Chapter 657
From 1985, China Government states that every year’s September 10th will be Teachers’ Day . This date was fixed until even before Feng Yu returned to this life .
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The purpose of Teachers’ Day was to appreciate the teachers’ contribution to society . During the turmoil times, teachers were criticized for being “Stinking Old Ninth” and were considered to be the bad influences . During that time, many teachers were beaten up by their students and humiliated by forcing them to live in the cowshed and hanging a spittoon on their neck .
Although the turmoil times were over, and the government advocates the people to respect teachers, but there were still teachers that were beaten up students and parents . This caused many teachers to protest .
This was why the government implemented Teachers’ Day, and the date was discussed several times .
In the end, it was set on September 10th . This date was chosen because the new school semester had just started .
The Chinese government also implemented a few policies to show its support for the teachers . For instance, the welfare and benefits for teachers were better, a reward system, changes to their appraisal system, better housing, medical, etc . Many resources were allocated to the education sector .
Even before Feng Yu returned to the present life, the teachers were still enjoying these benefits and welfare .
All these implemented for the teachers in the first place, but as time passes, many things changed .
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As the status of teachers became higher, many parents felt that studying was the only way for their children to be successful . If their children were educated, they would not need to work in the farms or be low wage workers . They can even be officials or leaders and work in offices .
To let their children be well taken care of, these parents will try their best to please the teachers . In this era, there were no “teaching by their aptitude” or “Quality education . ” The only thing that matters was the results .
Furthermore, the policies for the previous years were University graduates will be recruited into the government service and will be a leader once they graduated!
This was why respecting the teachers slowly became pleasing the teachers . Parents will try all means to satisfy their children’s teachers . Everyone wants the teachers to give special attention to their children .
For example, if the students do not understand a question or subject, they can approach the teachers after school . The teachers will also take note of the students to make sure the student will not skip school or be bullied .
In the era, most families were dual income . Both parents were working and had no time to look after their children . Even their children were bullied in school, they also do not have time to go to school look for the bullies .
Then what should the parents do? They can only rely on the teachers to look after their children . But in a classroom full of students, why should the teacher just look after your child?
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Giving a gift to the teacher!
There was a saying in China that there’s no harm giving more gifts . Furthermore, in the olden days, it was a must to provide teachers a gift or set up a banquet for them . They were only following old traditions .
So, the teachers did not only get special treatment from the government, but they were also taken care of by the parents of their students . This period was the time when students can still receive physical punishments in school . This lasted until a few years later when the State Council reprimanded the Minister of Education during a dinner . From then onwards, there was a regulation that teachers were not allowed to punish the students physically . But some teachers still do that behind closed doors .
After the year 2000, people’s lives got better, and many people realized that even without high education, they can still make money . This was the time when the parents no longer tell the teachers: “Please take care of our child . If he misbehaves, you can beat them up . ”
It was changed to: “Please take care of our child . If he misbehaves, let me know . I will scold him . Please ensure that he is not bullied in school, and this is a token of our appreciation . Please accept it . ”
There were even some people who spoiled their children . Most of them were grandparents of the child . If the teacher lay a finger on the child, the grandparents will go all out for that teacher!
At first, the most common gift for teachers were some pens or cards . There were not worth a lot of money, and it was only a token . But later, people start to give the teachers eggs, meat, food tickets, etc .
As time passes, the gifts became more and more expensive . Bicycles and even home appliances were given to the teachers in return for special treatments to their child .
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Many teachers became accustomed to receiving expensive gifts . They no longer want to receive pens or cards . They only look forward to expensive gifts .
There were still many upright teachers around, and even if they did not receive any gifts, they would also do their best to educate their students . But when many people treated teaching as a job, the teachers’ quality dropped . Teachers’ Day also became a day for teachers to compete to see who received the most gifts .
Someone once said . Teachers might not remember who gave them gifts . But they will remember which student’s parents did not give them gifts! To make sure the teachers remember the student, the gift must be valuable .
In the current era, not only the teachers feel this practice is normal . Even the parents think it is normal to give the teachers a gift . No one thinks that teachers should not be receiving gifts .
But what gifts should be given? This was a headache for everyone . You want to give the teacher a bicycle? But the teacher already owns one . What’s the use of having one more bike? You want to give an expensive gift, but you can’t afford it . You also can’t get anything cheap . Alcohol and cigarettes? What if it was a female teacher and she doesn’t drink?
Giving money was the most direct solution, but there were still problems . Money was not as obvious as other items . 1,000 RMB was only ten 100 RMB notes . You can’t even feel it if it was in an envelope .
But if you buy a 1,000 RMB item, it will surely be obvious . Furthermore, most parents could not afford a 1,000 RMB gift . At most, they were only willing to use their one-month salary as a gift . It was only a few hundred RMB .
It would not look nice if the parents were to give a few notes directly to the teachers . Many teachers also do not dare to accept money directly from their parents . The parents were also worried that other parents might give the teachers more than them .
So, to many parents, Teachers’ Day was also suffering for them .
Almost everyone does not know what gifts should they prepare and how much should they spend .
But now, shopping cards will solve this problem!
Giving the teacher a shopping card was the same as preparing the Red Packet for weddings . People can discuss the amount to be given . It was not like giving an item . No one would give the same thing as others .
The teachers can use the shopping cards to buy whatever they like . It was not like cash when the teachers were embarrassed to receive it openly . But for a small card, the parents can just stuff it into the teachers’ pocket or their hands discreetly .
This was the current practice in China, and it will not be changed for the next few years .
The new school semester was about to start . Many students were looking forward to it . So were many teachers…… .