Text/Wang Shuren
"Respect teachers and education" is a fine tradition of the Chinese nation. Respecting teachers means respecting teachers. September 10, 2025 is the 41st Teachers' Day in my country. The historical records collected by some older generation revolutionaries respecting teachers are now recorded as follows for readers.
Mao Zedong:The teacher Mao Zedong respected the most was Xu Teli. In 1937, Yan'an celebrated Mr. Xu's 60th birthday. According to Hunan customs, Mao Zedong put a black cloth hat with red edges and a red cloth lock on Mr. Xu, and said, "I wish you good health and longevity!" Mao Zedong also read his birthday letter to Mr. Xu: "You are my husband 20 years ago, you are still my husband now, and you will definitely be my husband in the future..." At the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, despite Mao Zedong's busy government affairs, he still could not forget the teacher-student friendship between him and Xu Teli. Once, Mao Zedong specially sent someone to Xu Teli's residence and invited him to have dinner at his home in Zhongnanhai. At the table, we also prepared a special dish with hometown flavor to entertain the teacher - a bowl of Xiang bamboo shoots and a plate of green peppers, which both of us like to eat. Mao Zedong also said apologetically, "Mr. Xu, please come, there is no good food." Mr. Xu smiled and said, "The people are good, and the water is sweet!" Mao Zedong wanted to let the teacher sit on the seat, and Mr. Xu said, "You are the chairman of the people of the whole country and should sit on the seat." Mao Zedong immediately said, "You are the chairman's teacher, 'one day will be a teacher, and you should sit on the seat for life'." As he said that, he forced Mr. Xu to sit on the seat. Seeing that the teacher was wearing as frugal as he used to be, Mao Zedong took off a tweed coat he wore and gave it to the teacher, saying that it was to show the students' wishes. Xu Teli took the shirt in his hand and was very excited.
◆Mao Zedong and Xu Teli.
Zhou Enlai: "" When I was a teenager, I was cultivated by Mr. Gao Panzhi from Shandong. It can be said that without Mr. Gao, I would not be today." This is a sentence that Zhou Enlai said when he met foreign guests and answered reporters' questions during the Yan'an period. Mr. Gao Yiwu (named Panzhi) is a teacher who cares about the country and the people and pursues progress. In 1910, Mr. Gao went to Shenyang Dongguan Model School to serve as a history and geography teacher. Zhou Enlai came to Northeast this year and became a resident student of the school. At that time, Mr. Gao gave lectures to spread the truth about saving the country and the people, and promoted the patriotic deeds of revolutionary patriots, and was deeply respected by his student Zhou Enlai; and Mr. Gao also valued and loved Zhou Enlai very much. Teachers and students often talk about the truth about saving the country together. 40 years later, Zhou Enlai still recalled affectionately: "Teacher Gao passionately promoted revolutionary ideas in class, and repeatedly told the tragic deeds of the 72 martyrs of Huanghuagang. The classmates were filled with indignation and tears when they heard this. Since then, I have been studying for the rise of China." In 1913, before the 15-year-old Zhou Enlai graduated, Mr. Gao named him "Xiangyu", and eagerly hoped that students with few ambitions would spread their wings and soar in the universe. Before leaving, the young Zhou Enlai also gave a message: "Working together, the future will be just around the corner." From then on, Zhou Enlai has always cherished photos of his mentor and cherished the name "Xiangyu". Become a teacher for a day and will never be forgotten for a lifetime. On December 3, 1951, Zhou Enlai was already the Premier of the State Council of New China and was busy with work, but when he heard that Mr. Gao’s son Gao Zhaofu arrived in Beijing, he immediately went to greet him, and asked in detail about the time of Teacher Gao’s death and concerned about the physical condition of his teacher’s wife. Since then, he has invited Gao Zhaofu and his family to reunite in Beijing many times. In 1961, when he heard that his master's wife's family was in trouble after a natural disaster, he entrusted the 60 kilograms of food coupons he saved to the Gao family. Once when Gao Zhaofu returned to Shandong, the Prime Minister took out a cardboard box and said, "It contains ginseng, coffee and sugar. It is my intention to give it to the teacher's wife for nourishing her body." When Gao Zhaofu delivered the Prime Minister's gift to his old mother, the old man choked and said, "A master of this big still remembers me who had never met before. I am the happiest person in the world!" In 1962, Premier Zhou sent 100 yuan to the Gao family and gave it to the teacher's wife for treatment and to buy supplements. When the teacher's wife died of illness in 1963, Premier Zhou personally wrote a letter to the Gao family and sent money to express his condolences.
