Few Chinese teachers give positive feedback, students say

Chinese students are good at imitation but really lack creativity and it could be because 85 percent of them do not receive compliments from teachers after expressing their views, according to a recent survey on the development of students' creativity.

A research institute under the Shanghai Academy of Educational Sciences issued a survey report on June 11, on cultivating creativity in primary and secondary school students. The institute surveyed about 11,000 students from 106 primary and secondary schools in Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Nanjing, Hangzhou, and Nanchang.

The survey shows that some teachers have extremely low tolerance for students' "whims and fancies," so lots of creative ideas pass unnoticed. Only 55 percent of respondents agree that their teachers can "patiently respond to students' questions," and nearly 16 percent agree that their teachers can "appreciate students' thinking and encourage students to express their own opinions." In addition, 85 percent said that teachers do not praise them for freely expressing views.

The survey also shows that Chinese students have strong imitating abilities but are weak at designing and improving new things. As can be seen from the survey, they are not as good at technological innovation as at scientific investigation. Furthermore, they are particularly weak at developing action plans, understanding material properties, using tools, assessing products and other aspects. Their Achilles' heel is that they completely lack the ability to engage in hands-on practice.

"One vital component of creativity is the practical ability which means manipulative ability and comprehensive technical skills for students," said the institute's director Fu Lujian.

He added that at present, most Chinese schools have neglected the importance of basic skill courses, and industrial and agricultural education have become mere formalities. If things continue in this way, the Chinese people will lose their time-honored tradition of being hard-working, and China will lag behind in the field of technology.

Nearly 17 percent of primary schools surveyed can provide a favorable environment for the cultivation of students' creativity, and the figure is over 13 percent for junior high schools and nearly 6 percent for senior high schools.

By People's Daily Online
Additional support provided by LOTO