Lesson 27
Is It an Ideal Career?
Text A
am not an extreme feminist.am not an extreme anything. However,amfirm believerequalityfreedom.think we are all entitledthe same rightsopportunities. perhaps my viewsfeminism are influenced byfact thatwas an only childperhaps ifhad hadbrother,he (and I) might have been treated differently.
My mother wasperfect exampleall an ardent feminist would hate: she waited handfootmy fatherdidall without complaint. When my father arrived home from worksoup was served. Every nightclothesthe next day were left out withunderwear thoughtfully placedtop so that he didn't even havethink whatputfirst.
His shoes were always polishedhim,rightbe firstthe bathroom was never challenged,if he ever found himselfthe kitchen,was by mistake. My mother was honestly content with this situstionregarded my father asperfect husband: he wascaring, generous man-a good provider. What more could any woman ask?
remember being brought up, not asmale or femaie,but simply as an individual,althoughsupposemust have been influenced by my parents,do not remember ever being eneouragedmake marriage my major ambition. was fortunate enoughmarryman who did not expectchain methe kitchen sink. He was quite capablepolishingown shoes ,mine too while he was at it. He was also ablewash dishes , dust , or do anything else aroundhouse. We managed beautifully, with no strict male/female divisionlabour.
Our first baby arrived, muchour delight, six months ago.was more than pleasedgive up my job ashad become sickit.looked forwardmy baby,now hehereactually enjoy him very much.have no intentionreturningWork, asthink our son oughthaveparentcarehim forfew years at least. Indeed,could be very happy withsituation, werenot experiencing quite unexpected problems adaptingmy new role.
Whenattendedante-natal clinicfi,rememberdoctor asking me what'was' , meaning my occupation, rather than my blood group or star sign. Yet whenwentthe baby clinicthe first time, all they wantedknow was what my husband 'was'.am still wonderirig what difference that makesanything, andwas hurt that nobody wantedknow about me any more. Quite suddenlywas just someone's wifesomeone's mother.no longer seemedhave an identitymy
Where, previously, my husband was quite happyhelp aroundhouse,attitude now seemsbe that if I'm at home all day,can do allhousework. And what bugs me mostthatfind myself going along with it. Ifbaby cries duringnight, then thereno question about who gets up. Havetaken leavemy senses? My senseself-esteern seemsbe clogged with baby powderbaby cream!
Butaspectmotherhood I've found hardesttake has beenlossearning power,whatsee aslossfinancial independence. For seven yearsenjoyed helpingbring homebacon;money never causedrow. It does now.
Althoughdecisionhave our baby andmestay at home wasjoint one,feel totally dependentmy husband, whobecoming moremore irritated by my stupidity. The indignitybeing financially dependentmy husbandsomethingfeel very, sensitive about. Logically, havingbaby oughthave extended me asperson:should bepersonwas pluspersonam, asresultmy new experience.
It hasn't worked out like that. Motherhood seemshave wiped out ten yearsvariedinteresting work experiencetaken me back, not forwards-a whole generation back. Buthig difference between my mothermethat she was happy andam not.knowconflict that she couldn't have imagined.
Text B
Havingspecia! dayhonourteachersa fine thing. But one dayyearnot enough! Where wouldworld be withocrt teachers? What hope would there behuman progress? Teachers deserverespectthe wholesocietywhole year round. But they haven't got it. Whatmost remarkableregrettablethatthis great landChina, with its ancient civilizationtraditional respectlearning, teachers are so looked d'own upon that itnecessaryset asidedayshow respectthem.
Whythis?believe that teachers' low social statusinseparable from their I'ow pay,poor living and: working conditions-though these are gradually being improved. But stillstate allocationfundseducation is, per capila, amongthe lowestthe world. So teachers are,gengeral,under-paidoverworded-especially thosepre-school, primarysecondary education.
This despitefaat that Comrade Deng Xiaoping immediately onv resuming office pointedout: educationa continuous processthe pay and'conditionsteachers frommost elementary level must be improved. This statement was most encouraging', but progress sincewas made, some years ago,. has been painfully slow. So today, who wantsbecometeacher? Who wantsmarryteacher? When far better prospects are offeredother professions?
True,"man does not live by bread alone " -but he can't live without it. Of course many fine dedicated people are still willing, even eagerbecomeremain teachers. Many, but not enough. That's one reason why there are middle sehool classes70more pupils , an intolerabl'e situation. The lowernumberstudentsa class ,higherqualityeducation can be.
Of courseam not speaking personally. Looking back on, 35 years asteacherChinafeel grateful. Asteacher herehave hadhappyrewarding life. Being surrounded by young people has helpedkeep me young. But my payconditions are well above thosemy Chinese colleagues.A bigrapid improvementtheir social status, together withsimilar improvementtheir pay, working cond'i~ionsbousing, will attract moremore fine peoplethe teaching profession. Tha vitalurgent necessityChina's socialist modernization.
