Wang Li: In the article "The process of education is also the process of self-redemption", you said that after the "Wan Yanxin" incident, your classroom was very free, and the previous pressure and compromise were completely gone?
Yang: The freedom of teaching has stages and is also limited by the environment and climate. Of course, it depends more on your relationship with students and parents. There has been pressure and compromise. After all, a person must survive first, and then he can seek development, happiness, value and meaning. Teachers all hope to have more teaching freedom, which is the greatest benefit for teachers, but what needs to be concerned is how long you can stand on the podium in the face of the reality that freedom is still a luxury, and you have to pay attention to the height of the ceiling. After all, meeting hurts.
Wang Li: How do you ensure that students' test scores are among the best? Is it Chinese grades or most subjects? In other words, how do you combine this kind of education with the exam properly? Have you changed, adjusted and improved this Chinese teaching method over the years? Is this method suitable for most students or special China students?
Yang: I can't guarantee that I will always be the best. Grades are related to students' quality, of course, they are also related to the quality of examination questions, marking papers and students' review quality, and many factors are uncontrollable. In fact, the usual grades don't mean anything. After all, the harvest of China people is like an iceberg, and the quantitative results are like the part above the water, but the part below the water is invisible. I hope I can get better grades, just to protect myself and not let parents and schools worry. Actually, I don't care much about grades. In the fierce competition environment, I even prefer to be the last teacher to make young teachers feel better. After all, a thick-skinned old teacher knows that the explicit and implicit scores of Chinese are not necessarily opposite, or even diametrically opposite, because "failing" and "failing" are problems that have not been solved well in Chinese for many years. Chinese is partial to human nature and emphasizes growth. Instrumentality is only one side and insignificant.
I haven't attended classes for many years, so I can only pay attention to my Chinese grades. As for the combination of education and examination, of course, it lies in teachers' educational wisdom, their understanding of education and their understanding of growth and success. Classroom, homework, reading, even oral test papers and even extracurricular time can be used, and the connection in the Internet age is very convenient.
There is no fixed method for my teaching. Everything depends on the content and scene I was facing at that time, because educational opportunities are fleeting. Without students' interest and motivation to learn, you are wishful thinking, and the purpose of education and teaching is difficult to achieve. Change and adjust according to students' needs anytime and anywhere. As a person who explores Chinese teaching, at least for his own teaching, there must be many mistakes and even lessons. It is an ideal state to say "perfect". Faced with an educational reality that cannot be chosen and students with different characteristics, it is impossible to have perfect teaching. Preference for some students may be unfair or even harmful to others. I can only try my best to satisfy as many students as possible, and no one can be irresponsible. It is impossible to satisfy every student. Even turning you into money, some people don't like it.
Wang Li: After all, students' time is limited. How do you teach them to balance reading and brushing questions?
Yang: I have read a lot of books myself, and I will share more in class when I have the opportunity. After all, I can also give students a few skylights to influence their spiritual direction. You can recommend some books to them, write reading notes and essays with them, and open up your own writing space on the Internet. I also share some articles worth reading in the group and personal space for students to choose freely. As for brushing questions, I often discourage them, but after all, I still have to take exams, so I will arrange less flexible homework so that students can choose to do or not do it according to their own situation. Personally, I think learning should not be compulsory, so that students can learn to choose and take responsibility for themselves. This is the greatest kindness to students.
Wang Li: How did the parents who threw bricks at you change? Are there any broken bricks by parents now?
Yang: As for whether these parents can change, that's their business. There is nothing I can do about it, because values are the most stubborn thing. Some parents are also victims of previous education and are pitiful people. Poor people often have hateful things. I hope they can communicate with me directly if they have any opinions, and don't deal with a man as he deals with you. I am not a narrow-minded person. I understand their demands, which may be more beneficial to the children. As a modern teacher, you must allow the parties to have different opinions, give you suggestions and even requirements, because teachers and parents have the same goal, both for the good of their children. Strangely, parents buy hard seats for exam-oriented education. What you provide for their children is life education, holistic education and, of course, the soft sleeper of exam-oriented education. As a result, some people are always dissatisfied. In recent years, almost every parent has complained about me to the school, but no parent has ever communicated with me directly. I understand their fear, but this is a giant baby mentality, unwilling to communicate normally and equally, but hoping to achieve personal goals through the suppression of power, hoping to turn you into a personal tutor for his children, never considering your feelings and those of other students. Don't underestimate the parents' complaints. Even if 99% of students and parents are satisfied, if parents report or complain, you will face crisis and challenge, and even be dismissed. This kind of education is unreasonable and frightening, and the democracy of the majority has turned into personal violence. I wonder, who wants to be a teacher in the future? Who dares to teach? Few graduates and outstanding students take the initiative to apply for normal university. Where can there be a good education without a good teacher? Therefore, I urgently call for the reform of education, so that students can choose teachers as soon as possible, instead of being tied together by luck through the hand of power, which is beneficial to the growth of teachers and the study of students. After all, a twisted melon is not sweet. There are many cinemas to choose from, and we are still a big classroom. Binding learning or education will not be free, nor will it be happy.
