Dear Editor:
People in the West like to go to rivers to fish. In the past, I have interviewed a number of "recreational fishermen," asking them their feelings about fishing. They have offered a number of different viewpoints. Some people respond that they are seeking fun and relaxation. Others say they are pursuing the excitement and satisfaction of the hunt. But one time I met a man who said to me that fishing helped him understand life. While he sat in silence and endless waiting, he would think deeply, coming to understand himself and the whole world. And from this quiet meditation, he could gain inspiration. What he caught was the revelation of wisdom, not fish. After I asked him many times, I finally learned that he was a scholar. No wonder he gave such a distinct and unconventional reply.
There is a marvelous similarity between the outlook of this Western scholar and the saying we Chinese have, "View the myriad things of the world with a tranquil heart," or the proverb from The Great Learning, one of the four Confucian classics, "After stillness one can reflect, after reflection one can attain," or the Buddhist practice of facing a wall in meditation.
I recall sometime back, I read the feature "Changing Authority Relations on Campus" in the December 1995 issue of Sinorama, which focused on the various problems between teachers and students in Taiwan's universities. At first, I believed this was a result of the influence of Western academia, and therefore I went to several Canadian universities and did a number of interviews. These included a trip to the famous University of Western Ontario, where I interviewed the physics professor Tang Po-hsien, as well as many different student organizations, and other groups The feedback I received differed greatly from the situation portrayed in Sinorama's report. Although they live in a free, democratic country, in all the well-known schools most students have a high degree of respect for teachers, not a selfish "consumer" attitude. I copied the report of the state of Taiwan campuses and had them take a look at it, and they were astonished.
A few days ago, I was going for a stroll alone down by the river, and by chance I once again bumped into that peculiar Western fisherman. I hurried back to my car, and brought back a copy of Sinorama, written in both Chinese and English, for him to read. I wanted to learn his perspectives on the many problems that have developed on East Asia's campuses.
Unexpectedly, after he had carefully read the whole article, he had no reaction at all; he turned around and devoted all his attention to his own fishing line. I also sat motionless by his side. After a long, long time, a little breeze rustled his line, and he gave me a smile. Then I came to a sudden understanding. I thanked him and went back home!
Was he telling me that education is like catching a fish? Tuition is the bait. What one reels in might be a big fish, or a little fish, or maybe nothing at all. If it is a big fish (future prestige and wealth), then what does the little bit of bait (tuition) amount to? What then is the need to fuss over the "rights" of these little consumers?
Respect for teachers and for teaching is also a kind of "bait." (If the teacher is pleased with his students, maybe he will point them in the right direction, so they can reel in the big catch of a "wonderful life.") This outlook does no harm and can only benefit us, so why not accept it gladly?
