Educators mold nation's bright stars

The story of Fang Zhongyong, written more than 1,000 years ago by Chinese writer Wang An'shi, has served as a ringing reminder for educators at the School of the Gifted Young at the University of Science and Technology of China.

Wang's fable tells of a 5-year-old boy named Fang Zhongyong who showed surprising talent for poetry. But his father, instead of providing for the boy's education, exploited his son's talent and popularity to make a buck. Eventually, the boy lost his talent. The fable teaches young people to concentrate on their studies instead of relying on their innate abilities.

But educators at the school have used the story as a source of motivation. For the past 30 years, the school has made it a point of reforming its teaching methods and especially its admissions requirements to allow students to gain early admission to the school.