I entered the new grade after the third year of senior high school on 20 15. At first, some parents complained that I didn't assign homework, and there were special teachers who spoke simply. In order to cooperate with the students (most of them support me and let me educate their parents), I spent a lot of time and energy to be good parents and satisfy the school. Until the first monthly exam, my two classes did far better than the similar classes, and my parents stopped giving advice. Later, my educational reform was supported by my parents' understanding. I even took the Chinese class to the playground after the snow, enjoying the snow, playing with the snow and making a snowman.
Now parents throw bricks, and they throw them at you in the dark. You don't know who this parent is. Last year, there was an anonymous report, the reason was ridiculous, and it also exposed the ignorance and distorted values of parents after poor education, which made you feel that the information between parents and teachers was too asymmetric. Meeting such parents is a teacher's disaster, but no one can be blamed. Regret is useless, only face it. In a mutually harmful society, education is also mutually harmful. Others hurt you, but you can't be sorry for students because of individual parents' problems, because you eat a conscience meal.
Wang Li: How did you persist in teaching in a school for 30 years? During this period, how many years did you strongly want to leave? How did you decide to stay later?
Yang: I think the interpersonal ecological environment of this school is not bad, the leadership is more democratic, the relationship between colleagues is more harmonious, and the income can meet the survival. There are some people with the same values, whose houses are not big, basically enough, and their hometown is not far away, so they can go back at any time ... so I stayed. In fact, in the first five or six years of work, the tide of market economy hit the school, and many friends and colleagues went south to Shenzhen, Zhuhai and other places, which also had a certain impact on me. At that time, I mainly wanted to do cultural media work, that is, to eat by words. If I didn't know the truth, I almost became an editor of Pioneer Magazine of the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee or a reporter of Northwest Information Daily. Later, I learned that many jobs in society have no teacher freedom, no holidays, and average income. In addition, friends persuade, lovers object; Besides, after five or six years of education, I have basically adapted to this kind of work and have some feelings. What kept me going was my later discovery of education and personal significance, especially my thinking on fundamental issues such as life, death and faith. In addition, my blood pressure rose and my body called the police. I think you should find something to do by yourself. You can't leave for nothing, and you don't want to play with people who consume your life energy. So I went on the road alone until today.
Wang Li: How do your students evaluate you? What is your relationship with most students?
Yang: Most of them should be praise. Of course, there must be bad reviews. I believe that no teacher will satisfy every student, and you don't have to please every student. Teacher-student love is a kind of fate. Some students have no chance, and you don't have to force others to like you. I can confidently say that I have a harmonious relationship with most students, because after a long period of education, you will gain a deeper insight into human nature, your heart will become softer and softer, and you will become more tolerant and understanding of every student. And I never judge students by their grades, no matter whether they study well or not, and I will not treat students differently because of their parents' economic or political status. More importantly, I have been a voluntary teacher of students' mental health for many years, integrating ideological energy into the classroom, giving psychological counseling to students, and trying to make students happy every day.
Over the years, I am gratified by the students' trust in me-some words, students may not tell their parents, but they will tell me, for example, a student said that he secretly liked a girl in the class and was discovered by his parents; For example, a girl said that she broke up with her third boyfriend, which was very painful. She even sent me a photo of the breakup letter. For example, a gay boy told me a secret: "Teacher, how can I find my love?" ; For example, a boy stayed up all night after pushing down his mother because he rebelled against her rude education. He wrote seven poems for me to express his hatred, anguish and determination to run away from home. After I found out, I advised him in time and gave him follow-up remedial advice. What moved me even more was that after a boy and a girl he liked secretly ate the forbidden fruit, he was afraid to tell his parents about it because of fear, worry, regret, anxiety and depression. After talking with me for more than a week, he finally relieved his inner pain and anxiety. Later, both boys and girls were admitted to key universities, and there was no accident ... there were many similar things. The trust of these children often touches me alone.
Wang Li: Is there a camera in your school classroom? How to treat this phenomenon?
Wang Li: The old building is there, and the new building has been installed, and there is still sound. Leaders don't have to go into the classroom after class. As long as you turn on the camera, you can know the classroom teaching situation of any teacher. Although this facilitates inspection and management, it hinders the freedom and calmness of education and teaching. Real education must have free space, whether teachers or students. If we live under constant monitoring, education actually does not exist.
Traveling to Thailand before the Spring Festival, I found that there is no speed limit on ordinary highways in Thailand. Except for important intersections, I didn't see the camera, the driver braked suddenly, and of course I didn't see the traffic accident. The cost of external monitoring will be greatly reduced if the driver shows himself. This reminds me of many problems and gives me a lot of inspiration.
