Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 265 Finding a traitor to quality education
Zhang Chao's article "A Letter to Shi An" submitted to China Reading Newspaper was published at the fastest speed. In this open letter, Zhang Chao not only agreed with the views in Shi An's long article, but also praised his broad academic vision in studying the post-80s writers. The open letter reads:

[Although the saying “There are a thousand Hamlets in the eyes of a thousand people” is a very vulgar saying, it reveals the great dilemma faced by literary criticism: literary criticism can never be completely objective, because a true review is itself a simultaneous presentation of the object of the review and the standard of the review.]

【The object of literary criticism has a gradual development process, so the standard also has a process of self-display and self-correction. This means that although we pursue objectivity, literary criticism is inevitably subjective because each critic has different knowledge background, cultural perspective and personal experience.】

[Relativism reduces literary history to a series of scattered, discontinuous fragments, breaking the integrity and continuity of literary criticism. Most absolutist arguments are either simply to cater to the contemporary fashion that is about to disappear, or to set some abstract, non-literary ideals, which leads to the rigidity and one-timeness of critical standards.]

【“Shi’an” strikes a good balance between the subjective and objective aspects of literary criticism, neither falling into the quagmire of relativism nor the trap of absolutism. He emphasizes that academic research should have a sense of history, and literary criticism should have a sense of reality. Both should have clear fields, methods, and focuses, but fundamentally, they are unified in a problem consciousness rooted in reality. 】

[This view avoids both the unstandardized and unprincipled criticism caused by relativism and the single perspective of absolutism that ignores individual differences and historical background.]

……

"Has Zhang Chao changed his character?" Yu Hua was sorting out documents in the office. The students had already gone on holiday, but the teachers still had to work for a few more days. Yanshi University was not a primary or secondary school, so it was impossible for the school to be empty as soon as the holiday came.

Thanks to the success of Zhang Chao's "Writers Class", the number of students in this year's "Writers Class" of Yanshi University has reached 20. In addition to the students who are regularly commissioned by the Luyuan Advanced Research Class, half of them are admitted through examinations.

These half of the students are basically under 30 years old, have a bachelor’s degree or above, and not all of them majored in Chinese. They are not even professional writers, but part-time writers who have published some works.

However, Yu Hua believes that this is the only way to truly realize the original intention of the "Writers' Class" to generate revenue for literature.

This article was sent by a student named "Lu Yuan". Lu Yuan graduated from Renmin University and originally studied economics. He is very good at foreign languages ​​and can even do literary translation. He didn't buy a ticket back to Nanning, so he stayed in school for a while. When he saw the newspaper that day, he excitedly brought it to see Yu Hua.

When Lu Yuan heard Yu Hua's evaluation of Zhang Chao, he couldn't help but laugh and said, "I also feel that his personality is very different from Zhang Chao's. Wasn't he very resistant to being called a 'post-80s' writer? And his relationship with the critics was also strained."

Yu Hua glanced at Lu Yuan and said, "It seems that you all have a deep misunderstanding of Zhang Chao?"

Lu Yuan said: "I usually see him in newspapers and on TV. He is either arguing with others or on the way to an argument... I have the feeling that he holds grudges..." After saying that, he smiled embarrassedly.

Yu Hua pointed at the newspaper in his hand and said, "You don't know him as well as Shi An. When I say 'change of character', I don't mean that Zhang Chao is praising him, but I mean that Zhang Chao's article 'Criticism of Literary Criticism' is very well written. I thought he suddenly became interested in literary theory."

Lu Yuan smiled awkwardly and said, "So that's how it is."

Yu Hua muttered, "Who do you think Zhang Chao is? He is not that petty."

Lu Yuan asked curiously: "What kind of person is Zhang Chao?"

Yu Hua pondered for a while before saying, "First of all, he is a good writer and a good student. The people involved in the controversy surrounding him do have their own opinions, but he cannot avoid these controversies himself."

Lu Yuan was stunned and asked, "How can you explain this?"

