Death teaches a hard lesson

The leap that took the life of a youngster at Tung Chung Catholic School is shocking. At the same time, it is also a case for grave concern.

Not only is it a matter of how a 17-year-old student ended his life, it also raises questions about how schools cope with students suffering from psychological disorders.

Wong Ling-fung was psychotic, but psychologists contacted by The Standard said people with psychosis can be intelligent and resume a normal life if given proper medical care, along with support from family and friends.

Anyone who has read the messages Wong left on his blog might not necessarily agree with him. However, they do provide clues on understanding the inner world of this troubled young man.

The Coroner's Court should be convened to review the case, even though there appears to be little doubt about the cause of death - suicide. But there are circumstances warranting greater attention from us. Perhaps there is something society can learn.

Understandably, the parents are grieving over their son's death, with the father accusing the school of three things in particular. First, he questioned why the school asked his son to take his medication before class despite parental objections. He said Ling-fung had taken his medicine before bedtime the night before - as prescribed by doctors.

Second, he questioned why the school had demanded his son to make a public apology for misbehaving on Respect Teachers Day, knowing he had a psychological condition. Then, he queried why the son was warned of isolation if he did not apologize.

This is the father's understanding of the tragic incident. What's the school's version of the case? So far, it has stayed invisible from the media, even posting a notice at its main entrance yesterday rejecting any media interviews.

Perhaps the closest that one can get is what has been said by unidentified sources quoted by a local paper.

On the first point of the medication accusation, the sources wouldn't comment, citing privacy concerns. On the second point, the sources clarified the school had not asked the student to apologize in public.

On the isolation claim, the sources said arrangements had been made for Wong to return to school for self-study, and was allowed to attend normal classes a few days before his fatal leap.

It would be imprudent to rush to attach blame to anybody. But there is a case of public interest at stake. How well is our education model equipped in dealing with similar problems?

On his blog, Wong said he knew others viewed him as strange since he was very young. How did he cope? He kept his inside world bottled up, and chose to observe how others reacted to him. He also recalled how he had to pretend to behave during the two months' confinement in a mental hospital.

It is right to deal with the psychological impact of Wong's suicide on his schoolmates and teachers. But it would also be necessary for the Education Bureau to take the lead to look into the case thoroughly to find out if there is a lesson to be learned.

There are many types of people, and sometimes, even gifted children act strangely.