8. People Should Be Made to Love Knowledge and Reading
Recently, there had been a lot of discussion about education in the Chinese press. From these reports, and letters from my friends, I know that many students in schools and universities think studying is useless. Some graduate students and even teachers quit study or teaching to become clerks in big hotels, for a clerk in such hotels can get higher pay than a university professor.
Government leaders and many scholars have already noticed this and are making great efforts go solve the problem. In the People’s Daily I see numerous articles on how to improve education and many reports about government leaders at all levels making various plans.
These plans all center on raising the salaries of teachers and professors. Of course, this is very important to education. However, education has two sides, not just those who teach, but also those who learn. Increasing the salary of teachers is just one way to improve education. It will not work without the co-operation of the other determinants, such as students’ love of knowledge and reading. Ever if the teachers are devoted, it will make no sense if the students are not willing to learn.
How can we make more people love knowledge an dreading? First, we all have to realize that knowledge is useful everywhere in society, not just in the classroom. Second, people will love knowledge and reading when they have free access to books and information. Building more libraries and developing fine library services are important to improving education.
I worked for six years in a big public library in China. I saw many people reading book after book. They dreamed of entering universities, not just because higher salaries attract them, but because of their need and love of knowledge.
As a dedicated librarian, I wish policy makers of our government could spend more on libraries when they plan to improve education
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