Vox Parva | Scout oaths and laws are more than the “duty of others”

Benedict Keith Ip

Recently, debate over the launching of national education has been heating up throughout society.
It started on March 20 when “All About Macau”, a local online media source, published news about the money that has been spent on patriotic education and activities known as “National Defense Education Camps 國防教育營”. A quick count indicates that the government has spent around MOP89 million from the 2008/2009 academic year to the 2014/2015 one. On March 21, the Education Bureau published two press releases to promote the importance of the camps. In a quick response to All About Macau’s article, the Scouts Association of Macau also published a statement on March 21, in which it proclaims that the outcomes of these camps are very successful, as these events attract 28,400 participants. This declaration is clearly a once-and-for-all statement that leaves no space for any further explanations. Enrolments will continue, no matter whether you like it or not.
This week also marks the opening of policy address debates, as Chief Executive Fernando Chui has appointed new heads for several secretariats. It is the first time since the handover in 1999 that the debates have had to be postponed; they are supposed to be in November right after the announcement of the policy address.
The legislative assembly hall is “harmonious” (see MDT March 25, p3). The article reveals that the government will build 4,000 more public houses, as well as adjusting policy surrounding the number of shuttles and public transport lines, paternity leave legislation, the dealers’ license scheme, and the famous 9,000 patacas cash handout scheme.
As for the above-mentioned national education, nothing was said. I would say that it is permissible not to mention this issue, simply because our bureaucratic system takes time to react and respond…well, I am sure you know more about this.
If you’ve never learnt about the history of scouts, the tradition actually began in England. A man called Robert Baden-Powell created the system, wishing to apply certain disciplines to train the youth to become good men. The oaths of the World Organization of the Scout Movement have been modified a little bit from the three-principled utterance that is “Duty to God, Duty to others and Duty to self.” With the background of the English Church, the concept of the “God” originally referred to the Christian God. However, now this part has been modified to “Adherence to spiritual principles”, which includes different faiths and beliefs. That’s why we can have Buddhism, Islam and many other faiths forming international scout organizations. Then after this, the invocation refers to the duty to others, which means “Loyalty to one’s country in harmony with the promotion of local, national and international peace, understanding and cooperation.” Some countries’ scouts’ oaths also articulate a duty to country.
In a public debate last week, Professor Vong Sou Kuan, Associate Professor and director of the University of Macau’s Educational Research Centre, raised some points that are worth reflecting on. She referred to famous American philosopher John Dewey’s saying, “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” Any ideas that nurture one’s emotion are simply artificial, and it is not the true concept of national education. I agree with Professor Vong Sou Kuan, and I believe that we still have a lot to learn in order to prepare a better foundation to discuss this sensitive issue.