Original from internet, location unknown.
According to a report in the China Youth Daily on the 24th of February, some elementary school students are busy giving class monitors presents. This makes a lot of people feel worried: Children that young have already learnt to give and take bribes.
It is well known giving presents is usually prompted by a desire for profit, it involves planning. So, what are the children planning? One phrase from the interview with the children makes it clear. "Class monitors make 'small reports' to the teacher. With that much power, of course we want to maintain good relations with them."
As I see it, this is the most terrifying thing. Some teachers, in order to make their own class management easier, cultivate trusted aides. Whoever discovers classmates mistakes and makes a report can obtain the teachers praise and confidence. In this way, the teachers work is made more convenient, they don't need to watch everyone all the time like a policeman, and students will be afraid of being discovered. They will also be afraid of misbehaving when the teacher is not present. Not long from now, those few telltales and betrayers will appear to be excellent students. They will be able to serve as class monitors, to act as good students, able to win the teachers praise, and put themselves forwards for further opportunities.
This is obviously good for the education of elementary students. Actually, every child understands the importance
of good relations with classmates, they all know the value of friends. But, those teachers leave them with no way to
trust their friends, no way to unite with their classmates. The teacher's view of right and wrong is the most direct and
powerful relationship. In the face of potential profit, everyone wants to benefit. Adults cannot help this, let alone children.
But the difference is, adults have a feeling of shame, they understand the meaning of morality. IF they betray a secret, they have to conquer their own moral values. Children are different, they aren't able to make clear moral judgements, they make decisions based on feelings. Moreover, the teacher gives them the chance to tell tales and parents reasonably tell them to make the teachers and the class monitors life easier.
I am reminded of the American film 'Scent of a woman'. A poor scholarship student refuses to sell out his classmates, because of this the teacher starts disciplinary procedures and uses the threat of expulsion. However, he keeps his mouth shut. At the meeting to decide the matter, a blind person defending him says 'I know I ought to be a good person, and I know how I should be good so why aren't I? Because being a good person needs courage and it has a price'. If this child had surrendered, he would have consciously become part of a dirty American society.
Incorrect leadership from teachers, along with the bad influence of society on the playground, teaches children to use the power they hold to get material rewards, they will feel taking other people's things is natural. The disgusting thing is, today they might be selling out their classmates for small rewards, or telling the teacher good things for presents. In the future, will they be content with such mere tokens?