Bai Yansong, a famous TV host, expressed his support for students wearing green scarves (领巾) at a primary school in Xi’an. He wore a green tie on a TV program on October 19, 2011.
“I just want the students to know that I’m also wearing a green one. And we are all great people and are as good as those wearing red scarves,” he said.
The First Experimental Primary School in Xi’an made children with poor schoolwork and behaviour wear green scarves. Parents were angry. “The punish-ment is too bad. All children need their self-esteem (自尊) even though they are very young, and they know the green scarf means something is not quite right. It does harm to students’ self-esteem,” said one mother.
Educational expert (专家) Li Zhenxi said that school students have strong self-esteem. They hope to be respected (尊重) and understood. Punishment will hurt them. “It’s better to encourage them rather than call them ‘bad’ students,” he said. Now, the school has stopped the practice.
Some schools think more of students’ self-esteem and have done better in protecting students’ privacy
(隐私) and encouraging them. In American schools, teachers post test results on the wall. Instead of using students’ names, they use secret numbers. This way, students know their secret numbers and can check their own grades only. Many teachers in China tell students their grades by sending text messages to their students.
Schools and teachers are doing more for students’ self-esteem. But it is a long way. Both teachers and parents should realize that test scores are not the only measure (标准) of a student’s ability. Everyone has his own strengths and everyone can make great progress by working hard. Adults should make students get to know their own value. The most important is to make students believe in themselves.
Green scarves and self-esteem
Bai Yansong’s support | He supported green scarves by wearing a green 1. . He wanted to tell the students that there are no2. between green and red. |
The origin (起源) of green scarves | A primary school in Xi’an made students with3. schoolwork and behaviour wear green scarves, which is a kind of 4.. Both parents and experts think it is5. to students’ self-esteem. |
Good practice in some schools | Some American schools 6.children’s privacy by using secret numbers. |
Many Chinese teachers tell students their grades by sending text 7. to them. | |
A long way to go | Test8. are not the only measure. |
Adults should help students realize their own 9.. | |
To make students believe in 10. is the most important. |