Ding Ling—A Spiritual Treasure
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SPOTLIQHT The Seeping Fragrance Pavilion, a secret meet• ing place for Lin Daiyu and Jia Baoyu. An elaborate walkway in the Bamboo Lodge, quorters for the novel's heroine, Lin Daiyu. Fictional Garden Brought to Life About 40,000 square metres of traditional Chinese gardens have been completed in the first phase of construction of Grand View Garden, the setting for one of China's ancient literary masterpieces, A Dream of Red Mansions. Grand View Garden, which will include another 30,000 square metres before completion, is located in the southwestern section of Beijing. Photos by Song Lianfeng HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK VOL 29, NO. 19 MAY 12, 1986 Historic Mission of Worldng Class CONTENTS The historic mission of China's working class is to close NOTES FROM THE EDITORS 4 ranks with farmers, other labourers and patriots, while upholding the open policy and reform in an effort to build Introducing Compulsory Educa• China into a culturally advanced and a highly democratic, tion modern socialist state. This is what Hu Qili, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said at a EVENTS/TRENDS 5-9 Beijing rally marking the centenary of May Day (p. 14). Model Workers Honoured at May Day Centenary China Alters Forms of Ownerstiip Economy Hinges on High-Tech Progress Since 1979 China has been experimenting with diverse Living Buddha Visits Australia forms of ownership. These changes have included the Fair Sends Beijing Into Book establishment of a contract responsibility system based on Frenzy individual households, the restoration and development of Taiwan Pilot Returns to Mainland collectively owned enterprises and individually managed entities, as well as the emergence of share-holding and other new economic methods (p. 17). INTERNATIONAL 10-13 Latin America: Where Workers Stand United Compulsory Education Enforced by Um Philippines: Aquino Secures Power, A new compulsory education law sets the goal for China to Popularity raise the cultural level of its people to new heights by the end of L^nited Nations: Straitjacketed by this century (p. 4). Diluted Budget Brunei: Shifting Economy Away From Oil China's Road to Agricultural Development Working Class: Historic Mission 14 Agricultural Minister He Kang explains how China Economic Theory: Changes in manages to feed and clothe 22 percent of the world's population Ownership Forms: Problems & by cultivating 7 percent of the globe's arable land (p. 23). Possibilities 17 Agriculture: The Chinese Way 23 Calling Attention to the Only Child Dealing With the Spoiled Brat' 26 While China's 32 million only children are confident, intelligent and eager to learn, a large number of them tend to be FROM THE CHINESE PRESS 29 wilful, dependent and inconsiderate of others. This explains why it is important for parents, teachers and society as a whole BUSINESSARADE 30^1| to give special attention to their education (p. 26). CULTURE/SCIENCE 32-34| Courageous Woman, inspiring Author COVER: Learning to care for trees when Ding Ling, a prolific author and tenacious woman ever they are young. loyal to China's revolution, held fast to her convictions and optimism until she died in March at the age of 82 (p. 32). MMUwd avKy Monday by OMribiilwlby •I • l»to • CI liaflNG REVIEW ICMI I (QUOJl SHUOiAM), .lUIUMI USA imvum 24 lolwonzhuang Road. Ming i>.0. Bex 399, Mk<«. CMna UK £t2JH Th* PMpte's ItmpMk of CMno S2UH Introducing Compulsory Education by Dai Yannian he recent Session of the population makes up one-fourth both the children and their T National People's Congress of China's total. In the less families. has adopted a new law which will economically developed areas, There are still many people in gradually put into practice a nine- with nearly half of China's China who lack adequate under• year compulsory education sy• population, it will be introduced standing of the importance of stem. This is a major event that by around 1995. In a few under• education. Some administrative will promote the cultural quality developed areas primary educ• officials have abused their power of the Chinese peole and will affect ation should be widespread by the to misappropriate funds earmar• the future of the country. end of this century. ked for education and to use China's elementary education school buildings for purposes The law stipulates that the right has greatly progressed since the other than education. Teachers for school-aged children to receive founding of the People's Republic have even been insulted. To solve education be guaranteed by the in 1949. Now 95.9 percent of the these problems, the law provides state, society, schools and fami• nation's school-aged children that no organizadon or individual lies. In this education the all- have been enrolled (compared to is allowed to seize, withhold or round development — moral, in• about 20 percent in old China), misappropriate funds earmarked