Yu Hua explained: "Do you remember how he came into everyone's attention and embarked on this path?"

Lu Yuan said without hesitation: "It was the New Concept Essay Contest in 04, right? The articles he wrote were amazing, simply skinning and bone removing." Speaking of the articles Zhang Chao had written before, Lu Yuan became excited.

Yu Hua sighed and said, "Yes, he came from the path of 'overthrowing new ideas', and he is so young, so he is destined to be surrounded by controversy. People may not believe in cause and effect, but they must believe in what Marx said in "Theses on Feuerbach" - 'Man is the sum of all his social relations'.

The 'New Concept Essay Contest' was at its peak, but it was brought to the bottom by a few articles and interviews by Zhang Chao. Do you know how many articles were submitted to the preliminary round that year? 40! "

Lu Yuan obviously hadn't paid attention to this number. He was shocked and opened his mouth wide: "40? So much?"

Yu Hua nodded and said, "So I didn't go when I was asked to be a judge that year. I was also scared. 40 articles, even if one manuscript was submitted to multiple journals, it means that at least more than 20 young people who love literature submitted manuscripts to New Sprout magazine.

How many of them dreamed of "going to college with an essay"? Not to mention the more than 200 people who made it to the semi-finals, they were only one step away from this precious opportunity. What was the result?

These students who could have gone to college by writing an essay had their dreams shattered in Shanghai. Zhang Chao, however, was able to enter college by taking advantage of the opportunity that shattered their dreams. Tell me, is this a move that is hateful or not? "

Lu Yuan understood a little, but there were still some key points he didn't understand, so he asked, "Aren't these all students? How powerful can they be?"

Yu Hua squinted at him and said, "Behind every student is a family. How do you know what their parents think? Besides, the relationships involved in the 'New Concept Essay Contest' are too complicated...

Just think about how many "social relationships" Zhang Chao was involved in just this one move that he didn't know about? How many "relationships" of "relationships" would these "social relationships" involve? Just thinking about it makes my scalp tingle.

So have you noticed that every time Zhang Chao gets caught up in a vortex of controversy, there are always forces that fan the flames and wish for chaos. These forces may not take the initiative to cause trouble for Zhang Chao, but if Zhang Chao is in trouble, they will definitely not miss this opportunity.

OK, let's get back to this article. What do you think of 'Shi'an' and Zhang Chao's writing? "After all, I was also a judge for the first New Concept Essay Competition, and some things were not convenient to be told to students.

Lu Yuan thought for a while and said, "Shi'an's vision is broader, and Zhang Chao's writing is more profound. They both write very well. After all, I am also a 'post-80s'. I also admire Shi'an's statement that 'post-80s are destined to be the children of the 90s'."

Yu Hua said: "You are right. So, you can organize these materials and send them to our class QQ group. Next semester, we will take some time to do a special research project on 'post-80s' writers and their works.

Can you all use the winter vacation time to think about how this topic should be developed? "

Lu Yuan said excitedly: "Okay! Then, will we invite some writers born in the 80s to come to the class to exchange ideas?"

Yu Hua said: "You are talking about Zhang Chao, right?"

Lu Yuan smiled sheepishly. Yu Hua said, "Let him come and give a talk at the beginning of next semester. Of course, it would be better if we invite more iconic figures like Han Han and Xiao Si as well. If possible, I would like to have them sit together and talk."

Lu Yuan was surprised and asked, "Aren't you afraid that they will start fighting on the spot?"

Yu Hua said confidently: "Don't be afraid as long as I am here."

When Yu Hua and Lu Yuan were talking about Zhang Chao, Zhang Chao felt his scalp tingling. He had a clipping book spread out in front of him, which was filled with all kinds of newspaper reports about him since he became famous.

The collector is naturally his dear mother.

