The Future of China

During my visit to the #1 High School in Yiyang City in Hunan Province, I am struck by the level of commitment for improvement displayed by the students here. There have been numerous opportunities to meet with students in large classes as well as small gatherings and, in all cases, the students have a high level of optimism about their future. All of them speak about a strong sense of patriotism and are encouraged by China's growth. They know that they have to work hard and that they must achieve high grades in school and on the national test in order to do well and get into a good university. There is much competition for limited spaces. Consequently, there is much stress here. Students take eight classes a day. The school day extends from 7:30 in the morning to about 5:00 PM with a two hour break for lunch and classes are 45 minutes long. Subjects include Chinese, math, science (physics, chemistry and biology), English, history, art, geography, music and "physical training" (gym). Students eventually select one of two tracks: math/science or art. The difference in the tracks appears to be on the emphasis placed on certain subjects, but students must take all subjects. For the students that board at the school (about one quarter of the 4,000 students), there is a mandatory study period from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM. I had a chance to observe this study period.

Some of the questions that I have explored with the staff include how schools meet the needs of students with special learning needs (special needs students attend a different school), how do teachers deal with the high class size (this is a major concern with up to 75 students in a class) and how do students handle the enormous pressure placed on them (there is only one psychologist in a school of 4,000 students). Some questions for further consideration include: Can the high class sizes be reduced? Can students with special learning needs be better served? Does the "one child" policy have an impact on student performance? What can we adopt from the educational practices in China?

There are many problems in the educational system in China that will need solutions. The sheer number of students is overwhelming. It is surprising to see the high level of optimism in both students and staff. I was struck by the simple words spoken by the young boy in this picture. As I passed by, I heard him say..."Good Morning." He is in kindergarten and I asked his father if I could take his picture. The father agreed and asked his son to say a few more words in English "to the American." Obviously, this father is quite proud of his son, a kindergarten student in China. I think the future of this country is bright.