His name is Fan Meizhong, ridiculed as Fan Paopao by some quick-witted humorist. He has undergone some severe censures by the people on line. When the earthquake happened, he was giving a lesson on “Dreams of the Red Chamber”. With only “Earthquake” in his mouth, he ran downstairs out of the classroom to the playground. When he got there, he looked back and found only himself standing there. Only after some time the other teachers and students came.

    In my opinion, and in a lot of others’, there was nothing wrong with his runaway when the catastrophe happened. Perhaps he was not content with his own selfish act. He wrote an article in his blog and vowed that: “At that critical moment, I wouldn’t mind others’ life. What I was fixing my mind on is my own life. I would care only for my young daughter’s life if it was at risk. Even if it had been my mother, I wouldn’t have laid my life for her.” His declaration created a tumult in all forms of propaganda, especially on line. Most of the people regarded his act when the catastrophe happened as base, selfish, and his words as unscrupulously immoral. His other article provoked even greater antagonistic responses.

    He said that he was someone who had been seeking truth and freedom, which is far lacking in the modern world. And he has been disillusioned with his life.

    Here I want to show my own opinion.

    Firstly, just as I said, I don’t think there is anything wrong with his runaway. What he did wrong is that he should try to call his students to run together with him, instead of running away alone. The students are still young and inexperienced in a lot of things. It is the holy duty of a teacher’s to call the students’ attention to the danger they are facing or are going to face. However, he was mindless of this and mindful of his own life only.

    Secondly, his words about his mother are in conflict with the morality of a country with a history of thousands of years. We should take care of our parents as our filial duty requests. His words, if they really speak his mind, are provocative to this thought.

    Thirdly, as the head teacher of Fan’s school, Qing Guanya put it, he may have the right to run away for the sake of his own life. Nevertheless, he shouldn’t have written all these words, only to cause a lot of stir and suspicion about his dignity and work ethnic.

    Though he has done wrong in a sense, which is undeniably true, I think the accusation has gone too far. It proves that modern society has set a too high moral standard on teachers. According to some people, teachers should wait until all the students leave and then he may run away. It is the teachers’ undeniable responsibility to help the students, whatever may happen. This request, in contrast to the social treatment, no matter spiritually or physically, is too high. In my view, we should give teachers the right to choose what they should do in front of any disaster. I am sure a lot of teachers will try their utmost to help, just like what a lot of teachers have performed during the earthquake such as Teacher Tan etc.

    A document has been issued in a countycounty in the quake area to prevent the teachers from running away before the students lawfully. I think it is a sheer ignorance of human right. When a disaster happens, how can we expect all the people to behave in the same way. This is just like, a lot of PLA soldiers are saving people while a lot of other bad people are stealing things. If such a rule is right, then it is the head of the local government that should stay until the disaster is over. Will he do so? Shall we issue a law to stop him from leaving his office, whatever may happen?

    I have to acknowledge that I am a teacher. I have never seen such a disaster, so I have no right to say what I will or what I will not do. I think “Guo Tiaotiao” should know better not do so too. I have long been tired of hearing heroic swearing and the people who made them only end up in jail. Recollect and we will instantly know that all corrupt officials will blurt out speeches on morality and even before the judge they will try to conceal the truth. Only those who have experienced such a disaster have the right to say what they have done. I think “Guo Tiaotiao” is only too much of a petty hypocritical moralist who knows only how to pay lip service. 

    We teachers are only common human beings. There is nothing special about us. We can only do what a common human being will do. what is more, we have not been endowed with any special favor by the society for us to lay our liives for. We have only been entrusted with the responsibility to educate the children. We are not saints. “Fan Paopao” is not a saint either. I only wish the society won’t push us too far.

    To sum up, I despise such a teacher like “Fan Paopao”, who deserted his students for the sake of his own life. If I was him and some misfortune might have fallen to my students, my conscience wouldn’t be at ease for my life. So I will try to save my students. However, what I want to say is that he is not a bad man. He is frank. He was only too timid to make any sacrifice. He is not hypocrite at least. He is not someone who puts on a pretense of a moralist.

    What I want to emphasize again is that: don’t expect too much of a teacher. Teaching is only a job, though all teachers should be morally upright. If we expect more from the teachers, let’s respect the teachers. The fact is, while we expect too much from teachers, we put them so low at the social strata.