Enable local people to have a better life

Editor,

I profoundly agree with your article "Welfare of locals a priority" (February 9). The problem is similar to a greater or lesser degree the world over.

This applies especially if you are resident in a rural location or a remote town, or if you have little financial clout or political influence.

Having lived, worked and been fortunate enough to travel in China, but also live as a low-income farmer here in the UK, my heart goes out to those who have such a harsh struggle and find themselves unsupported in times of hardship.

I witnessed and understood the difficulties of small farmers and therefore had an unexpected degree of sympathy for my students from "poor peasant" backgrounds.

China is not alone in once neglecting the outlying areas but on its vastness of scale, the evidence and implications may be more visible and apparent.

I can assure you that even in tiny Britain, I understand the feeling of being a "poor peasant."

Kyra Somerfield, UK

Foster innovation among children

Editor,

The article "We need to create a culture of innovation" (February 23) was thought-provoking.

From my observations, the lack of initiative among Chinese locks up their minds. It has something to do with how Chinese kids are brought up by parents and educated in school. It's easier to tell children not to ask too many questions and just do as they are told. Parents and teachers are taking the easy way out to do their job.

Parents and teachers often do not let their kids explore their imaginative minds, and are only interested in their kids giving the correct answers to question from textbooks. I witnessed Chinese kids being told off and ridiculed loudly by parents and teachers for giving the "wrong" answer to the question. This scares off many children from questioning what they learn.

Parents and teachers should not ridicule their kids for giving "wrong" answers, but should instead ask them to derive their own answer. That will help them to use their brain, and make them think for themselves instead of searching for answer in a textbook or from memory.

Both parents and teachers need training to help their kids become innovative thinkers.

I was too a bookworm when I was a school kid in South East Asia. I was forced to learn by rote in primary school. While it's necessary to remember some basic facts by heart such as the multiplication table to do quick calculations, emphasis on such learning should be discouraged.

When I went to the West to enrol for my science degree, I was amazed by the mental maturity of the younger people and kids there. They discuss ideas and question what they learn. Chinese and Asian students are often shy or afraid of raising questions in classes, and at work at well. They are often described as being "quiet" people in the West. However, Chinese students do very well in tests worldwide. The asset Chinese have is their ability to assimilate knowledge.

Chinese can be creative if they change their attitudes and embrace passion for innovation. Nothing tastes sweeter than success in innovation.

Huaren, via e-mail

Editor,

In Sam Walton's (founder of Wal-Mart) autobiography, he says that American businesses are innovative because of its free market economy. He said that he would never have had the chance to start Wal-Mart, as a small businessman, without such a free economy. Finally, he said it was the competition, resulting from a fiercely competitive market that forced him to innovate and dominate the retailing world.

In the business world, only the strongest and those capable of innovating survive in a free market environment.

In the worlds of science, liberal arts and art, how can creativity and innovation be fostered in education? It appears to be a case of easier said than done. How realistic is it to ask most current teachers to implement a creative and innovative education curriculum when most are skilled and feel more comfortable with the existing one?

Chris, via e-mail

(China Daily 03/03/2006 page4)