[MD] Metaphysics

[Andre Broersen]

Mary to Andre:
A pleasure to receive comments from you!

Andre:
Hi Mary, and you.

Mary:
I would love to know how you came to be in China, at whose behest,
what you are teaching, and if you think the cultural divide is too
great to teach it?

Andre:
It’s a bit of a story but I’ll try and keep it short. In 2000 I landed
in education (I am also a qualified social worker and tradesman
boilermaker/welder) after government appeals to fill teacher
shortages.

Got a job as teacher and studied for the appropriate qualifications,
which I received, and was placed on a 2-year temporary contract
teaching ( this is standard). After the 2 years however, monies had
run dry and my contract was not renewed.

Being in my 50’s makes me very expensive to employ so after searching
and applying I ended up with an international development organisation
(VSO) who’s aim is to share skills and thereby changing people’s lives
(rather than pumping endless amounts of money into developing areas, a
large part of which invariably ends up in pockets of those not in need
of assistance).
This took me to China where educational reform is  much needed , so
that is what I do: I teach my Chinese colleagues different teaching
methodologies (in the context of English language learning).

The cultural divide is indeed great and a source of loads of
frustration. You need to struggle through 2500 years of Confucian
social stratification (to use a sociological term)... respecting older
teachers (who are more static in their ways and resistant to change),
loss of face, centrality and control of knowledge in the hands of
teachers with which they 'fill' the students, horrible Chinese/
American textbooks (not reflecting the student’s environments or
actual living experiences) etc.

Pirsig was correct in arguing that socialist societies ‘forgot’ about
DQ. This is clearly seen in the lack of pro-activity, lack of
initiative, lack of creativity. Change needs to come from the
top...down. Unless your superior tells you (or gives you the go-ahead)
to do something different you simply do what you’re told.
And in a hierarchical system such as the Chinese Communist Party (much
like the one described in Orwell's 1984) you DO what you are told.
(the ‘thinking’ is left to the one ‘above’ you... and up...and up..
and up!).

Of course there are exceptions. The Dean of the English Dept. here is
really helpful and is all for changing teaching methods, but I have
gathered that the Education Bureau (above him) is far more
‘conservative'.

It is rather complex Mary, and frustrating, but also a wonderful
challenge and experience to live and work here. Chinese people are so
very nice and most are willing. (remnants of Confucian and Lao Tzu's
influences).

Mary:
It appears that America is in decline and China's turn at center stage
is next; though I think they may make as much a muck of it as we have
if their only achievement is to feed off America's lust for cheap
Chinese goods.

Andre:

Well, it depends on what one values. And so long as one values
consumer goods above other good(s) [pun intended] there you go... this
appears to be the logic of a capitalist market economy...and SOM and
the Chinese economists, market analysts, financial players and policy
makers are no fools. They are very good imitators and they learn the
name of the game very quickly.

Sorry, this ended up rather lengthy after all.

Kind regards
Andre