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Understanding Chinese Education: The Banzhuren and Zhirisheng
Written by Stephen Keith
Monday, 01 September 2008
At the primary level, students are divided into classes—just like in the U.S.and other countries.However, in China, students typically stay with the same teacher throughout primary school.This teacher is known as the "banzhuren".Since this teacher will be connected to these students for six years, a very close relationship is formed between her, the student, and the student’s family—even to the point of providing a sort of family counselling.
When students move to the middle school (corresponding to grade 7 in the U.S.), they are again divided into classes and they stay with that same group of students for the three years of middle school.Students stay in the same room of 55 to 60 and their teachers rotate and the banzhuren concept continues at middle school and high school. For example, the math teacher might be the banzhuren of class one, the English teacher (yes, all Chinese middle school students learn English and if the student moves on to high school, will take English there for another four years) the banzhuren of class two, and so on.For less than 200 yuan per month more, the banzhuren will arrive at school prior to 7:00 a.m. to prepare for the day and to work with early arriving students. The student day at the middle school ends at 4:55 and the teachers leave shortly after that. The banzhuren will not only teach the two specific classes that she is in charge of but will also sit in on many other subjects throughout the day so she can monitor the progress of her students with other teachers, counsel her students, and contact the parents of those students if necessary. The banzhuren will monitor her class during lunch and nap with them after lunch. One banzhuren told me that she is like a mother to those students who don't have the parental support they need. In addition, at Liaoning Normal University Junior Middle School (LNUJMS) the banzhurens are expected to visit the homes and families of half their students sometime during the first term and the other half during the second term. These visitations would take place on Saturdays or Sundays or on holidays. The banzhuren will, after three years, receive a bonus based on the academic improvement of her class, as measured by scores on the high school admission test.
Chinese students play active and important roles (zhirisheng) in sweeping the classrooms, scrubbing the steps, serving meals, being class monitors, and helping teachers. Student monitors can be seen wearing special armbands in the hallway, watching to make certain students are doing their twice-daily eye exercises properly, providing leadership on the marching field, watering plants, empty bins, cleaning windows, helping to distribute the daily lunch, and so on. By my observation, students always seemed to be carrying out their tasks very seriously and in good humor. Since the schools start today (September 1, 2008) in Dalian, many students reported to school last Friday to help clean the classrooms for the beginning of the year. At the university level, the sophomore students will spend a whole day cleaning the dorm rooms for the incoming freshmen.
Middle school students busy scrubbing stairs
University students prepare to wash windows
In addition, each class has a student monitor and a study monitor to help with class organization and activities.The student monitor system is utilized at the university level as well with these appointed students helping the teacher in making copies, distributing and collecting papers, contacting classmates and so on. Like the concept of banzhuren, the concept of zhirisheng cannot find its English equivalent due to the different Sino-American educational systems. Most Chinese schools are operated on the zhirisheng system for the purpose of maintaining clean classrooms and schools.
Because most teachers in the world are female, it has become conventional to refer to teacher as "she" and not bother with the he/she stuff. Hope it didn't offend too much.
Decent article, relates well to the middle school I currently teach in. I've spoken quite alot to the english staff at my school and it's clear they care so much, and work very hard for there small wages.
Mostly 'Hers' I think because women tend to be more patient and caring naturally to children then us men, and a teacher, especially in China is a well respected figure both to the students and community.
part of the reason why alot of my students have a desire to become a teacher when they grow up.
Never heard that from a boy though yet, judging by the comments, China won't be short of fireman any time soon.
banzhuren=class teacher(thats what we called our teacher who was responsible for the duties performed by banzhuren here in china) and zhirisheng=class captain or class monitor(student responsible for duties performed by zhirisheng here in china)...other than that we had school captains(head boy. and head girl)...cultural department captain....sports captain and the list goes on...and the whole school was divided into 4 group named after 4 monthains in nepal...we called it HOUSE.....and we used to have inter house competitions ...sports ....culturak competition etc.
abhijeet
jim
