By Yao Mingqi
Translated by Chen Shuling
'Why do our schools always fail to nurture outstanding talents?'This is a question asked by Qian Xue Sen before his death, as well as his last words, which is very heavy but we are not allowed to evade. Then, there is an open letter issued jointly by 11 professors to Yuan Gui Ren, the new Minister of Education and the national educational circles: Let's face 'Qian Xue Sen's question! Chinese Version>>
Why do our schools always fail to nurture outstanding talents? Or in another word, why do the talents nurtured by our schools become 'outstanding'when they are abroad? Do they not want to be 'outstanding'in China? Or is there no way for them to become 'outstanding' in China? This is a serious problem, which is worthwhile to inquire and meditate. Whenever the Nobel Prizes are awarded every year, we will ask the question and think when we can produce a Nobel Laureate. However, this kind of sound is heard mostly on grassroots level while the educational circle almost keeps silent. Is it indifference or helplessness?
It is supposed that China's colleges and universities have 'no lack of money'. We are able to build a campus which can give California Institute of Technology 'a sense of inferiority'and we can spend several millions or even tens of millions yuan to build a gate. But we are unable to produce an outstanding talent like Qian Xue Sen or Deng Jia Xian. This is a matter that makes our people very worried and even very annoying.
But also, it is no surprise that our schools always fail to nurture outstanding talents. With so many universities competing to build luxury school buildings, who is to create an open and free academic atmosphere? With so many experts and scholars spouting for extra income, who is to engage in scientific research? When people issue their papers just for completion of task, who will be immersed in further exploration of issues? When so many professors are striving to become leading members, who will regard science as the basis of all issues? So, when the executive power is always above the academic power in schools, when the executive order is much higher than academic freedom, when quick success is much better than forethought, our schools will impossibly nurture outstanding talents, but just regretfully become the 'source place' of outstanding talents for the United States and other countries.
Mr. Lu Xun once gave the shout in Beijing Normal University Affiliated High School Alumni Association that 'before genius is demanded to be produced, the people who can allow geniuses grow should first be demanded'. When Mr. Lu Xun made the appeal, Qian Xue Sen had just entered the Beijing Normal University affiliated high school. Today, Mr. Lu Xun's appeal is still not out of date and worthy to be considered seriously. Have we prepared the air and soil for the emergence of outstanding talents?
'When a man is going to die, his words would be good'. This 'good' means good words and genuine words, not nice words. Everybody wants to hear nice words, but harsh words are often able to shock people's minds. Hopefully, Qianlao's last words can remind some people, and promote genuine reform and innovation. Don't let Qianlao's regret to be our eternal regret. Only daring to face 'Qian Xue Sen's Question', can we have the courage to rise vigorously and the possibility to success.