the school children in rural China

[xichg]

I came across thes group of pictures of school children online today and was deeply shocked and saddened. They reminded me of the hard life in my village when I was a young kid. However even in the middle 1980s when I went to school the life was not as bad as what these pictures show here. I just wish I were Bill Gates and I could help these kids out. However I am nobody. I blame the society and the government, and I blame cities like Beijing and Shanghai. People in those cities don't want to know the life beyong their glorious cities. Who's going to help these unpriviliged children so they can have an equal oppotunity? I don't see much hope here. Please check out the pictures for yourself following the links.

http://bbs.chinanews.com.cn/thread-6362-1-1.html

http://bbs.qlwb.com.cn/Archive_view.asp?boardID=61&ID=120265

[jeffofarabia]

I wonder if the next revolution will come from the countryside. Maybe ignoring recent history isn't such a good thing. I think China made a big mistake recently by putting Mao on all of the money. I am glad Germany hasn't decided to forget their history and put Hitler on their money. Of course, Hitler isn't responsible for as many deaths as Mao.

There are ways to help these kids though. Donate coats, books, shoes, socks. Plus oil and vitamins would really help.

[adrianlondon]

The pictures (same in both links) ... the children look Tibetan.

I know I'm very cynical, but I wonder if the pictures have been deliberately released so that the Chinese can say that their influence will help iradicate this type of poverty. Or am I totally wrong? Hope so.

[Scoobyqueen]

Jeffo

There is a difference between manslaughter and murder. It is an unwise comparison.

[jonaspony]

xichg... thanks for the post. What people don't see they don't care about. I'll make sure someone else sees it.

There's a common idea that the Chinese are well-off now, but the reality for most is still hardship, disease and poor education. Looks like these kids are lucky enough to go to school - though that may not have a trained teacher. Despite the governments' 'nine years of schooling' legislation, the 'Harmonious Society' and the abolition of rural education fees, many parents still can't afford the heating and chalk fees.

Faced with such a picture, it's natural to want to blame someone or something. So many culprits to choose from! Here's a link to a volunteer group that is doing something about education in rural areas. There's lots of information there too.

http://www.ruralchina.org/site/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

[normedu]

Do you know there is this German guy called Eckart Loewe, who spent years teaching in Rural Guangxi? He puts many Chinese graduates into shame, who refuse to teach in the countryside. However it's really not them to blame, but the income gap between provinces, which has no sign of alleviation. I'm more amazed by the fact his application for Chinese Permanent Residency was refused, because "he is not special enough and doesn't contribute much enough to the nation". I actually see the opposite and his application should be granted so he can stay further without visa issues, to provide the kids education, who live in one of the poorest regions in China.

http://baike.baidu.com/view/648808.htm

[BrandeX]

I wonder if the next revolution will come from the countryside. Maybe ignoring recent history isn't such a good thing. I think China made a big mistake recently by putting Mao on all of the money. I am glad Germany hasn't decided to forget their history and put Hitler on their money. Of course, Hitler isn't responsible for as many deaths as Mao.

Say what!?

First off, Mao's revolution came from the countryside already, and the way things are now is what they ended up with. Secondly these people LOVE Mao, and those too young to remember the times, are taught to love him. Comparing to hitler is way off base. How many people in Germany today regard Hitler as a Hero, Legend, virtual god amongst men, etc. as the Chinese do with Mao?

[xichg]

@adrainlondon,

The children here are not Tibetans but Han Chinese from southwestern Shandong province, not that far away from my hometown. Your conspiracy theory is not applicable here. Can you please take out politics for once and focus on the problem and try to come up with constructive ideas?

I want to say the same to Jeff. Your political views are not helpful here either. They serve the only purpose of hijacking this thread to some heated but senseless attack to and defense of Chinaman Mao which is not really relavant in this case. Atucally contrary to what you think many people believed that Mao was for poor people. But please don't respond to this point. I do like your ideas of donating clothes to these poor children.

My school years were a lot like that in the pictures and many scenes and activities in the pictures are so familiar to me. Maybe that's why I am so saddened. But I was luckier than these kids. My hometown overall is better off than them (not by that much) and my family was one of the well-off families in the village. And that's more than 20 years ago. I think what these children need most is a fair oppotuity to compete with city kids. I was lucky and went to argurably the top university in China and then studied in one Ivy school. And now I have the ability to make sure my family back in China to have a decent life. I think given a chance, these children can achieve great things and make something out of their lives. But it's obvious that they are denied a fair chance, and most likely they will be trapped in this poverty and hardness what they know as life generation after generation.

[jeffofarabia]

Actually I agree with the person who said my comments were ill-placed. I wasn't trying to hijack the conversation, and recognize that was what I did, though somewhat unintentionally (but just somewhat).

Wherever the children are they should be taken care of. Governments can only do so much though.

[adrianlondon]

Can you please take out politics for once

Err, this whole thread is political.

[muyongshi]

Like for example how it has always amazed me that it costs so much money to go to school in China, a communist nation, whereas in the US, a capitalist country, everyone goes for free- all they have to do is pay for the paper and even then there are plenty of other ways....

Education and Politics are inseparable...get used to it

[md1101]

Err, this whole thread is political.

if you can convince yourself it's not then you can tell yourself it's not the governments problem.

i feel for these children. i wonder how much they know of the outside world. and whether they know others have it much better off..

[caaat]

I'm a Chinese boy.my hometown ningxia is in the northwest in china .

I have been a lot place.some place is very poor.

in the south of ningxia,there is a area call by "xi ha gu" is a VERYPOOR place.

something is more complicated. it is not just a picture can show you.

people there is sitll have opportunity to get eduction and change their life.

but problem is in there mind.some parents never know how important education is.because when they young they have no education they can't read any thing.so they can't see any thing out their word.

some children help their partents to grow plant when they very young, it's a tradition.I was a city boy. but a lot of my brothers they can do very good job in field.

Even in "xi ha gu" I saw some school and some student.

I think found schools is easy but change some one's mind is a very hard job.

I have some pictures,if you want I can send to you.

MSN：dream_finder_caaat@hotmail.com