These days, not only the publishing and literary circles are very lively, but also the education circle is not quiet. Zhang Chao also noticed this article "How can quality education be desecrated? Zhang Chao should not be an "accomplice" of the exam-oriented education" and his words were very fierce. [As a representative of "quality education", Zhang Chao was specially recruited by Yan University and Yan Normal University, which laid a solid foundation for his subsequent literary path. However, not only did he not appreciate the preferential treatment and glory brought to him by "quality education", but he also advocated for "examination-oriented education", which disappointed many children who embarked on the path of literature because of him, and also disappointed many teachers who insisted on practicing the path of "quality education" because of him. ]

[Zhang Chao, a young writer with great influence, openly cheering for "examination-oriented education" will undoubtedly make the already difficult road of "quality-oriented education" even more difficult, or even set back! ]

[Zhang Chao, the fruit of "quality-oriented education", has gone bad. To put it more seriously, he is a traitor to "quality-oriented education"! ]

Zhang Chao was confused after reading it. When did he become a fruit of quality education, and when did he become a traitor? How could a man with thick eyebrows and big eyes like him be a traitor?

With doubts, Zhang Chao asked his father, who sighed and found his mother. His mother took out the thick scrapbook and turned to the first page - on it was a bold headline in black font: "Quality-oriented education bears fruit, student writer Zhang Chao emerges."

Zhang Chao read the content carefully, and suddenly his eyes went dark.

【In recent years, our city's education system has vigorously promoted the construction of "quality education" and achieved remarkable results. The Municipal Education Bureau has clearly stated that quality education should be the core of education reform to comprehensively improve students' comprehensive quality. Through measures such as optimizing curriculum settings, strengthening teacher training, and enriching campus cultural activities, students' learning interest and creativity are stimulated. 】

【Zhang Chao, a senior student at Changfu County No. 3 Middle School, has actively devoted himself to literary creation in addition to studying, and has achieved fruitful results. His works have been published many times by well-known newspapers such as "Nan Guo Weekly" and have had a great impact nationwide. It is reported that the novel "Youth Like You" that Zhang Chao is currently writing has attracted the attention of many publishing houses. 】

【Zhang Chao's achievements are the fruitful results of our city's implementation of "quality-oriented education"! 】

……

It turns out that I really have achieved great results, and they are so fruitful!
This was probably the first newspaper to officially report on him. He didn't pay attention to it back then, but now it hit him like a boomerang.

Isn't it said that a bullet shot at the age of 20 will hit the center of the eyebrow when you are 40? How come a bullet shot at the age of 19 hit the center of the eyebrow when you are 22? What kind of bullet flies so fast?

When Zhang Chao was "speaking big" in front of his classmates at No. 3 Middle School that day, he had no idea that he was once a model of "quality-oriented education" vigorously promoted by the education system, and this report was just the beginning.

In the following three years, he was not only a well-known name in the literary world, but also a hammer used by many people in the education world to criticize "examination-oriented education". However, because they had little contact and he never subscribed to educational publications, he did not notice it.

Now this is a bit tricky. Although I don't know about being a fruit, I haven't objected to it, right?

Zhang Weiguo hesitated for a while and said, "How about just forget about it? You are not a teacher anyway, so this criticism from the education community won't affect you."

What my father said is true. Zhang Chao is now a writer. Apart from his father being a teacher and his alma mater, Yenching Normal University, he has no connection with the education sector. People who buy his books will not read industry publications such as "Education Newsletter".

But my dad’s attitude was a bit strange. No matter how fiercely I quarreled with others before, he never tried to persuade them.

Zhang Weiguo saw the confusion in his son's eyes and could only explain patiently: "You know more about the ins and outs of the literary world than I do; I know more about the evil spirits in the education world than you do. Do you think this article is really about scolding you because of your speech?"

Zhang Chao suddenly realized, and then said with a look of disgust: "Are you using me as an excuse again? Two groups of people are fighting each other? There is no creativity at all. They are not annoyed, but I am."

Zhang Weiguo was very surprised to see his son understand so quickly. Zhang Chao thought to himself that I could have stayed in school for more than ten years...

But now that the topic has come to this, Zhang Weiguo no longer hides the truth and speaks out: "Many controversies in the education sector may sound grand, but there is only one word behind them - money.

