In 1987, the academic title system was first restored in institutions of higher learning, which we middle school teachers also heard of. In colleges and universities teachers were again divided into assistants, lecturers, and professors. We also got the news that in the primary and middle school there would be new titles for teachers, namely, elementary, middle and high-rank teachers instead of sixth, fifth and fourth level teachers. The high-rank teacher in the middle school equals to an associate professor in a college. Such an academic title system would encourage teachers greatly, who were working in the primary and middle school diligently. It was a recognition of our social status. I had such a feeling in my heart that I had made adequate preparations for it.
In 1988, the document about how to pass judgment on teachers’ academic titles was issued. I was a senior English teacher in the ZMS (43 years old), and a middle-level cadre as well, so I became a member of the examination and appraisal panel (EAP) of the school level. I began to prepare materials, to apply for a teacher of high rank according to the requirements of the document. Besides the material of my teaching, I had adequate academic achievements of the scientific research, and the number of theses issued on official journals amounted to more than 30. Those added much to the value, which were published on the famous journals of the key normal universities and foreign language study universities, which made me feel confident in victory. Just like others’ my applying materials were also passed in the school without any obstacles and reported to the Education Bureau of the county. The EAP for English teachers was made up of 5 senior teachers, including me. All of us sat together, singing the praises of each other. The relative leaders of the education bureau told us before that it was not easy for our teachers to wait for the day when we could get a title. We were asked to uphold the criterion and pass the materials as many as possible as well. After reading materials, all of us five were busy voting and signing, beginning at eight a.m. and completing the task at noon. I went back to my home, waiting for the news.
It was not long before I knew that the task of the EAP of the city level was to select some best materials to report to the provincial EAP to get approval of high-rank teachers. Average materials of a lot of teachers stayed in the city bureau in fear that the provincial criterion was too high for them to be passed. In addition, the power to examine and appraise the high-rank teacher might be transferred to the city, indicating the criterion might not be as tight as that of provincial level. It was said that the city EAP decided to report four English teachers’ materials to the provincial level, namely, Guofan Xu, a member of the teaching and research section of the city education bureau, Ruisheng Sun, a member of the teaching and research section of the county education bureau, Congyan Zhang, an English teacher of the Yunhe Middle School of Pizhou City, and Defu Song. I was the only one whose material was reported to the provincial EAP in the Zhengji Middle School. Such a fortune did not happen to the vice principal of our school in charge of teaching and everyone admitted him as an authorized Chinese teacher with rich knowledge. I was told that he entrusted a leader of the city education bureau, who interceded with the group for him, which was of no use. The group consisted of 5 teachers from the colleges and universities, who had been awarded the title of vice professor each and whose attitude was so firm that the leader was refused, saying that something fortunate came to the teacher, why the leader also came to share and while leaders are enjoying much more good things, did they think of teachers? Four of us were approved by the provincial EAP and became first high-rank middle school teachers in the city of Xuzhou. In June of the same year, I got the qualification certificate.
qualification certificate of high-rank middle school teacher
Recalling the puzzle and panic I suffered while I began to read Quirk, and facing the fact that I got the title of the high-rank teacher without any difficulty, I believed there was a philosophy hidden in it that if you made efforts to do something, you might be rewarded and if you were afraid of pain, you were sure to get nothing. Just as our ancients said the god would reward those who were diligent. It is very common to get paid immediately after your work. Such a reward disappears very soon, as the proverb says, “Easy come easy go”. Only those rewards can last long which you win after your going through years of suffering and hardship. Just as an English proverb says, “Don't worry, the best things come when you least expect them to.” The process of painstaking effort is very lonesome, and you must be very patient. Success is out of sight and mental suffering is always accompanying you. I always remember the motto: Setbacks can wear the will of the weak, but make the powerful more and more persistent and dauntless. The great writer of Tang Dynasty, Hanyu said, “Do not worry about the sight of those, who select talented people. What hinders your talent from being discovered is your superficial school work.
Jan. 23 2010, in Xuzhou
Proofreading on Feb. 16, 2012, in Chicago
Uploading on Aug. 5, 2023, in Xuzhou
