The Ideal and Reality of Education

Author: Cui Ganxing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-02-01
Features: "Masters" are undoubtedly important, and in a university, masters hold great significance. After hearing lectures from masters, many students feel that "listening to one's words for a seat is better than reading for ten years." However, from a realistic perspective, what deserves more attention is how to make all teachers feel at ease in the university town and bring into play the role of every teacher—this is more important than "producing masters." If students' initiative, self-awareness, and creativity are not nurtured from a young age but instead suppressed, then the "negative consequences" will manifest when they enter university. Just imagine, when a modern literature professor assigns an assignment like "analyze Lu Xun's works," what will university students first think of? Their "knowledge base" is filled with "standard answers" for The Blessing, The Story of Ah-Q, and To My Mother. "Exam-oriented education" is not as prominent in the primary school stage of basic education, nor does it have much room for implementation—do not be overly sensitive. In the secondary school stage, it should attract some attention, but it can also be guided and, to some extent, regulated through the "baton" of exams. The undergraduate education deserves special attention. If our undergraduates are tested and taught according to the "exam syllabus" for graduate students from the very beginning of their enrollment, it will inevitably lead to serious, even catastrophic consequences.