Operationalization and Cases of Developmental Evaluation for Student Development

Author: Wang Haifang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: Everyone is a genius [USA] Liu Yong in the book published by Eden Welfare Foundation, saw a moving photo—a handsome young man sitting with an elderly couple. The young man had thick eyebrows and big eyes, almost like a younger version of the older man beside him. However, beneath the white-haired brows of the elder, there were blind eyes. On the other side of the elder was a middle-aged woman, perhaps the young man’s mother, who was also blind. Reading the article titled The Brilliance and Radiance of the Heart, I learned that the young man was the famous photographer Lu Shazhou. Growing up in poverty, Lu Shazhou had to take his parents to give massages every night before he even started primary school. His father played the flute while resting his hand on Lu Shazhou’s shoulder, and his mother pulled the father along. The three of them walked in a long, dim alley together, linked like a chain.
After primary school, Lu Shazhou began to withdraw, avoiding his "incomplete parents" and the gazes of his classmates. During his teenage years, Lu Shazhou became even more rebellious—not only did he perform poorly in his studies but also often caused trouble. One day, after getting into trouble again, he was punished by his art teacher to saw wood. Lu Shazhou deliberately caused mischief by sawing a block of wood into the opposite shape of what the teacher had instructed. He expected the teacher to erupt in anger, but instead, the teacher recognized his talent and praised him highly. This sparked Lu Shazhou’s interest in art, and through steady effort, he eventually enrolled in an art vocational school and became a professional photographer.
Reading this report, I was deeply moved—it felt as if I were seeing myself. During high school, I wasn’t a diligent student either. In my sophomore year, I once failed both English and math. In a fit of frustration, I wrote a short essay titled One Day I Will Stand on the Rainbow in my weekly journal. The content was arrogant, claiming, "I am abundance, I am excellence, I move forward without looking back. I want to write poetry, I want to paint, I don’t care about anything!" I even mocked the hardworking students, asking, "Like you? Like XYZ? Like a soul dried out? Anything I don’t need in the future, get lost!" Like Lu Shazhou, I thought I would be scolded. But to my surprise, my teacher, Ms. Zhuang Ruiying, not only praised the essay but also suggested I publish it in the school magazine. Thus, I went from "submitter" to "editor," writing more and more, and eventually became the essayist I am today.
I often reflect that if Ms. Zhuang hadn’t praised and encouraged me during my sophomore year, I might not have become the essayist I am today. I applied the same approach to my own classroom. After graduating from university, I returned to my alma mater to teach. One day, while grading students’ calligraphy assignments, I noticed one student’s handwriting was messy and dirty, yet the brushstrokes were bold and expressive, carrying a unique charm. Holding a red ink brush, I stared at it again and again, unsure how to grade it. On one hand, his handwriting was too disorganized; on the other, it had a certain "spirit."
In the end, I graded it "B-." When the calligraphy notebooks were handed back, I saw the student staring at his grade with disbelief. I also noticed the reactions of his classmates. I guessed they must think I’m an unfair teacher. So, I addressed the entire class: "This student’s calligraphy, by general standards, should have received a C. However, I noticed something special in his handwriting. Everyone should know that it’s not hard to write beautifully, but it’s rare to write with a unique style and character. Every successful calligrapher must be able to convey a distinctive charm." Then, I called the student to the front: "Next time, just control your brush and don’t draw boxes—your handwriting will improve. Think about it: a talented person, if they can also discipline themselves and study diligently, will naturally succeed." I believe every student in the class saw his progress day by day, how he gradually improved and became more focused. His notebook was no longer messy, and his handwriting was no longer scribbled.
Later, he even represented the class in a calligraphy competition. If one day he becomes a famous calligrapher, I won’t be surprised at all. Of course, I might also be proud of my "talent recognition." "Recognizing talent" is such an important thing. A talented conductor can hear the most beautiful voice among a choir of "explosive" singers and discover them, turning them into soloists. A talented general can train the most unruly soldiers into the bravest warriors. A talented breeder can spot a "thousand-li steed" among a herd of sick horses. A talented teacher can mold every student into a genius! Yes! Mold them into geniuses! Because every student is an independent individual, each with their own unique temperament. If you observe closely, even seemingly dull children have their outstanding qualities. Find that side in them, praise and encourage them, and you’ll see the student first surprise themselves, then accept and develop their talent, gradually achieving results, and gaining even greater confidence. A good teacher can inspire the stubborn and uplift the weak, changing a person’s life forever!
However, when I think about these things, I can’t help but feel a sense of sadness. I often hear that a good student may suddenly decline after switching to a new teacher who doesn’t "click" with them. I also hear that teachers favor students from wealthy or influential families who often give gifts or ask for tutoring. As a result, a child’s performance may vary greatly from grade to grade. Students witness all this and may resent the teacher, the school, the parents, themselves, the system, and even society. Eventually, it affects their entire lives.
I also wonder if Lu Shazhou’s talent would have been recognized if his art teacher hadn’t been an artist, or if my high school teacher hadn’t been passionate about literature, or if I hadn’t been an artist myself. How many "thousand-li steeds" in this world fail to shine simply because they never meet their "bailers"?
Today, reading Wang Dingjun’s memoir Angry Youth, I see the shadows and influences of both "good" and "bad" teachers, and I also come across Wang’s words: "Without a good family background, just have a good school; without a good school, just have a good teacher; without a good teacher, just have the ambition to improve!" I want to share Wang Dingjun’s golden words with every student, and tell everyone: If you haven’t met a good teacher, it’s okay! Don’t resent it! You can assume you are your own teacher, discover your own strengths, and then develop yourself, encourage yourself, believe in yourself, and fulfill yourself! You must believe that heaven has given everyone a gift of genius—it’s just hidden in some corner, waiting for your teacher, your superior, or even yourself, to uncover it. The treasure in your own home should, of course, be discovered by you first, right?