Di and Gregor talk to Mr Li

Di talked to Mr Li over lunch at Mojiang Number One Middle School:

(l to r) Principal Mr Liu, Kathe Kirby (AEF) and vice-principal Mr Li

We sat on wooden stools as the intent faces of students watched through the windows. Everyone seemed ready to relax, eat and talk. Mr Li and I sat down together.

We discovered that we had both been teaching for about 15 years. His teacher training spanned seven years and involved two years of training, three years of teaching experience and then another two years of training. At one time he was Mr Su's student and they have now been friends for many years.

Mr Li and his wife have one son who goes to the kindergarten in Mojiang. They live in an apartment on the school grounds and his wife works at the hotel where we were staying. Her father is a retired teacher who often looks after his grandson when Mr Li and his wife are both working.

Di Murphy teaches a class in Mojiang

I asked Mr Li about his goals for the future. He said that he is happy to be a teacher, even though the pay might be less than a government official would get. At the same time, he said he would like to have a car but this is usually only possible for higher officials or for people in private business. Mr Li laughed and mentioned three teachers he knows who have gone into private business and all have their own cars. I laughed as well and said that I know a few people in Australia who have also left teaching and appear to be better off.

Lunch came to an end too quickly as Mr Li and I shook hands and I thanked him for sharing some time with me.

Gregor talked to Mr Li after attending a school assembly:

Young pioneers

Mr Li told me that these students at Mojiang Primary School were 'Young Pioneers' and that the assembly was being held to present new members with their special red scarves, or neckties (hongmingjing).

He said that Young Pioneers are an elite group who are role models for other students and that their behaviour is based on Communist principles. By their third year at primary school, all children will have joined. At age 15, they can be further selected to be members of the 'League', a more elite group, but only about 20% are actually selected. From there, they can be nominated to join the Communist Party when they are 18. This is seen as a great achievement, since only 3% of the population are members of the Communist Party.

I asked Mr Li how the system of Young Pioneers began. He said it was based on the spirit of Le Feng, a soldier of the People's Liberation Army during Mao's time. It is said that Le Feng, who died at the age of 21, embodied the principles of Communism: hard work, respect for teachers and family, and service to the community. A picture of Le Feng was on the wall at Mojiang Primary School, accompanied by a message from Mao: 'Take the example of Le Feng, work hard at your study and in your community and do good deeds for the community'.

Mr Su: 'Everyone should learn from Le Feng.'

I asked Mr Li whether the story of Le Feng was still highly valued by teachers and students. He said that, regardless of the 'truth' of the story of Le Feng, he provides an important role model and, as China changes, there is a danger of this being lost. Mr Li believes that teachers should observe the slogans on walls around the schools, such as 'Teachers! Tell your students to work hard, love learning, listen to you and behave as well out of school as in'.

We saw many other such slogans and pictures of Le Feng as we visited more schools in China.