Social media blogger "Teacher Li Is Not Your Teacher" reposted a December 16 viral online report about a student cafeteria at Shishi Chengfei Middle School in Chengdu, China, being divided into "ordinary dining area" and "elite dining area." (Online photo)
[People News] A middle school in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, set up a "scholar dining zone," sparking debate over the disregard for students' equal rights. Analysts argue that this "segregated dining" approach contradicts Confucius's traditional idea of "teaching without discrimination" and modern principles of equality. Under the CCP's profit-driven mindset, education is solely focused on test scores. Students are indoctrinated with class consciousness and encouraged to compete with peers from a young age. Such an environment produces not only self-serving individuals but also a significant rise in behaviors that harm others.
According to Voice of America, the setup of a "scholar dining zone" at Shishi Chengfei Middle School in Chengdu was exposed online on December 16, igniting heated discussions and becoming a trending topic.
Online photos show a section of the cafeteria marked with "Scholar Dining Zone" signs. Another image reveals that the food and trays in this zone differ from those used by other students.
Many people have criticized the move, accusing the school of discriminatory treatment and instilling class consciousness in students from an early age. One commenter noted: "A student's exam performance does not fully reflect their true abilities. Even if there are differences in grades, students should not be categorized into tiers. At its core, this reflects the 'performance obsession' of school leaders. Their pursuit of achievements undermines students' self-esteem and disregards their equal rights."
Others commented: "Top-tier schools often lack top-tier leaders who properly guide students' values. Producing high-achievers without emotional intelligence or proper life perspectives could be detrimental. Today's society requires individuals with well-rounded views on life." Another person questioned: "When the principal attends meetings at the education bureau, are they also seated according to whether they come from a key school or an ordinary school?"
School Issues Apology
As online discussion escalated, on December 17, Shishi Chengfei Middle School issued a statement, expressing deep regret for the negative impact caused by the "scholar dining zone."
The school admitted that the zone was set up during lunch on December 16 to reward high school students who had excelled or shown significant improvement in December exams, offering them a special meal as motivation. However, it clarified that students’ daily meals were not segregated.
The school acknowledged that the incident highlighted shortcomings in implementing quality education and that their motivational approach was ill-considered, with insufficient awareness of its adverse effects. They announced that the "scholar dining zone" had been abolished following these events.
Departing from Tradition and Modern Thinking
In an interview with Voice of America, U.S.-based commentator Lu Nan said that since China’s reform and opening-up, materialism has become widespread, and education and healthcare have also been industrialized, turning into profit-driven sectors. He pointed out that because the premise of education under this profit-oriented mindset is fundamentally flawed, the more teachers and students "strive," the further they deviate from the true purpose and goals of education.
Lu Nan emphasized that China’s traditional educational philosophy, stemming from Confucius, advocates for "teaching without discrimination," striving for everyone to have equal access to education. This approach aims to nurture balanced and well-rounded development in intellect, character, and practical skills among learners.
"Clearly, the actions of this Chengdu school contradict the traditional educational philosophy of 'teaching without discrimination.' When even dining becomes segregated, what does that say about their education? What does it say about their educational goals? It's no surprise that this approach has drawn widespread criticism in society," Lu Nan remarked.
He added that the "scholar dining zone" also diverges from modern principles of equality. Even under the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, it is explicitly stated that all individuals are equal and have equal rights to education. Education should foster holistic development in moral, intellectual, and physical aspects. From both traditional and modern perspectives, the approach is at odds with these values.
Labeling and Class Segregation
Lu Hui-Juan, a teacher at a high school in Taipei, Taiwan, shared her perspective with Voice of America, saying that setting up a "scholar dining zone" fosters class divisions among students. "It essentially labels a living, breathing person based on their scores," she said, noting that it teaches children to focus solely on academic achievement, neglecting broader aspects of character development and holistic education.
"In reality, being able to face current and future challenges, and having the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to address them, is what truly matters. These are qualities that cannot be learned from a scholar dining zone or from grades alone," Lu Hui-Juan explained.
She observed that class consciousness could foster arrogance among top-performing students, who might lack humility, fail to help others, or miss out on learning from others. As these students encounter a broader range of people later in life, they may face greater frustration and become more rigid if they realize they are no longer "elites." On the other hand, students excluded from the "scholar zone" might develop feelings of inferiority, leading to self-defeating behaviors.
Only Scores Matter
Lu Hui-Juan believes that the school leadership responsible for the "scholar dining zone" is influenced by China's imperial examination system, which perpetuates the idea that "everything is inferior, except studying."
