From Chinese Press

Pre-exam prayer

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-05-24 07:56

A few days ago, 30 class advisors and course headmen from a middle school in Xinzhou district, Wuhan, braved the rain to burn incense sticks at a local temple, which the school's vice-principal said would "enhance cohesiveness". But such acts do nothing more that relieve pressure before exams, says an article on hebei.com. Excerpts:

Every time the entrance exam to senior middle school or college approaches, temples see a surge in the number of "pilgrims". Some school authorities seem to have perfected the art of making their students burn incense sticks before exams.

It's true that this "last-minute effort" should not be endorsed. But it's also true that it has nothing to do with superstition. How did this practice of burning incense sticks come about? Essentially, it is neither a problem of "supervision" nor of "belief", because people who burn incense sticks regularly may not believe in religion.

Students have to endure tremendous pressure in the country's exam-oriented education system, especially when it comes to exams that to some extent could decide their fate. In such situations what people need most is spiritual comfort or mental dependence. Seen from that perspective, the burning of incense sticks might be a matter of choice and the media need not condemn it by labeling it "supervision" or "superstition".

 

(China Daily 05/24/2010 page9)