tellectual and physical — of stu• and 68 percent of primary school for education; nor are they dents is emphasized. graduates have got the chance to allowed to disturb peace and order continue their study in the junior Primary and secondary schools in school or occupy or destroy middle schools. However, primary will be reasonably located for the school property. Insult, assault education has not yet been convenience of the children. No and battery of teachers are strictly popularized, leaving many school- tuition fees will be charged, and forbidden. Those who violate aged children, particularly girls, students from poor families will these stipulations will be punished dropping out of the required receive a stipend. Furthermore, according to the merits of their elementary courses. This, in turn, more special schools for blind, cases; those involved in criminal leaves many young people and deaf and mute and mentally cases should be punished accord• middle-aged adults illiterate or disabled children will be set up. ing to the law. semi-literate. Furthermore, the State enterprises, institutions quality of education in the rural Lack of funds is one of the and other sectors of society should areas is generally low, with only 60 difficulites in the development of be encouraged to set up schools of percent of the primary school education. The law provides that their own. graduates reaching the set stan• the growth rate of the total outlay dards. This situation is hurting the As things stand today, some for education should be higher current socialist modernization short-sighted parents have asked than that of regular state revenues drive. their children to drop out of and the average educational fund The promulgation and imple• school to seek employment, while per student should also be mentation of the law on others, misled by old feudalist increased progressively. Compulsory Education marks the ways, have pulled their daughters The governments at various beginning of a new stage in out of school. Sometimes school- levels also can collect education China's elementary education. By aged children are recruited by funds in the urban and rural areas the end of this century, school- enterprises and individuals. The to boost their own. Individuals aged children in most areas will be new law stipulates that parents and various sectors of society are educated under the nine-year must send their children to school encouraged to donate funds for education system and the cultural when they are old enough. The educational activities and pro• level of all the nationalities in recruitment of school-aged chil• grammes. All these stipulations China will be upgraded to new dren for work by any organiz• should ensure the increase of heights. However, this goal will ations or individuals is strictly educational funds. During the have to be attained step by step. It prohibited. These regulations Seventh Five-Year Plan period, will first be realized in the cities protect the right of the children to beginning this year, the total and other economically developed receive a compulsory education outlay for education will amount areas b\. where the which in the long run will benefit to 116.6 billion yuan, 72 percent 4 BhIJINC/ RLVItW. NO. ly Model Workers Honoured At May Day Centenary s part of the activities to The All-China Federation of A celebrate International Trade Unions awarded 1,107 May Labour Day on May 1, more than Day Medals to pace-setters 3,000 model workers and combat nationwide for their contributions heroes of the People's Liberation to China's modernization drive. Army from all over China One of the May Day Medal ascended the Tiananmen (Gate of winners was Huang Ziping, 39, more than in the previous Five- Heavenly Peace) rostrum. The who was a man"in a wheelchair. He Year Plan period. In the state platform was used by emperors in had had to give up school as he enterprises, institutions and other ancient times when making was so severely handicapped from sectors of society, the potential of offerings before setting out on a arthritis 24 years ago. But by sheer supporting funds is growing. The journey or a military expedition, diligence and will power, he taught mounting enthusiasm in the rural and then in New China by high- himself mathematics and Chinese areas to establishing schools with ranking officials on special medicine, and studied English, collected funds is an evidence of occasions. It was the first time French and Japanese, achieving this. common citizens were accorded diplomas in all these subjects. Today, there are more than 7.5 this privilege. From 1977 he volunteered to tutor million primary and secondary Among ihe model workers were high school students in his home. school teachers in China. bus and sliip conductors, in- As a result, 132 of his students Although the number appears dustiial workers, professors and have passed college entrance large, the quantity and quality of Western and traditional medical exams.