More details on Premier's school visit in Sept

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-10-12 10:06

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (3rd-L) dines with students at the No.35 Middle School in Beijing on this September 4, 2009 file photo. [Xinhua]

The fifth and last was a music class. The teacher first let the students enjoy "We Are the World", one of the best-known works of Michael Jackson. The premier said, "I felt as if it was an artistic training class."

The class's topic of love guided the erudite leader to talk about aesthetics and the best-known Chinese aesthetician Zhu Guangqian. At the class, the premier made an improvisation on the issue of love. He also told the students about some Chinese scientists who were well-learned on other subjects such as arts, music and literature.

In a discussion with teachers, Wen said China failed to foster enough outstanding talents to meet the needs of the nation. Although the country has fostered a large number of professionals, the number of Chinese scientists who have gained an international reputation is too small, he said.

Wen quoted Czech educator John Amos Comenius (1592-1670) as saying, "Teacher is the most splendid profession under the Sun."

According to the premier, China had about 16 million teachers, including 12 million elementary and middle school teachers.

Wen called for bold reforms in the educational sector. China needs a large number of educators with a penetrating judgement on running schools, said the State leader.

The premier said education must meet the requirements of its own development law; the requirements of the changes of times, the requirements of the country in building a socialism with China's own characteristics; and the requirements of the "human-based" principle.

Teachers should be an "envoy of kindness", an "avatar of sincere love", and a "very skillful" educator with an "excellent character" and "lofty professional moral", said the premier.

He urged teachers to be full of love and loyalty to their cause, be diligent in research and be qualified for their profession, and behave themselves as a model for students.

Wen also disclosed that a student had written to him on the issue of students' suicide. The student told him that many students had turned to suicide at a very young age, asking the premier to have a dialog with students on line on Sept. 1, the day for a new academic year.

The number of suicidal students has been very small, but "it must draw great attention," Wen said.

He urged governments at all levels to support the educational sector and make concerted efforts to improve the working and living conditions of teachers.

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