A holy profession with unholy results

There are a lot of famous sayings about teachers in China, but two of my favorites are that "teaching is a holy profession" and "teacher for a day, mentor for life".

I think these two sayings tell a lot about the attitude most Chinese have toward teachers - extreme respect. I have experienced this respect in many ways; everything from the simple erasing of the blackboard between classes to being asked to a lavish dinner. Of course, I enjoy the respect that is given to me as a teacher in China, but sometimes I have to wonder if it might be a little overboard.

In China, the teacher is king of the classroom. From a young age, many Chinese students are taught in classrooms where teachers yield near absolute authority in all matters pertaining to their education. There is little debate or questioning, if the teacher says it, the students learn it. This might be a great way to drill slogans or mathematical formulas into the heads of students, but it does little to create a student who is actually active in their learning process.