A set of pictures showing Chinese primary school students were reading quietly in Osaka airport have gone viral online, which, according to netizens, were staged by teachers to imitate the diligent and polite Japanese students in Chiang Mai airport. An article of yours argued last week that people should have more faith in Chinese pupils, who deserve applause for quietly reading.
However, netizens' suspicions are quite understandable. Let's face it; Chinese are known in many places, especially highly civilized and well-behaved countries, for their poor manners. It is never news when Chinese talk loudly in public, spit on the floor or even dry their underwear in airport lounges. Some countries have even put up banners or slogans in Chinese to remind tourists how to behave properly. When it comes to Chinese children, many may think of noisy kids shouting and chasing each other. To be honest, a group of quiet and bookish pupils in public is a rare sight in China.
Children are easily influenced by what they constantly see and hear. It is impossible to expect a kid to be well-behaved if their parents show no respects to rules and care little about others in public. Therefore, netizens' skepticism of the pictures is not surprising, especially given the fact that in some Chinese schools, students, to please visiting officials, are asked by teachers to rehearse for open classes.
Chinese students are always stereotyped as noisy kids paying little attention to their manners. In contrast, pupils from developed nations, for instance, Japan and European countries, are well-educated and properly-behaved in Chinese netizens' eyes. The public tends to regard foreigners' behavior well while looking down upon their compatriots.
Chinese children are better behaved than before. Compared with the past where academic performance was prioritized, all-round education is given increasing importance in today's China. Parents have higher requirements for their children than before.
In addition, while going abroad was a pipe dream for ordinary Chinese decades ago, studying or travelling in foreign countries is much easier and more convenient today. Overseas Chinese students have seen an increasing number in recent years. Compared with their predecessors, Chinese kids are more adaptable to foreign cultures, and are better mannered.
Chinese education is increasingly competitive in the global arena, and thus netizens should have more confidence in Chinese students. Instead of questioning the authenticity of the pictures, netizens should encourage kids to learn from the students in Osaka airport. After all, quiet reading is a good habit that deserves applause.
An Xiaolu
The author is a freelancer in Beijing.