Unlike you literary people who curse and abuse each other, fighting for empty reputation, earning only a little money from writing, and having to bring your own food most of the time..."

Zhang Chao thought to himself: "... Just say it, don't make personal attacks..."

Zhang Weiguo did not notice his son's expression change and continued, "The controversy and reform in the education sector are accompanied by real policies and funding. Apart from other things, in recent years, many school classrooms have been equipped with computers, screens, and projectors, which are the results of the 'multimedia teaching reform'.

The "multimedia teaching reform" was first started by a paper published in the "Education News" in the late 80s. After a series of controversies such as "whether multimedia teaching will cause teachers' basic teaching skills to deteriorate", "whether multimedia teaching is a gimmick", and "whether multimedia teaching distracts students' attention", an industry consensus was finally formed and gradually promoted in the front line of teaching.

This kind of promotion must be supported by a lot of funding! The installation of a set of multimedia equipment costs at least 20,000 to 30,000 yuan. How much does it cost for a school? How much does it cost for annual maintenance? Not to mention other things, the light bulb of the projector needs to be replaced after a long time of use. A cheap one costs hundreds of yuan, and an expensive one costs thousands of yuan.

The same is true of the debate between "quality-oriented education" and "examination-oriented education". It is undeniable that "quality-oriented education" is a beautiful teaching ideal, and its realization will definitely benefit the country and the people. But it also costs a lot of money..."

Zhang Chao nodded, agreeing deeply. In his previous life, he worked in a school, and he felt deeply that of all the so-called "education reforms", only a small part promoted teaching, and most of them became an alternative "examination-oriented" that troubled teachers.

For example, when he first became a teacher, "micro-classes" were popular. This means recording lecture videos (no more than 10 minutes), focusing on a teaching problem, organizing teaching resources, and structuring and contextualizing "fragmented" knowledge, making it easy for students to learn and understand.

It sounds nice, but in fact, the "micro-class" courseware made by everyone has only been seen in various trainings and competitions. In most areas, it is hardly actually used in the classroom. The biggest benefit for teachers is that if they win prizes in micro-class competitions, they can be used as materials for professional title evaluation.

However, in order to urge teachers to master the "micro-class" skills, various short-term training courses have been organized.

As a result, the trend of "micro-classes" changed again after they became popular for a few years, and the "cloud classroom" began to be popular. After the "cloud classroom", the "flipped classroom" became popular. Each time, teachers, especially young teachers like Zhang Chao, were exhausted.

So who knows whether the advocates of "quality education" suddenly attacked him because he blocked their way to wealth. After all, the power of a person's words is directly proportional to his influence.

Zhang Weiguo said, "Let's not talk about anything else. Look at the sign that says 'Young Writers' Cradle School' on your No. 3 Middle School. It's not for nothing. In your speech, you implied that you don't agree with the school's special training. If you take down the sign next year because of this, do you think the principal of No. 3 Middle School will be angry with you?"

Seeing that his son was silent, Zhang Weiguo advised him earnestly: "The controversy between 'quality-oriented education' and 'examination-oriented education' has been going on for more than ten years, and there is no conclusion. Every time this topic becomes unpopular, one side will come out to create momentum. They just hope that some people will pay attention; if some people pay attention, they can incite public opinion; if public opinion is incited, it may affect policies; if policies are affected, it will... you know.

So if you respond, you'll fall into their trap. They might be waiting for you to fight back, and the harder you fight back, the happier they will be. "

Zhang Chao looked at his father in surprise. He never thought that his father, who had never left school, could see these issues more clearly than he did. He had only vaguely felt that something was wrong, but now that his father had pointed it out, he suddenly understood.

Zhang Chao nodded and said, "Okay, as long as they don't go too far. I'll pretend I didn't see it. Don't let them take advantage of you!"

Zhang Weiguo nodded with satisfaction.

But they did not notice that the article denouncing Zhang Chao as a "traitor" was signed by "Sun Yunxiao".

His most famous work is called "Competition in Summer Camp"!
(End of this chapter)