Latest news with #ShaunPorter
South China Morning Post
03-08-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
How Hong Kong's secondary schools are fostering creativity in students
In an era marked by rapid technological advancements and evolving job markets, fostering creativity in secondary education is essential not only for academic success but also for developing the leaders of tomorrow. For this reason, educators today are advocating for creativity to be seen as a vital tool applicable across multiple disciplines. 'Creativity is a skill, not a talent. Therefore, it can be taught and learned,' explains Shaun Porter, principal (international programme) at Dalton School Hong Kong (DSHK). He explains that a multifaceted approach to creativity is crucial for helping students navigate complex, real-life problems in our ever-changing world. Others agree that given secondary students are beginning their journey to joining the workforce, it is critical to cultivate creativity among them – starting with having the right mindset. Creativity is seen as a vital tool in the education process. Photo: Handout Toby Newton, executive head of school at the International College of Hong Kong (ICHK), explains: 'At ICHK secondary [school], we define creativity as a frame of mind and a willingness of spirit.' This suggests that creativity is inherent in all human endeavours. Indeed, Teresa Tung, secondary school principal at the Hong Kong Academy (HKA), adds that creativity exists everywhere and should not be siloed. 'Creativity lives in maths, science, everything that we do,' she says, adding that it is essential for young people – particularly those in secondary school – to feel empowered to create and bring new value into the world. This sentiment is echoed by Shane McKinney, a long-standing science and maths teacher at HKA, who underscores the importance of applying existing skills in novel ways.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Activist flouts decorum with protest at school board meeting
Shaun Porter, a confrontational activist, walked up to the Frederick County Board of Education dais at a meeting on Wednesday, turned around so that his butt faced them and pulled his shorts down, as part of a protest of recent board actions. As he addressed the board during a public comment period, Porter used vulgarities while expressing his disapproval for the school district's gender identity policy. School board member Janie Inglis Monier said in an interview on Thursday that Porter did not also pull his underwear down, and board members 'just saw his gray boxer briefs.' Porter said in an interview on Thursday that his goal was to draw attention to First Amendment rights regarding the district's gender identity policy, the removal of a school board candidate from a recent meeting and an investigation into a school board member's language from earlier this year. 'An outrageous First Amendment-protected demonstration of my artistic free expression was needed, and that is exactly what transpired last evening,' he said. Katie Robine, a spokesperson for the Frederick County Sheriff's Office, wrote in a text message on Thursday that the sheriff's deputy at the school board meeting did not take any action against Porter. She wrote that under current legal standards, 'exposing one's buttocks in public is not considered a criminal offense under state law.' 'However, exposing one's genitalia in public is against the law and can result in criminal charges,' Robine wrote. Heather Fletcher, a registered school board candidate for the 2026 election, at a May 7 board meeting, was removed by a Frederick County Sheriff's Office deputy for sitting at the dais and claiming to be an elected school board member. FCPS requested a trespass order against her because of the incident, but the order was lifted after one day by the Sheriff's Office because Fletcher did not have ongoing charges. At the school board meeting on Wednesday, Porter greeted the board members by calling them 'c---suckers' and 'carpet munchers.' Porter scolded school board members for the Title IX investigation into a comment that board member Colt Black made in January of this year regarding the gender identity policy for Frederick County Public Schools. Policy 443 was created to 'prevent discrimination, stigmatization, harassment, and bullying of students who are transgender or gender nonconforming' and to 'create school cultures that are safe, welcoming, and affirming for all students.' The policy compels students, staff members and teachers to use students' preferred names and pronouns, and allows students to use restrooms, changing facilities and be on sports teams that match their gender identity. This week, the board's Policy Committee said it is considering amending the policy to no longer compel the use of preferred pronouns. Referring to compelled speech, Black at a Jan. 8 school board meeting said about transgender and gender non-conforming students: 'Just as much as you have a right to be you, we have our right to be free from you.' FCPS received 32 Title IX Discrimination and Harassment complaints that alleged Black's comment violated the policy and law. But an independent investigation — which other board members said was necessary due to the volume of complaints — found that Black's comments from that meeting did not violate Title IX. At Wednesday's meeting, Porter said the independent investigation 'backfired' on the school board members. 'Why don't you just let us do whatever the hell we want, as long as we're not breaking the law?' he said. 'And stop telling us what to do.' Calling the school board 'stupid' and 'childish' for 'going after' Black, Porter said he was going to 'artistically' express his disapproval of the investigation and of Policy 443. 'It's real simple,' he said. 'I am not going to use they/them pronouns, and you can't make me.' 'I'm going to do something really stupid and childish, too,' he added while approaching the dais. Porter then pulled his shorts down in front of the school board members and Superintendent Cheryl Dyson. Black said in an interview on Thursday that he supports Porter's rights and anyone else's right to 'redress grievance with government under the First Amendment.' He said he laughed when Porter pulled his shorts down because he found Porter's freedom of expression 'rather amusing.' 'I found his particular antics humorous and within reason under the First Amendment,' Black said. 'I think it's wonderful that individuals have that right in our country.' School board Vice President Dean Rose said in an interview on Thursday that it was a 'shame' that students, parents and staff members were at the meeting to get work done. 'There are a few individuals who are only interested in how many clicks, likes, views and retweets they get on social media,' he said. 'It's just a distraction.' Rose said he supports First Amendment rights, but does not 'support the way they're going about it.' 'I think it's important that we continue, as board members, to talk about decorum,' he said. Porter said he splits his time between Frederick and Washington counties. The Herald-Mail in April reported that three Washington County employees filed for peace orders against Porter because of his use of profanity at Washington County Board of Commissioners meetings. A Washington County District Court judge ruled against the request for peace orders. Porter has also confronted Washington County Board of Education members in similar ways by speaking at their meetings. He said in the interview that 'everything I do is stupid, childish, and most people find it hilarious.' Porter said 'it doesn't get any dumber than' what he did at Wednesday's meeting. 'But if you get upset about it, I win,' he said.
