Education

Going old-school to push kids ahead

By Wang Wei (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-05-18 07:45

Children perform calligraphy at Zhongzheng Home Tutoring School. Photos by Wang Jing / China Daily

Parents resort to the ancient teaching methods at si shu

Zhang Lele opens a copy of The Mencius that is written in traditional Chinese characters arranged vertically on the page and reads it aloud. It's the 300th time the seven-year-old has read the work that was written by one of the greats of ancient Chinese philosophy.

Unlike most children his age, Zhang does not go to a State-run school.

He studies full-time at a si shu, a classic-style private school based on the type of teaching that began about 2,000 years ago to educate students about traditional Chinese culture and literature.

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Zhang has been studying in the traditional way since he was four and can now recite several classics, including the Analects of Confucius and works by Lao-zi.

"He can recognize far more Chinese characters than his counterparts at the public schools," said Guan Zheng, Zhang's mother. "And he has a more mature and calm character."

But the style of teaching is controversial because critics say it lacks tutoring in science, computer studies and mathematics that regular primary students would receive.

Zhang is one of 12 students at the Zhongzheng Home Tutoring School at a mountain, northwest of Beijing.

The school was launched in 2008 by Guan and the parents of the 11 other children on its books.

The parents said they did it because of their doubts about the conventional education system.

The school is one of more than 10 such home-tutoring schools in and around the capital that together have hundreds of students.

The founders of the Zhongzheng school believe the alternative way of learning will ensure their children develop outstanding morality and virtues and become healthy and capable members of society.

Among the 12 students, the youngest is five and has been studying at the institution since it was founded. The oldest is eight.

Most of the students' parents hope their children will remain at the institution until they are 12 and reach middle school age.

At that time, they will join the regular public middle school program.

In the meantime, students at the boarding school will not have access to computers and TV shows - the only TV they will get to see will be used to play DVDs about ancient literature.

The school's supporters believe its isolated environment is conducive for the study of the classics during the six hours of lessons each day.

During the school day, the children will also read from the Bible and be taught oral English, calligraphy and the martial arts.

Cooking, washing clothes and cleaning rooms are also important in the students' day.

Zhang Feifei, co-founder of the school and one of its teachers, told METRO she wanted her daughters to learn at the institution because she lost faith in the public education system.

She said works by ancient philosophers contain all the lessons needed to develop morality and the essence of Chinese culture. Zhang claimed the classics are taught rarely in regular classrooms.

But she said they should be compulsory and pointed out that regular primary students learn such things as "spring is here, the peach blossom is very beautiful". "It is too easy for our children," she said.

"Children under 13 have the best memory and should fully use their minds."

By reading the ancient literature hundreds of times, the great thoughts are absorbed into the children's blood, she said.

Also the students will understand and use the ideas throughout their lives.

"It is like we plant wisdom in their hearts," she said.

Zhang said she spends 20 minutes each day teaching math.

She claimed the children were good at the addition and subtraction of numbers less than 100.

She said their knowledge was equivalent to children of the same age in the public education system. "But I achieve it in much less time," she said.

And Guan complained about the mainstream education system, which she said relies too much on test scores.

Guan was also critical of the fact that students at public schools are not encouraged to do any laboring, while she believes physical work helps mold character.

"I feel a little bit ashamed that every Monday when my son leaves for si shu, his room is cleaner than mine," she joked.

But while the parents of the 12 students at Zhongzheng Home Tutoring School are convinced they are doing the right thing, many critics think otherwise and some experts have spoken out about the spread of the si shu phenomenon.

Li Shan, a national studies professor with Beijing Normal University, who has studied children taught in the classic-style private schools, said works by ancient philosophers do have a profound impact on children and should have a place in the classroom.

"But this kind of knowledge is not the only thing a student needs to study," he said.

"It is like sugar. We all know sugar is good but we can't sustain ourselves by only eating sugar."

Li admitted the mainstream education system has weaknesses.

But schools that exist outside of it can create problems for students by making it difficult for children to ultimately fit into society, Li said.

Guan, though, is convinced her son is benefiting from the unusual education he is receiving.

She believes he will be ready to take the National College Entrance Exam when he is 13 and she will wait a few years before deciding.

"He has been on a different path since the minute I decided to take put him in a si shu school," she said. "He will benefit from this for his whole life."

The names of the school, its students and their parents in the story have been changed.

 

Left: Two students, Zhang Qianlin (left) and Zhang Xuerou, recite literature. Right: A girl practices her writing skills with a teacher.