Teacher Zhao wanted to kick Wei Yueâer out of the classroom. As an outstanding teacher at a prestigious city primary school, she looked down upon rural teachers, and this rural teacher dared to confront her in her class, an obvious challenge to her authority.
Wei Yueâer initially just wanted to finish the class quickly due to an upset stomach. But when Teacher Zhao started scolding students, Wei Yueâer couldnât stand it and got up to rebut her. However, Teacher Zhao aggressively demanded that she leave the classroom.
Wei Yueâer was a bit speechless, "Teacher Zhao, can we have a calm discussion? Havenât you realized your mistake?"
Teacher Zhao snorted, "What mistake have I made? Whatâs wrong with what I said? You want to discuss it, right? Then letâs discuss it. Let me ask you, among the children in this class, do their parents include both the rich and the poor?"
Wei Yueâer said, "Yes, but..."
Teacher Zhao interrupted Wei Yueâer, "There you have it â the rich and the poor represent a class distinction, an undeniable reality! Let me ask you again, what do children from low-income families rely on to leap upwards in class?"
Wei Yueâer replied, "Education."
Teacher Zhao stated, "Exactly, you also know it is education! However, do you know that education requires monetary investment? Those wealthy people have tons of money to spend on their children, with various tutorials, securing an early start, while those poor ones are considered fortunate to allow their children to complete compulsory education â is this the reality? Am I looking down on the poor? No, it is merely reality!"
Wei Yueâer said, "..."
She found herself momentarily speechless. She knew something was undoubtedly off in Teacher Zhaoâs statements, but got confused with Teacher Zhaoâs rhetoric and didnât quite know what to say.
Teacher Zhao scoffed, "A rural teacher is just a rural teacher, Iâm not looking down on you, but you have no qualification to refute me. Youâre here to audit the class, so just listen quietly. How dare you challenge me? People like you are not welcome, now can you leave already! Please, exit!"
Wei Yueâer felt a bit aggrieved, plus with her stomach discomfort, she felt quite unwell. She realized she couldnât persuade Teacher Zhao, as this Teacher Zhao simply dismissed her. What she said, Teacher Zhao wouldnât take seriously.
She was not in a position of influence, unable to change anything, so perhaps leaving would be better.
Just then.
"Are you really intending to make her leave?"
A voice said, and then Lin Fan walked into the classroom.
Lin Fan arrived.
Wei Yueâer was delighted. She didnât know why, but seeing Lin Fan gave her a sense of peace, as if she had found support and strength.
Everyoneâs eyes immediately turned to Lin Fan.
"Who are you? This is a classroom, are you where you can just come in!" Teacher Zhao scolded angrily.
Lin Fan was plainly dressed, at one glance looking like a poor guy.
Lin Fan smiled, "Iâm a friend of Teacher Wei Yueâer, came to fetch her, and I happened to hear what you were saying earlier. I think youâve gone too far, Teacher Zhao."
Teacher Zhao snorted, "Iâve gone too far? You wish to challenge me too?"
Lin Fan said, "I donât intend to waste words with you, but Iâd like to say a few words for Teacher Wei Yueâer. You mentioned just now that some parents are rich and some are poor, which is indeed the reality; still, as a teacher, a role model, you shouldnât look down upon the poor. Your views, in this sense, could badly influence the children. Donât you agree?"
Wei Yueâer, who was previously confused by Teacher Zhao, was finally brought back to her senses by Lin Fanâs words.
"Thatâs right, thatâs exactly what I wanted to say. Teacher Zhao, what you said does make some sense, but it should not be an excuse to discriminate among students. Whether rich or poor, all children are your students and should be treated equally," Wei Yueâer stated.
Teacher Zhao coldly replied, "So what if I discriminate? I already said that the children of the rich have a head start, and the children of the poor fall behind. Is it my fault for giving them differential treatment?"
Lin Fan said, "Miss Zhao, youâve said so much, but itâs nothing more than a grievance in your heart."
Teacher Zhao angrily retorted, "What grievance do I have, speak up!"
Lin Fan said, "Why did you start holding extra lessons?"
Teacher Zhao replied, "Why do I conduct extra lessons? Isnât it to improve the studentsâ grades! Am I wrong? If theyâre unwilling to let their children attend extra sessions, theyâre already losing at the starting line, only to fall further behind â is there anything wrong with what I said?"
Lin Fan said, "Your high-sounding words belied the fact that you just want the students to join your extra lessons."
Teacher Zhao said, "Thatâs right, I organize extra sessions for their own good. Of course, I hope they all participate to improve their grades. What, not happy with that! Tell me!"
Lin Fan said, "Teacher Zhao obviously has some skills, your sophistry level is quite bluffing, but youâre not fooling me. Your primary purpose for running extra sessions is not to help the kids improve their grades."
Teacher Zhao raged, "What nonsense are you spouting!"
Lin Fan continued, "What Teacher Wei Yueâer said earlier was correct, you should not be running extra sessions because this is the classroom, isnât it possible to teach everything here, whatâs the need for extra sessions? Unless you are deliberately holding back material in class only to teach it in extra sessions. Just like this problem on the board, you claim Chen Siminâs is the optimal solution, and she learned this in the extra session â thatâs odd. Why canât you teach such solutions here?"
Teacher Zhao scoffed, "What do you know? Classes follow a set curriculum during regular hours, and since time is limited, naturally not all knowledge can be covered, hence the need for extra sessions, including after-class nighttime sessions and weekend sessions!"
Lin Fan queried, "You mean you canât teach all the knowledge during regular class time and need extra sessions?"
Teacher Zhao said, "Thatâs right."
Lin Fan shook his head, "If thatâs the case, Iâd question your teaching ability. I believe that the current class schedule is quite reasonable. Yes, time is limited, but as a teacher, you should be able to complete imparting the knowledge properly within the set time. If not, and you must use extra-curricular time, then it indicates your teaching isnât competent."
Teacher Zhao: "..."
Lin Fan slightly smiled, "Rumor has it this is a prestigious school. Teacher Zhao, teaching here implies a certain competence, so Iâm sure you can teach all the essential knowledge within regular class times. However, itâs apparent you choose not to; instead, you withhold the material and teach it in extra sessions. This isnât about being incapable; itâs pure malice. Ultimately, itâs just for money. Arenât I right to say this?"
Teacher Zhao flushed with embarrassment.