The Role of Teachers as Educators: Upholding the Educator’s Spirit in the New Era
Teachers are the foundation and source of teaching, and they are the first resource for educational development. This sentiment, expressed by General Secretary Xi Jinping, highlights the important role that educators play in shaping the future generations of a nation. In a recent statement, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of the spirit of educators, pointing out their lofty mission in the new era and providing guidelines for the construction of a team of high-quality teachers. This statement shines a light on the unique spirit of educators in China and its significance in the development of the country’s education system.
The educator’s spirit is a precious spiritual wealth accumulated by teachers in their long-term educational practice. It is a valuable spirit formed by a broad group of teachers, representing educators and outstanding teachers in the long-term educational practice, and it is a powerful driving force for the continuous advancement and innovation of education. This spirit, according to General Secretary Xi Jinping, encompasses six distinct aspects: ideals and beliefs, moral sentiments, wisdom in educating people, attitude of hard work, benevolence, and pursuit of morality. These aspects not only highlight the unique characteristics of the educator’s spirit but also serve as a guide for teachers in the new era to uphold and promote this valuable ethos.
In order to strengthen the country, it is necessary to strengthen education, and to strengthen education, it is necessary to strengthen teachers. The construction of the teaching team is the basic task of building a strong educational country, and it is of paramount importance to give full play to the leading role of the educator spirit. General Secretary Xi Jinping’s emphasis on cultivating a team of high-quality professional teachers with noble ethics, superb professional skills, a reasonable structure, and full of vitality underscores the importance of the educator’s spirit in shaping the future of education in China.
To achieve this goal, it is imperative to strengthen the party’s overall leadership over teachers’ work, improve the teacher education system with Chinese characteristics, and practice the first standard of teacher ethics and style. The ultimate aim is to make teaching an enviable profession, where teachers are the most respected and enviable profession in society, attracting excellent talents who teach enthusiastically, carefully, for a long time, and with love, contributing to the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
General Secretary Xi Jinping’s emphasis on the educator’s spirit and the construction of a team of high-quality teachers in the new era provides a clear direction for the development of education in China. It not only highlights the importance of educators but also sets a path for the continuous advancement and innovation of the education system. As we strive to build a strong educational country and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the educator’s spirit will play a crucial role in shaping the future of education in China.
(Author: Zhou Kan is a special researcher at the Beijing Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and a professor at the College of Elementary Education, Capital Normal University)