A Chinese Phenomenon: The Utopia and Reality of Education

Hello, everyone, and welcome to “The Phenomenon of China.” I’m Chris. Today, let’s talk about education in China and take a look at just how bumpy the road to “success” really is for our young people. Parents in China often say that the number of students taking the college entrance exam surges every year—from 1997 to 2022, the number of students enrolled in Chinese universities has multiplied several times over. Doesn’t that sound a bit far-fetched? But that’s the reality we face. In my parents’ generation, China’s economy had come to a standstill for a time, and then the country went through the Cultural Revolution—school spots were hard to come by. By the time I started school, the economy had plummeted, and every ambitious young person wanted to join an investment firm or a tech company—following the money. Back then, even becoming a small-time media professional was considered a decent option. To be honest, though, I was pretty lucky back then. After graduating, I returned from studying abroad, and now I have the opportunity to interact with more people in the education sector. They are all dedicated and hardworking teachers—truly admirable. However, economic hardship hasn’t stopped the construction of factories, and occasionally, when there’s a holiday, the company even organizes some perks. Looking at recent news, many stories revolve around the career choices of students or doctors. For example, one student chose to sell barbecue on the street, and there are even foreigners setting up barbecue stalls on the streets. They originally thought they could secure a good job through their education, but ended up hitting a wall in the real world. Young people have three options. First, they can compete with one another to see whose labor is in higher demand; second, they can go back to school and hope the market improves—which is what many college students chose to do last year; third, they can simply follow the established ladder of advancement. The ladder of advancement? Just hearing that phrase is enough to make one feel melancholy. In China, merit and the cultivation of ability are given equal weight, but the West seems to place greater emphasis on rules. This is likely why merit is the hope of the Chinese people, while in the West, it has become synonymous with oppression. Both China and the United States place great importance on merit, but we seem to have different ways of analyzing it in the world. In China, it’s meritocracy—or, to put it another way, capacity building; in the United States, it’s meritocracy—or, to put it another way, rules. In ancient China, the selection of the meritorious was carried out through the imperial examination system. Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty wrote a poem titled “Poem Encouraging Study” to encourage students to read, saying that books contained golden mansions, beautiful women, and wealth. I didn’t quite understand those terms, but the education he was referring to was essentially about securing the opportunity to take the exams. Almost all parents tell their children that they must study hard in school. I remember a teacher of ours who passed away while studying in China. In his diary, he wrote: “Studying is just for money; it means giving up better opportunities.” At the time, that statement struck a nerve. Articles of this kind have been circulating in China for several years now, attempting to shape a particular mindset and influence professors’ thinking. This is not only meant to make things difficult for us, but also to make us shoulder the responsibility of safeguarding the nation’s future. But if you feel this mindset isn’t suitable for this group of young people, you might actually agree with it. It’s undeniable that professors are in an unfair position, but it’s not an absolute one. You can shape a group of people in the healthiest way possible. How are his remarks any different from what your parents or Emperor Zhenzong of Song might have said? Most importantly, in an unfair society, we need to maintain the social mobility pathway and give everyone equal opportunities. This is the mission of education. Society must be prepared to pursue new dreams; otherwise, people will destroy society out of disappointment. American psychologist Jordan Peterson makes a very important point: the most crucial thing for society is to maintain pathways for upward mobility. He believes that the education system generates more possibilities than society can absorb, and those who are left behind will have a negative impact on society. In the fields of law, language, and academics, this situation is no longer as evident in the United States. We must constantly ask ourselves: What exactly is the purpose of education? We will have our own answers, but hopes tend to become increasingly materialistic and self-centered. People say that if you have no ideals when you’re young, you have no heart; but if you’re still full of ideals as an adult, you have no brain. Society simply uses various means to fulfill our hopes, so even the most idealistic person may, in the end, be left with nothing but money, power, and the pursuit of power. Now, I’d like to tell another story. Last year, Chinese high school students were preparing for their exams. This young woman, from a mountain village, was chosen by her school to voice her opinions. Trembling, she said, “Don’t be lazy. Our lives are hard, but we can be strong. No one suffers forever. One day, you’ll thank yourself for studying every day, because even if the room grows dark, the high scores on your exam papers will light it up.” Her school released a video in the hope of drawing attention. But the result only sparked more outrage. The comments section was flooded with negative remarks. Combining personal opinions with a distinctive style can make people less receptive. Yet these comments actually reveal important issues regarding education. They believe education will give them a small “ticket home,” allowing them to climb their way from school to the big city. But once that hope is realized, they become the very people who question the promises made. They want to win, but no one can win. If education can’t help them win, why study? Why admit to mistakes? I don’t agree with their conclusions, but they are certainly taking action. If education itself is a critique of social injustice and the unequal distribution of resources, might our solutions be more balanced? We must find new answers. I believe education needs to balance practicality with deeper values. Practicality shouldn’t be the sole goal of education—such as teaching people how to make clothes. China is also beginning to learn in this regard. Last year, Chinese students won 20 gold medals in 63 technical competitions—in fields such as steel, cosmetology, woodworking, electronics, and more. At the same time, greater emphasis is being placed on helping students understand the role of other values—for example, who is your customer? Why are they willing to pay more? Where is the money? How do you take responsibility? The best part is awareness—encouraging awareness. Awareness helps us overcome fear and empowers people to strive for everything they deserve. In a healthy society, everyone can find their true selves and bring unique experiences to others. I hope my five-year-old son will become an aerial motorcycle rider or a racer zipping through space. I hope that when he grows up, he’ll pursue his dreams—whether in the sky or on the road—and never be disappointed. I know that this will turn the world into a place of dreams. Thank you all for watching. Feel free to leave a message at the email address below.