Hong Kong. There seems to be a lot of very narrow, negative, and stereotypical views of people in different cultural groups, and a strong sense of ‘us’ and ‘them’ in society.
Local perception of international schools
Separating people into ‘us’ and ‘them’ and treating people according to these divisions is something international schools try to work against. Unfortunately, many people in Hong Kong dismiss these schools and their teachers and families as ‘them’. There are negative connotations such as elitism—the idea that we cater only to rich foreign families—and the accusation that foreigners live in an “expat bubble.” There is an element of that, but I think this perception is unfounded as many international schools and those who work in them are very community-minded and focused. I know many international school teachers and students who volunteer in their local communities, go to local churches, and support the pro-democracy movement and the yellow economy. I wish more people in Hong Kong knew how much support they have from the international expat community. If they realised this, maybe their perspective would change.
International values
A sense of belonging is important for everyone’s well-being, no matter who you are or where you’re from. It can be tough moving overseas, especially for children who are leaving the comfort of their own homes and leaving their friends to move to a completely unfamiliar place. International schools cater to these communities so they feel safe, comfortable and confident. They are a part of the Hong Kong society, and they try to understand and respect the local culture. Instead of being ‘anti-Hong Kong’, they are exactly what they claim to be—international. They accept everyone, and they’d like to be accepted by the community in return.
As the leader of an international school community, I’ve reflected on my own experiences in different cultures, and I nurture respect and open-mindedness in our school. Over 20 nationalities are represented in our school, including Hongkongers. I think being an international person means you hold global values such as freedom, compassion, equality, responsibility, and truth. We try to help our families develop these values while also respecting their own culture. The school has identified a specific set of values that bind the community, and we always bring people back to these shared values whenever we have conversations, need to make decisions, or whenever there is conflict or disagreement. Communication is key. It’s very important that we all keep channels open for dialogue with an understanding of the different ways people might express themselves. While our approaches can be different, our general goal is the same—we all want happy children who find joy in learning. No one disputes this and it helps keep us united. We just have to be mindful of how we communicate our ideas and feelings to each other when we come from so many different cultural backgrounds.
Communication and culture
The most important thing I’ve learned during my time in different international schools is that people from different cultures hold different values and communicate based on those values. For example, in the education sector in Hong Kong, specific channels of communication are very strictly followed. I need to share ideas and concerns with specific people rather than going ‘straight to the top’, so the message gets passed along. I’ve also learned that building relationships is more important than your role or position as the people in your network can help you get your message to the right person. I think this reflects Hong Kong culture in general, the way relationships between specific people are the main way people get things done. The local support staff in the school have been my teachers in this.
Student health and wellbeing
I’ve also noticed that relationships between teachers and students are very different at international schools and local schools. Most international schools focus on what we call ‘whole child’ learning which places importance on social and emotional development as well as academic learning. This nurtures all aspects of a student’s wellbeing and influences the way people build relationships and communicate with each other across the whole school community. I find local schools place a lot more importance on academics and grades, and strictly maintaining the roles of ‘teacher’ and ‘student’. Students must obey teachers at all times, be compliant and show respect without question. This often negatively impacts students’ wellbeing and mental health. It’s well-known that the high number of teen suicides in Hong Kong is due to academic pressure and a lack of mental health support. Unfortunately, I don’t currently see a lot of significant action in response to this problem. However, there have been a lot more teacher development workshops offered in Hong Kong recently about positive education, positive psychology, and mental health first aid. I hope this is a sign that local schools are starting to take steps to care for their students’ wellbeing.
Hope for the future of education in Hong Kong
The Hong Kong protests are important for both local and international schools as there will be global effects, politically and economically. It’s very important that all students in Hong Kong learn how to challenge ideas, to question the information people give them, to think for themselves, to take action to improve the world around them, and to look after themselves and each other, especially in times of conflict. This cannot happen if schools continue to focus only on test scores, telling students what to think instead of teaching them how to think, and demanding students do whatever they are told to do without question or risk being punished.
I believe more collaboration between local and international schools would make education in Hong Kong much richer. We could learn so much from each other by sharing ideas and resources. This would help international schools better understand and appreciate the local context rather than just being a disconnected island in the middle of Hong Kong. It would also help local schools understand different approaches to teaching, hopefully with more emphasis on student wellbeing to nurture strong and healthy citizens.
I believe the majority of teachers, no matter what kind of school they work in, share the same values—freedom, compassion, equality, responsibility, and truth. I see these values everyday. Hongkongers value community through their family bonds, and they develop positive, supporting relationships by being truthful, taking responsibility for themselves, and being compassionate and caring towards others. The values of Hongkongers are also international values. These values can serve as a common ground between local schools and international schools. If we use these values to guide collaboration and cooperation, we can all work together to educate the future leaders of Hong Kong, for the good of our city and for the world.
Hong Kong is going through a tough period right now, but a strong sense of community will help us persevere and grow together. We need to be united to move through the current difficulties. I think the best way to accomplish this is by being open-minded, by being understanding, and by appreciating and celebrating the different ‘cultural lenses’ of people living in Hong Kong.
“I am Lee Johnson, I am a HKer.”
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