<B>Jean Li Yuen Fong</B> <I>Director of MSPA </I>

?I was raised in Belle-Rose and began my education at the Convent of Belle-Rose. But it was at secondary level that I encountered the teachers who really formed my personality and made my educational experience very fascinating. I recall that I arrived at Saint Mary?s College in 1968. At that time, it was Brother Remy who was the head teacher. He was heading the school with real authority. At Belle-Rose I was with the nuns, so I shifted from sisters to brothers when I went to Saint Mary?s. In those days, there were the likes of Brother Eden, Brother Michael, Marie-Josée Hervel and Anna Lan.

I do not think I will be mistaken if I say that I spent the best years of my life at college. It was a period of discovery and a very important step in our academic life. On the other hand, it was a time when any kid would make himself a lot of friends, and a time where there was not too much pressure on students? shoulders.

However, my experience at secondary school would not have been so enriching and so heartening without the contribution of two persons whom I came across, namely Brother Honoré and Mr Wan Sai Cheong. They were without doubt the greatest teachers I ever had. Coincidently enough, both the former and the latter were my mathematics teachers. So in a way, it goes without saying that mathematics was my favourite subject, and the one in which I was always sweeping up all the prizes.

At that time, religious brothers were usually reputed to be strict and very rigorous. However, brother Honoré was anything but strict. He was in fact rigorous but also extremely friendly. He was from Vietnam and although the books were in English, his teaching was in French. That year, our mathematics syllabus had just changed from old mathematics to new mathematics, and I was in the first batch of students doing the so-called new mathematics. For us, it was something absolutely amazing to be taught new maths in French. Even so, his explanations were very clear, to help us master the subject. In addition to this, he proved very caring and very patient towards us. He was so good-hearted that he gave free tuition to those who were in need after school hours.

In addition to teaching he was coaching the basket-ball team. Indeed, he really initiated me into it. As a result, he often selected me to represent the school and that allowed me to play at a higher level. But as each good thing has an end, once I finished Form III, he left. But luckily for us, he was replaced by another great teacher: Mr Wan Sai Cheong. The great thing about him was the sense of values that he gave us. He was not severe at all. On the contrary, he was very kind and someone who liked to share his knowledge. He bestowed kindness on those around him. But more impressive was the way he managed the class because his manners and habits reflected in his way of teaching. Mr Wan Sai Cheong was always listening to his students. He has now retired. But, I strongly believe he has remained as great as he was in his early days. More importantly, I am pretty certain that he was a great family man as well as a good citizen full of moral and human values.

To choose either of them as ?my best teacher? is a difficult task as they were equally good, but I think I will stick to Brother Honoré. When I recall that time, I realize that he was not just a teacher, as he was not assisting us only academically. He was like a guide to me.?