2020 07 25 (A) 作者 Article by: Yvonne Zheng
回想當年我還是一個新老師的時候， 曾經參加 一個本區教育局主辦，名為「我們所要的未來」（ The Future We Want) 的工作坊。參與者有校長、副校長、特殊教育和英語為第二語言部門的主任或老師。工作坊的內容，是討論在學校環境内所面對的各種歧視問題和對策。推行「我們所要的未來」（ The Future We Want ）運動，是要讓教育局上上下下所有的校長、老師和同學，都在一個沒有歧視的安全環境下工作和學習。
歧視有很多不同種類。在校園内外經常遇到的有：
• 種族歧視 racism
• 性別歧視 sexism
• 能力歧視 ableism
• 年龄歧視 ageism
• 宗教歧視 religionism
遇到以下的情况，你會有怎樣的反應呢？
• 小男孩的爺爺說：「不要和某種膚色的同學玩。」
• 某男同學專欺負女同學。
• 男同學玩洋娃娃， 扮媽媽角色， 被其他同學取笑。
• 智障同學被指是「天生蠢鈍」。
• 老師要求升職不果的原因， 是「你太年輕，經驗未夠」。
• 某同學帶的宗教頭巾， 經常被同學惡意扯下來。
如果要寫一本在學校內反歧視策略手冊，一定會比編一本字典更厚。我認為上帝教我們的策略， 比任何教學册子更受用。
雅各書第三章十七至十八：
惟獨從上頭來的智慧，先是清潔，後是和平，溫良柔順，滿有憐憫，多結善果，沒有偏見，沒有假冒。並且使人和平的，是用和平所栽種的義果。
從以上經文看來，我們只要凡事運用從上帝而來的智慧， 便可以結出和平的義果。那個「我們所要的未來」，是不是等於上帝的國來到我們中間，各人可以和平共處呢？
As a new teacher, I once attended a conference called “The Future We Want”. Among the attendees were principals, vice-principals, special education teachers and ESL teachers. The reason for the conference was to discuss how the school board was going to combat the different “isms” so that students, teachers and administrative staff could work in a safe and equitable environment. Each attendee received a handbook defining the different “isms” (e.g. racism, sexism, ableism, ageism and religionism, etc.). I also received a book of classroom strategies and sample lesson plans which I was to share with my colleagues at school.
But the strategies never taught me what to do or say when I saw:
A grandpa telling his grandchild not to play with children of certain skin colour at the school yard.
A male student who singled out female students to bully.
A little boy who got laughed at when he wanted to play “mom” at the drama centre.
A child with a learning disability being called “stupid” by other students.
A teacher is denied a new opportunity because he/she is deemed too young or too old.
A child getting his religious headscarf yanked off by mischievous classmates.
Sometimes I wonder who people can turn to when they want practical advice on what to do when we see things that are inequitable or “Not Fair” in the world. The Eagle Hunters Fellowship turned to the Book of James for advice in the past months. God’s Kingdom is “The Future We Want”.
James 3:17-18 (NIV)
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.