Profiles
Teacher stays in the equation
By Zhao Lei (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-06-08 13:01
 |
Large Medium Small |
|
 Xie Jin (center), a math teacher at the Experimental High School Attached to Beijing Normal University, and the school’s principal, Cai Xiaodong(second left), answer students’ questions on Monday afternoon after the math test of the college entrance exam. [China Daily] |
BEJING - A relaxed smile appeared on Xie Jin's face on Monday afternoon as she watched her students stride out of the west gate of the Experimental High School Attached to Beijing Normal University. The youngsters had just finished taking the math test of the national college entrance exam.
As Xie greeted three girls, who rushed over to tell her about the test, an exquisitely dressed woman approached Xie and gave her a Cornetto - a popular ice cream.
"My students and their parents all know of my addiction to Cornettos, so they always try to 'bribe' me," Xie said with a smile and a self-mocking expression.
"But there isn't a lot of time to buy me more Cornettos, since it will soon be time for me to retire," she added.
When Xie became a math teacher at an ordinary Beijing high school in 1971, she was just 16 - an age when most of today's girls are still being pampered by their parents.
A seven-year teaching stint illuminated her future path and made her determined to become a lifelong mentor to students. Although Xie knew that she had done fairly well in her early teaching career, she accepted that her teaching skills and mathematical knowledge needed to be further improved with professional training.
However, due to the chaos caused by the "cultural revolution" (1966-1976), an ordinary teacher like Xie, who had no significant connections, had a difficult time enrolling at a university.
The national college entrance exam was suspended during the "cultural revolution". During that period, only those who were considered to be faithful to the Party, and who had a clean family background, were recommended to go to college.
But the opportunity eventually came, in return for her belief in never giving up hope.
After the national college exam resumed in 1977, Xie took the exam the following year and was admitted to the department of mathematics at Beijing Normal University, one of the country's top higher education institutions.
After her graduation, Xie returned to Beijing No 63 High School in 1983 and picked up the chalk again. Since then, she began to reap successive rewards. For her excellent performance, at the age of 34 Xie was granted the title of senior high school teacher, which is traditionally given to those with many more years of teaching experience.
Moreover, Xie earned a place in the first batch of people who received the municipality-level honor of outstanding head teacher.
Just as Xie was about to be promoted to deputy principal, the teacher laureate turned in her resignation letter. Years later, when asked why she made the astonishing decision, Xie replied: "I just wanted to be an ordinary teacher and fulfill my duties. Heading the school would possibly alienate my students".
In 1994, Xie then joined the Experimental High School Attached to Beijing Normal University, one of Beijing's most distinguished high schools, and continued her vocation as a math teacher.
There she reached the peak of her career.
Numerous honors and titles went with Xie's longevity at the school. Among them, the most valued honor is the respect she has received from her students, she said.
"My students respect me not only because I am good at teaching them math, but also because I really care about their lives and their futures as well as their thoughts and feelings," she said.
Xie's remarks are echoed by Han Mei, one of Xie's former students, who went on to major in law at Tsinghua University in 2001.
"Nine years have passed, but I still remember some of the words Xie told me," Han said. "It is no exaggeration to say that she has enlightened the paths of a great number of young students like me."
Xie is one of the best teachers Han ever had, she said.
"She would sometimes join us - a flock of crazy girls, laughing unrestrainedly. The students never felt uneasy communicating with her and could even tell her some little secrets," Han said.
The students once heard a rumor that Xie would be transferred to teach another class, Han said.
"We let a shy boy in our class shed tears in front of her to make her stay," she said.
Han will soon go to the United States to pursue her educaton at Harvard University. Before she goes, she said: "I will pay a visit to Xie and get some advice from her, then pack them in my luggage and bring her sayings to Harvard with me."
Xie never complains about the difficulties she faces in work or in her personal life, according to her colleagues and students.
"Two months ago when we took the graduation photo, Xie didn't come and we didn't know why. Several days later we found out that she was at a hospital that day to take care of her father, who was in critical condition," said Huang Di, a student who just finished Monday's math exam.
Huang said he began to love math when Xie began to teach his class three years ago.
"It is impossible to maintain a math phobia when you meet such a good teacher," he added.
"We may be the last students who are lucky enough to have her as a teacher and as a friend," said student Wang Ai.
"Xie has told us that she hates being called an 'old lady'. She will never become old in our hearts. She will forever be our childlike math teacher!"