Additional Information
For manyyou this will be your last year at shcoolnowthe timeyoubegin thinking seriously about your future careers. In ordergive you as much help as possible,have drawn uplistquestions that you oughtask yourself.
"Havegiven thoughtwhatwould likebe doing 520 yeas from now?" Bearmind thatcareer you choose will affectfuture courseyour life. It will partially determine your rangefriends, your choicehusband or wife, where you live, your recreational activities.other important aspectsyour life.
"Havea clear knowledgemy abilitiesaptitudes, as well as my interestsaims?" & honest about your weak points as well as your strong ones. Takereally good look at yourselfgive real thoughtthe kindperson you are, what you are good at,what kindperson you wantbe.
"Doknowkindoccupationswhich people like myself tendfind successsatisfaction?" Once you have examinedfound out about yourself , your next questionwhat you can really do with yourself. You can gain some ideawhat other people, with similar abilitiesinterests. considerbe importantchallengingthe careers that they chose , by talkingpeople alreadythe careers that interest you. Watch these people at work.
"Haveweighed carefullyimmediate advantages againstlongterm prospects offered byjobsam considering?" Willoccupation you select give you satisfaction, not just when you start, butthe yearscome? Realize nowimportanceeducationall fields, technicalprofessional. Remember that when promotion occurs, preferenceusually giveneducated persons-other things being equal.
"Havetalked about my job references with my careers master, my parents, my teachersmy headmaster?" Remember they havetremendous furidexperience from which you should benefit. They can help you think aboutjobwhich you will find satisfactionchallenge. They can stimulate yougive careful thoughtwhat you really wantdo,offer useful suggestions ashow you might take full advantageyour personal qualitiesqualification.
"Havemadereal studyjobsHong Kong?" It takesvery long timefindwork that suits youbest. Reading aboutstudyingnumberoccupationssomething you should do overover again. In Hong Kong very little written materialprovided aboutcareers available. But theresome. You or your parents should obtairias soon as possible. Your careers master will be ablehelp youthis, if your school has one.
"How doregard my job? Isjustmeansgetting moneydothings thatwantdo? Iswork importantmemy future happinesscontentment? Isa combinationboth these things?" The above questionstheir answers should give you some better ideas about how you should start planning your career. Your life-long job cannot be approachedany kindhaphazard fashion. It must be considered carefull, examined from every angle, talked over with those who know youthose who can help youany way.
Is It an Ideal Career?
Text A
am not an extreme feminist.am not an extreme anything. However,amfirm believerequalityfreedom.think we are all entitledthe same rightsopportunities. perhaps my viewsfeminism are influenced byfact thatwas an only childperhaps ifhad hadbrother,he (and I) might have been treated differently.
My mother wasperfect exampleall an ardent feminist would hate: she waited handfootmy fatherdidall without complaint. When my father arrived home from worksoup was served. Every nightclothesthe next day were left out withunderwear thoughtfully placedtop so that he didn't even havethink whatputfirst.
His shoes were always polishedhim,rightbe firstthe bathroom was never challenged,if he ever found himselfthe kitchen,was by mistake. My mother was honestly content with this situstionregarded my father asperfect husband: he wascaring, generous man-a good provider. What more could any woman ask?
remember being brought up, not asmale or femaie,but simply as an individual,althoughsupposemust have been influenced by my parents,do not remember ever being eneouragedmake marriage my major ambition. was fortunate enoughmarryman who did not expectchain methe kitchen sink. He was quite capablepolishingown shoes ,mine too while he was at it. He was also ablewash dishes , dust , or do anything else aroundhouse. We managed beautifully, with no strict male/female divisionlabour.
Our first baby arrived, muchour delight, six months ago.was more than pleasedgive up my job ashad become sickit.looked forwardmy baby,now hehereactually enjoy him very much.have no intentionreturningWork, asthink our son oughthaveparentcarehim forfew years at least. Indeed,could be very happy withsituation, werenot experiencing quite unexpected problems adaptingmy new role.
Whenattendedante-natal clinicfi,rememberdoctor asking me what'was' , meaning my occupation, rather than my blood group or star sign. Yet whenwentthe baby clinicthe first time, all they wantedknow was what my husband 'was'.am still wonderirig what difference that makesanything, andwas hurt that nobody wantedknow about me any more. Quite suddenlywas just someone's wifesomeone's mother.no longer seemedhave an identitymy
Where, previously, my husband was quite happyhelp aroundhouse,attitude now seemsbe that if I'm at home all day,can do allhousework. And what bugs me mostthatfind myself going along with it. Ifbaby cries duringnight, then thereno question about who gets up. Havetaken leavemy senses? My senseself-esteern seemsbe clogged with baby powderbaby cream!
