A Primary School Run by the People Under the Control of the Poor and Lower-Middle Peasants

Abstract

In our No. 3 issue this year, we introduced the experience in the development of revolutionary education at Suiyuan Commune in Yingkow County. Now we introduce to our readers the experience of a primary school run by the people established by the Sung-shu Production Brigade of the Chien-yi Commune of the county. Here is a comparison: it shows how a "regular" primary school supported by the state was controlled by the bourgeoisie, and how a primary school run by the poor and the lower-middle peasants of a production brigade on the basis of Chairman Mao's instructions has been warmly welcomed by the poor and lower-middle peasants. This school discarded all the old rules and traditions in order to thoroughly serve the poor and lower-middle peasants. Now there is no age limit for admission; youngsters may start school in any season; they may come late and leave early. Students whose parents have too much to do and have no way to take care of the smaller children, may bring their brothers and sisters to the school. In addition, this school has established four teaching centers for the eight production teams. Teachers of this school do manual labor to support their school, and in the last four years the school has not charged the students one cent of tuition. The poor and lower-middle peasants say: "With such a school and such teachers, our younger generation will not change its color."