Wang Li: How do you face and solve the profound conflict between ideal education and reality?
Yang: There will always be conflicts, and there will certainly be conflicts. A tree can't change the climate of a city, but you can influence the microclimate around you, although microclimate is often foggy. In order to go further, you often need to make appropriate compromises: be as close to reality as possible, be close to exams, and be close to students' previous knowledge ... Don't expect every student in the class to be your hardcore fan. Fish for the children in the oil pan, and count as many as you can. You are not the savior. What scares me is that instead of fishing out a few, you were dragged into the oil pan, which eventually led you to give up hope of doing something positive and feel that it seems safer to muddle along in mediocrity. I don't want to kill myself, but someone wants to bury you alive.
Wang Li: We know that you have strongly criticized the educational model of Hengshui, but some people have affirmed it from another aspect. How to treat Tao Jixin decoding Hengshui?
Yang: I don't know. I only know that this book was co-authored with the headmaster of Hengshui. Hengshui mode, some people affirm, some people deny, this is normal. After all, people are value animals, depending on what kind of value you are concerned about. Some people say: "The hillside is full of flowers, but in the eyes of cattle and sheep, they are just forage." Aesthetic value and practical value are not at the same level after all.
Wang Li: Under the heavy teaching task, how do you ensure the time and mood of reading and writing?
Yang: I get up early in the morning and go to bed late at night, but I am not hard on myself. Everything is natural.
There are many e-books in your mobile phone, and there are books around you. As long as you want to see it, you can still make time. Teacher Xue Ruiping said, "People in love don't have time to hug." I have no time to study, mainly because I don't love enough. As for the mentality, I don't pay much attention to the outside, but pay more attention to the heart. If you find some problems in reading or teaching, write them down in time and revise them in writing when you have time. Do not contribute, put it in your own space. Anyone who wants to use it, just say hello and take it away. Academics and writing are actually for the society, and what individuals gain is only a by-product.
Wang Li: I have taught senior three for many years. What do you share with the Chinese teacher in Grade Three?
A: Don't pay too much attention to test-taking skills. The key is students' thinking quality and cognitive level. Chinese literacy is not brushed out by brushing questions. You can go beyond the logic of exam-oriented Chinese review and don't just follow the college entrance examination questions. No matter how utilitarian the exam is, we can't ignore education, because education is poetry and distance, and the exam is only a temporary struggle. Students can read something every day to supplement their spiritual energy. Reading is eating, brushing questions is taking medicine. There are always side effects when taking medicine. Of course, this metaphor is not necessarily appropriate.
Wang Li: As a famous teacher, how do you educate your children?
A: I have never thought of being a "famous teacher" so far, because I am neither a "subject leader" nor a "super" or "all-advanced" teacher, let alone a "studio". I have never participated in "competitive teaching" and never dared to call myself an "expert". I am just a "grass root" who has stood on the podium for decades and worked in factory workshops or fields for decades. In my opinion, an intellectual (if I can count myself) is somewhat different from this world in his alertness to practicality, which may be conducive to independent thinking and the establishment of his own ideological world.
My child has a family. He grew up freely without too much pressure. We don't want him to get ahead, but we want him to be a free, happy and responsible citizen. When I was three or four years old, I rode a tricycle to get milk in winter, rode a bike to school in the third grade of primary school, invested in opening a bar with my classmates before entering college, and obtained a driver's license after graduating from high school. During his college years, he engaged in more than a dozen social practice activities, and a TV series co-produced with his classmates won a grand prize. He has a wide range of hobbies, good eloquence and strong action, and is the first college student in their major to find a job. Later, many job-hopping was also our own choice, and the work situation was getting better and better. We never interfere. Now he lives happily with his beautiful wife.
Wang Li: What do you want to do most after retirement?
Yang: If you want to walk around, of course, you can take advantage of the waste heat and do some work related to education and teaching. Actually, I have long wanted to retire. It will come sooner or later.
Wang Li: What do you think is the ideal education?
Yang: Allow students to choose courses and teachers; Teachers have the freedom of education and teaching, and there are no surveillance cameras in the classroom; Students have one hour of reading and one hour of physical activity every day. They have spring outing and autumn outing every year, and there are expert lectures every month. There are no monthly exams and weekly exercises. Parent-teacher conference is a psychological counseling for family education and a salon for educational problems, instead of looking at grades and creating anxiety and educational problems. The school has independent students' union and teachers' union, as well as an independent educational academic committee, instead of all being decided by administrative forces.
Brief introduction of Wang Li: Independent education observer, Master of Education from Beijing Normal University, Bachelor of Journalism from Xiamen University, natural growth education and children's reading promoter, worked as a reporter editor in Beijing for 17 years. Now living in Shanghai, engaged in educational research consulting and reading promotion. He is the author of childhood can be so beautiful, the power of companionship and scholarly childhood. Special commentator of China Education Press.