In October 2020, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council issued the "General Plan for Deepening the Reform of Education Evaluation in the New Era," which called for an end to the practice of labeling students based on their test scores. This followed the 2018 National Education Conference, where the government emphasized the need to correct the unscientific evaluation of education, combat the obsession with scores, academic advancement, diplomas, papers, and titles, and address the fundamental issue of educational assessment.
On December 17, The New Beijing News published an editorial that pointed out the problem with openly setting up a "scholar dining zone," saying it divides students into various categories based on exam results. This highlights the persistence of the "score-first" mentality in education. The editorial further noted that this practice not only intensifies the competitive, exam-driven culture among students, but it also disrespects students with lower scores and fails to motivate all students to grow and succeed.
A teacher named Li from a non-top-tier university in China, interviewed by Voice of America, explained that in China, everything tends to align with academic performance because the only way to break through social classes is to enter a prestigious university, which is seen as the path to a better future. There is a saying in China: "Don’t lose at the starting line," which reflects the immense pressure that children face from a young age, beginning in kindergarten.
Ironically, these children work hard to learn English and math, progress through competitive schools, and eventually earn a spot in a good university. However, upon graduating after four years, they may find themselves unemployed because they cannot find work, despite having paid for all the tuition and extra classes along the way.
According to November statistics from China, the youth unemployment rate for those aged 16 to 24 is 16.1%, a high number compared to the national unemployment rate of 5%.
Good Grades Don’t Mean High Emotional Intelligence
Li also pointed out that in this "score-first" competitive environment, many students who enter university may struggle with interpersonal skills, empathy, and understanding the value of respect and tolerance, which is a dangerous issue. He gave the example of Wei Yongkang, a child prodigy often called the "modern Fang Zhongying," who skipped grades and entered university at age 13. At 17, he was admitted to the Institute of High Energy Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Despite his exceptional academic abilities, Wei found he was unable to manage basic life skills and was eventually advised to leave the Academy. Wei had been reliant on his mother even through high school.
Li emphasized that education should not instill a sense of hierarchy in students. If students are raised to believe in rankings and classifications, those who emerge as "scholars" may become self-serving individuals who lack gratitude toward their schools and teachers, believing they deserve the accolades because they help the school earn honor and profit.
However, U.S.-based commentator Lu Nan argued that this mentality has already evolved beyond extreme selfishness. Now, there is a growing trend of individuals harming others to satisfy their own vanity.
Increasing Harmful Incidents
Lu Nan further noted that if one observes videos of school bullying in China, it's clear that the bullies are no longer just self-centered individuals concerned only with their own interests. Instead, they actively seek to harm others, often using cruel and violent methods to attack their classmates. These bullies lack respect for others and fail to see their victims as equals, which leads to a complete moral collapse. From this perspective, Chinese education is no longer producing refined self-interested individuals but rather individuals who feel the need to harm others to satisfy their own egos.
Despite the controversy, some online voices support the "scholar dining zone," with one argument stating, "Since it’s a school, students should be ranked by their scores." Others compare it to the rewards in sales, where the top salespeople receive more. Some believe, "The students who can sit in the scholar dining zone earned it through their own efforts. Why can’t they have this? Other students can strive for it too. Isn’t that fair?"
However, these views have been quickly challenged. Critics ask, "Why is this being celebrated? Scholars are the minority, and is it fair for the minority to have privileges?" Another person commented, "The real problem is not the school's actions, but the fact that many people in the comment section actually support this approach. It’s evident that many people lack an equal education philosophy and believe that scholars should be favored while underperforming students should be discriminated against. Even if it happens to them, they still see it as justified."
Xiaoxiang Morning Post quoted a lawyer's analysis, which said that while the scholar dining zone might have some motivational effects, the method of rewarding students is inappropriate. Schools, as places for education, should provide equal treatment to all students in terms of material resources and focus on the holistic development of each student.
Teacher Lu Hui-Juan from Taipei’s middle school added that when rewarding students, she prefers to publicly praise them in a group setting and give them spiritual recognition instead of material rewards. If a student excels in academics or demonstrates personal growth in overcoming challenges, she encourages them to share their experiences, strategies, or even create videos or presentations for other students to learn from. "This way, others can benefit from your excellence."
News magazine bootstrap themes!
I like this themes, fast loading and look profesional
Thank you Carlos!
You're welcome!
Please support me with give positive rating!
Yes Sure!