Butaspectmotherhood I've found hardesttake has beenlossearning power,whatsee aslossfinancial independence. For seven yearsenjoyed helpingbring homebacon;money never causedrow. It does now.
Althoughdecisionhave our baby andmestay at home wasjoint one,feel totally dependentmy husband, whobecoming moremore irritated by my stupidity. The indignitybeing financially dependentmy husbandsomethingfeel very, sensitive about. Logically, havingbaby oughthave extended me asperson:should bepersonwas pluspersonam, asresultmy new experience.
It hasn't worked out like that. Motherhood seemshave wiped out ten yearsvariedinteresting work experiencetaken me back, not forwards-a whole generation back. Buthig difference between my mothermethat she was happy andam not.knowconflict that she couldn't have imagined.
Text B
Havingspecia! dayhonourteachersa fine thing. But one dayyearnot enough! Where wouldworld be withocrt teachers? What hope would there behuman progress? Teachers deserverespectthe wholesocietywhole year round. But they haven't got it. Whatmost remarkableregrettablethatthis great landChina, with its ancient civilizationtraditional respectlearning, teachers are so looked d'own upon that itnecessaryset asidedayshow respectthem.
Whythis?believe that teachers' low social statusinseparable from their I'ow pay,poor living and: working conditions-though these are gradually being improved. But stillstate allocationfundseducation is, per capila, amongthe lowestthe world. So teachers are,gengeral,under-paidoverworded-especially thosepre-school, primarysecondary education.
This despitefaat that Comrade Deng Xiaoping immediately onv resuming office pointedout: educationa continuous processthe pay and'conditionsteachers frommost elementary level must be improved. This statement was most encouraging', but progress sincewas made, some years ago,. has been painfully slow. So today, who wantsbecometeacher? Who wantsmarryteacher? When far better prospects are offeredother professions?
True,"man does not live by bread alone " -but he can't live without it. Of course many fine dedicated people are still willing, even eagerbecomeremain teachers. Many, but not enough. That's one reason why there are middle sehool classes70more pupils , an intolerabl'e situation. The lowernumberstudentsa class ,higherqualityeducation can be.
Of courseam not speaking personally. Looking back on, 35 years asteacherChinafeel grateful. Asteacher herehave hadhappyrewarding life. Being surrounded by young people has helpedkeep me young. But my payconditions are well above thosemy Chinese colleagues.A bigrapid improvementtheir social status, together withsimilar improvementtheir pay, working cond'i~ionsbousing, will attract moremore fine peoplethe teaching profession. Tha vitalurgent necessityChina's socialist modernization.
Additional Information
For manyyou this will be your last year at shcoolnowthe timeyoubegin thinking seriously about your future careers. In ordergive you as much help as possible,have drawn uplistquestions that you oughtask yourself.
"Havegiven thoughtwhatwould likebe doing 520 yeas from now?" Bearmind thatcareer you choose will affectfuture courseyour life. It will partially determine your rangefriends, your choicehusband or wife, where you live, your recreational activities.other important aspectsyour life.
"Havea clear knowledgemy abilitiesaptitudes, as well as my interestsaims?" & honest about your weak points as well as your strong ones. Takereally good look at yourselfgive real thoughtthe kindperson you are, what you are good at,what kindperson you wantbe.
"Doknowkindoccupationswhich people like myself tendfind successsatisfaction?" Once you have examinedfound out about yourself , your next questionwhat you can really do with yourself. You can gain some ideawhat other people, with similar abilitiesinterests. considerbe importantchallengingthe careers that they chose , by talkingpeople alreadythe careers that interest you. Watch these people at work.
"Haveweighed carefullyimmediate advantages againstlongterm prospects offered byjobsam considering?" Willoccupation you select give you satisfaction, not just when you start, butthe yearscome? Realize nowimportanceeducationall fields, technicalprofessional. Remember that when promotion occurs, preferenceusually giveneducated persons-other things being equal.
"Havetalked about my job references with my careers master, my parents, my teachersmy headmaster?" Remember they havetremendous furidexperience from which you should benefit. They can help you think aboutjobwhich you will find satisfactionchallenge. They can stimulate yougive careful thoughtwhat you really wantdo,offer useful suggestions ashow you might take full advantageyour personal qualitiesqualification.
"Havemadereal studyjobsHong Kong?" It takesvery long timefindwork that suits youbest. Reading aboutstudyingnumberoccupationssomething you should do overover again. In Hong Kong very little written materialprovided aboutcareers available. But theresome. You or your parents should obtairias soon as possible. Your careers master will be ablehelp youthis, if your school has one.
"How doregard my job? Isjustmeansgetting moneydothings thatwantdo? Iswork importantmemy future happinesscontentment? Isa combinationboth these things?" The above questionstheir answers should give you some better ideas about how you should start planning your career. Your life-long job cannot be approachedany kindhaphazard fashion. It must be considered carefull, examined from every angle, talked over with those who know youthose who can help youany way.