Maple’s Special – 31
Do you know who Confucius is? He’s a great philosopher of ancient China. Though he lived in ancient times and passed away for long, his ideology still applies today.
There’s a Chinese saying under his ideology called ”一日为师，终身为师。” Meaning, if he’s your teacher for one day, you must respect him as your teacher forever.
Since long ago, student is taught to be disciplined and obey to teacher.
Respect to teacher is the most significant virtue that a student should possess. In feudal times, no student dares to say NO to teacher, teacher is just like “god” to them. They will follow accordingly to whatever teachers say, just like how the official obeys the imperial edict.
But times have changed, and so the attitude of students. In students’ eyes, teachers are no longer the strict, long faced old man, but someone who is approachable, feel free to discuss or argue with. It’s good for students to treat teacher like friend, as it will narrow down the wide gap between student and teacher.
However, when students are too close with teacher, somehow the respect to teacher will vanish. The way they talk to teacher will no longer be so polite and sometimes vulgar will appear. They will not feel bad when they’re late for class or talking in class as they regard the teachers as close friends, who can easily forgive them for such a “small” matter. This is the typical phenomenon I have seen in our society. And I thought it is common among the teenagers around the world. But China students’ reaction proved me wrong.
They’re still very respectful to teacher or lecturer. Even though they’re undergraduate students, they do not dare to have an open argument with teachers, on the topic of study. They feel it is very disrespectful. Same goes to talking in class, it’s kind of impossible for China students. Besides, they bow whenever they see their lecturers. When the bells ring, they wait for the lecturer to go out first, and they do not dare to overtake their teachers, just slowly follow at teacher’s back.
Looking at their studying style, I started to think that if we’re too open or they’re too obedient? Which is the best way for teachers to feel respected and students to feel close with teachers? Then I got a conclusion, we should follow part of their way in showing respect to teacher, as in small bow, punctual and no talking in class. This is the basic token for us to show our appreciation to teacher. However, I think that we should still continue our study discussion with teacher, as it is a best way for students and teachers to exchange their opinions. From that, teacher can understand what students think and think of ways to strengthen the weak part of students.
It’s really different, between China and Singapore students’ learning system. And we just have to extract out the essence from each.
Labels: Maple's Special