SCHOOL LIFE IN CHINA
The American Missionary.
VOL. XLII. JULY 1888. No. 7.
I suppose you would like to hear about the school life of the children
in China. The girls are never sent to school, as the Chinese do not
think it is necessary for girls to be educated. Nearly every boy is
sent to school at about the same age as your American boys, six or
seven. From this time the boy’s playing days are over. If the teacher
sees or hears that any one has been playing after the school hour, he
would be severely punished. What would your American boys think of
such treatment?
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School begins at the first dawning of light, and closes when we can
see to read no more. No intermission is allowed, excepting for the
pupils to go home to get their meals. The first thing in the morning
we begin to study the book of Confucius, all the pupils studying
aloud. We shall have to recite to the teacher very soon. When we go up
to recite, we must hand the book to the teacher and turn our faces
from him. This gives no chance to see which word comes next. This is
called backing the book. The consequences will be very sad should we
fail in reciting our lessons. A new lesson is then assigned if we
recite well. School dismisses for the pupils to go home for breakfast
at 9 o’clock. The writing lesson begins as soon as we come back. We
study again, and write again, and our copy books are
examined by the teacher. The nest time we recite, the teacher picks
out ten of the hardest characters from our lesson to see if we
recognize them. We shall have much trouble this time if we miss. The
teacher will inflict some curious punishment upon us and will say,
"You know this very well, I suppose, but the trouble is, you are too
old to study your lesson, and I am afraid you cannot see; I will give
you a pair of spectacles for a present. Perhaps that may help you to
see." Then he takes some red ink and draws a large circle around both
eyes, and then we may go home for lunch. No one is allowed to clean it
till coming back to school. Hardly any one with such marks wishes to
go home for lunch; every one who saw you would know you had been in
disgrace.
We come back for our afternoon’s work. The first part we spend in
writing, and the remainder of the day preparing our lesson for the
next morning. For the slightest offense the children are whipped
severely. The teachers are so strict, that it is no wonder the
children run away from school; some go fishing, or else to the woods
hunting birds’ nests. If the boys see anybody not belonging to their
company they will climb up a tree as high as the branch can hide them
from view. All you boys will know the reason we are afraid any one
should see us. I remember running away from school once, but
unfortunately my father sent my sister to the school for me to go home
on business. As she could not find me, my father knew I had not been
to school that day. I went home for lunch about the time school
dismissed. When I got home, the first question my father asked was,
"School dismissed?" I answered, "Yes sir." He then said, "How did you
get along with your lesson?" I answered, "First class." "And who was
the first one in the class to-day?" I answered, "I am, sir." Then I
noticed his voice seemed to have an angry tone, and he said, "Are you
sure you have been to school?" I answered, "Of course I did, do you
think I am a liar?" I got terribly whipped this time, and when I went
to school in the afternoon, I also got a whipping from the teacher. I
did not have any more chance for running away from school this year,
for I was too closely watched. The children of China, you see, have no
pleasant time as you American boys and girls.
The high schools are quite different from the primary. The students
have to lodge and board in the school-house. We get up in the morning
before daybreak to study; the teacher and all the students go to the
explanation hall for our lesson. The teacher explains the meaning of
the lesson, and in the afternoon we are expected to recite and give
the explanation as given by the teacher. This is the hardest work of
the whole day. Our evening lesson is studying essays and poems by
Chinese Princes. About eleven o’clock school closes, and in a very few
minutes I am sure you will find no one awake. In winter time we manage
to get about six hours for sleep, but in summer only about four. We
generally {pg 215} sleep a little while at the noon recess. It would
not be surprising if when the teacher could not see us, we try to take
a little nap in our seat. Each boy has a table to himself. None of the
scholars sit erect as your American custom. Every boy leans his head
upon his hands, so that he can manage to take a little sleep when the
teacher is not looking.
We are allowed two meals a day only, and students cannot tell the cook
to prepare any private lunch. We can have as much tea as we wish. The
only way we can get anything extra is to try and get the cook to buy
it secretly, then it is very hard to get a chance to eat it without
the teacher seeing. I remember once my teacher made a visit to his
friends; usually he came back in about half an hour. When he was gone,
I thought I could make a little lunch, and eat it before he came back.
He came sooner than I expected. When I saw him coming back, I ran to
my seat as fast as I could and left the lunch in the kitchen. When the
teacher found out he told the cook to dish it up and he ate it. When
he finished, he came to us with a smile on his face and said, "Whose
cooking is this? If he tell me I will give him back the money." When I
heard that, I thought it was true, and I never thought the teacher of
the high school would tell stories and deceive me. So I said, "It is
mine." After I said that, he walked slowly back to his seat. I thought
he was going to give me back the money. I did wonder he did not ask me
how much it cost. So I watched him and saw him take up the bundle of
rattans. I guessed what was coming, and I guess I need not tell you
the result. The children of Christian lands have much to be thankful
for. I earnestly hope that soon the children of China will enjoy _all_
the privileges which the Gospel brings.