| Runner Fan’s running away prompts revision of ethical code for teachers | |
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| Jul 1, 2008 04:44 |   |
 | Runner Fan, the nickname of Fan Meizeng, who ran away from the classroom without any concern forhis students during the May 12 th Earthquake, triggered hot debate among Chinese netizens. Netizens condemned him as uncaring, irresponsible and immoral. Fan argued: I admitted that I am not a noble man, but I am not an immoral man. When the disaster happened, I ran way by instinct. I was only concerned with myself. I would only risk my life to save my daughter. I would only sacrifice my life for my daughter if she was in the classroom. On that day (May 12), even if my parents were in the classroom, I would hesitate to decide if I should go to save them or run away first.” Some Chinese netizens thought that Runner Fan was a typical individualist. “The incident of Runner Fan” clearly shows the decline of collectivist culture and altruism in China. Western individualist culture has seen a rise in this socialist country. Cultural conservatives said western cultures should also be blamed for such incidents. As I have learnt a lot about western culture, I am just suspecting if the “Runner Fan” is the byproduct of China’s import of western culture. As far as I know, western individualist cultures can give birth to numerous altruistic gentlemen. The gentlemen aboard the Titanic put women and children’s safety first. The artists calmly play their violins to inspire other people around them. After a research, the Ministry of Education has released the revised edition of the ethical codes for teachers. The revised paper demands teachers to protect the safety of students during the disasters. I can’t help thinking of a popular political jargon:”the law is the basis of morality while morality is a thing that transcends the requirements of a law.” Well, it seems to me that it would be a little bit sad for a nation to assure more “altruistic deeds” by force (stipulating laws). What about the western countries? Do you have laid down some clear laws (ethical codes) for teachers to abide by?  |
| Jul 1, 2008 10:39 | #1 |
| Leonardo, This is a good question and I think is is hard to make judgements as to whether or not this apparently selfish behaviour is a product of another cultures (western) impact on China. To be honest with you, after living in China for five years I fail to see any difference when it comes to self preservation. Have you ever tried to get on a Chinese bus, get out of a packed elevator, or cross the street. It's dangerous and most people don't care who they push and shove on the way and this includes the young and the old. This does not mean that all people here are selfish and uncaring. I am constantly given seats on the bus and sometimes have the door opened for me to pass through first but this later it is usually by people I know or someone who is paid to do that job. Unless you have actually lived through something like the May 12th earthquake or been in a similar situation as this man, it is best not to make judgements like some of those that have been levelled at him. How we behave in these kinds of situations is a very personal thing and should not be legislated by the government. Especially if it is the government who is responsible for ensuring that those buildings were safe for students as many have turned out not to have be........... Did they also give the students and staff good council on what to do during an Earthquake. Did they legislate that schools hold regular evacuations drills in the case of emergencies. After all the region is prone to them and Beichuan has small tremors all the time and the May 12th began like all the others..................................with devastating results |
| Jul 1, 2008 17:02 | #2 |
| There might be all kinds of places / jobs where you can "run away by instinct", but a teacher in a school is not one of them. Mr. Fan is unqualified to be in charge of children, so it was right and proper of the school board authorities to remove him from his job. As for Jabarootoo's comments, I have been in China for 3 years, and have taken on a new approach to unruly crowd behaviour. When someone barges on to an elevator, for example, I no longer hesitate and give way; rather, I just walk right into them, shoulder slightly set, and jolt them. I follow this up with saying, in Chinese, " I am sorry. I didn't see you". Fortunately, I have done this only twice, but I can tell you that the reaction in both cases was exactly what I was hoping for in that the "bargee" is at first quite shocked by the physical contact and then all kinds of embarassed. To the Chinese reading this, I am NOT trying to be an ungrateful, obnoxious guest in your wonderful country. But, some social conduct lessons are best delivered with a touch of embarassment, as words are empty in these situations. |
| Jul 1, 2008 22:11 | #3 |
| I heard a group of people who supported Runner Fan, saying that Runner Fan just didn't tell lies. He told what he thought in his heart. At least, Runner Fan was an honest man. Compared with hypocrites, he was better. What he did was just out of self-preservation. Suppoesed the incident happened in the western countries, it was normal. Fan Meizhong wouldn't have been condemned and fired by the school authority where he worked. Some cultural differences exist between the western culture and Chinese culture: Westeren cultue believes that all humans are born evil and selfish. Chinese culture believes that all humans are born good and benevolent. Runner Fan would be easily forgiven if he lived in the western culture. |
| Jul 2, 2008 20:21 | #4 |
| Teachers were thought to be a sacred role model in Chinese society. People expect teachers to have a higher morality than others because teachers' conducts have a big influence on the students. Runner Fan ran away in the face of the catastrophe.His students eyewitnessed his behavior. They might think" I should learn from my teacher. Next time when there is an earthquake, I will run away first even though I am lecturing to the pupils in the classroom." So, it is necessary to lay down the strict ethic codes for teachers to obey. |
| Jul 5, 2008 22:40 | #5 |
| The latest update: Lu Jing, a beautiful lady from Beijing, volunteered to engage in the relief work in the quake-hit area after the May 12th Earthquake. She was very brave and honored as “ a beauty in the relief work”. After she returned to Beijing from the quake zones, she cried for 3 days and nobody knew the reasons. Then she made a speech that “Runner Fan is a man that is worthy of marrying” “Runner Fan is a model role for men in modern times. In this world infested with lies, Runner Fan is true. He didn’t tell lies so that she was criticized.” She said: we shouldn’t demand every man to be heroic. What Runner Fan did is a normal man’s response!” “If you don’t experience the disaster on your own, you shouldn’t have the right to say anything against Runner Fan”. Lu Jing’s speech surprised most Chinese netizens and stirred a new round of hot debate and public scandal. What is wrong with her? She was so brave herself in face of the disaster. Why did she justify Runner Fan’s reaction to the disaster? Her speech and her deeds are quite conflicting. What happened to her after experiencing the relief work in Beichuan, Mianyang as a volunteer?  |
| Jul 5, 2008 22:42 | #6 |
| She made a speech that “Runner Fan is a man that is worthy of marrying” “Runner Fan is a model role for men in modern times. In this world infested with lies, Runner Fan is true. He didn’t tell lies so that she was criticized.” |
| Jul 5, 2008 22:44 | #7 |
| She said: "we shouldn’t demand every man to be heroic. What Runner Fan did is a normal man’s response!” |
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