◆In 1912, Zhou Enlai was studying at the Dongguan Model School in Shenyang.
Liu Shaoqi: In May 1957, Liu Shaoqi came to Hunan Province for inspection. When he met the old Chinese doctor Cheng Bingzhen in Changsha, he accidentally heard from this elementary school classmate that Teacher Huang Xilei was still there, but he was poor and sick, and he was already in his twilight years. Liu Shaoqi remembered the teacher's teachings back then and decided to squeeze out time to visit Teacher Huang in his busy schedule. That morning, Liu Shaoqi drove to the home of Huang Xilei, a retired teacher in his 80s, No. 2 Simaqiao, Changsha City, and stretched out his warm hand to hold the hand of Teacher Huang, who was lying on the bed, and called Teacher Huang affectionately. The local accent did not change. Huang Xilei opened his dark-blooded old eyes and looked at Liu Shaoqi with a smile on his face. He was so excited that he turned over and sat up, trying to walk off the bed. Liu Shaoqi quickly stretched out his hands and hugged Teacher Huang's waist, and asked him to lie on the bed, and then sat in front of Teacher Huang's bed by himself. Then, the teacher and student opened up their "talk" in love and recalled the scene at Yutan High School. Liu Shaoqi said that he would never forget Teacher Huang's gentle teaching attitude and tireless spirit. He envied Teacher Huang's knowledgeable and endless research. He said, "Teacher Huang, you are so excited when talking about the revolutionary deeds of the 1911 Revolution and Huang Xing and Cai E; and when talking about the national humiliation of ceasing land and ceasing compensation for compensation and humiliating the country, I still remember it vividly." He also said, "I went to revolution later. Although it was the training and education of the Party, it is also inseparable from the words and deeds of you teachers!" The teachers and students talked cordially about the past for more than two hours, which had exceeded half of the original planned time. Until the secretary urged him several times, Liu Shaoqi took out a bag of tea and a bag of tonics from his pocket, took out another 50 yuan, and delivered it to the coffee table in front of Teacher Huang's bed with both hands, and said affectionately: "Students cannot come to see you often, please forgive me! I wish you a hundred years old and see the success of socialist construction."
Zhu De: In 1939, the Anti-Japanese University First Branch was established in Southeast Shanxi. Zhu De personally attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. After the start of school, he took the time to teach in his busy schedule, and taught "The Strategies and Tactics of the Anti-Japanese Guerrilla War". One day, Zhu De turned into the school when he passed by Tunliu. After understanding the overall situation of the school, he specifically asked about the teachers' work and life situation. The captain of the brigade Zhang Peirong reported: "Our brigade has four military teachers and three political teachers. We are responsible for the military and political teaching tasks of more than 500 students in the four brigade squadrons. The burden is very heavy. The teachers sometimes come back late after the lecture, so they can't eat hot rice and don't have much food. Therefore, we recently made a regulation that teachers must have hot rice and hot rice to ensure their health." Zhu De smiled happily after hearing this. He said: "Your regulations are very good. You must implement them and you must persist for a long time. The teachers are our teachers, who teach us to learn knowledge. In the past, I think this sentence is correct. The teachers prepare and teach everyone every day, and it is very hard to do. It is perfect for them to take appropriate care of them in life. You should not only ensure that they can eat hot meals and hot dishes every meal, but I think they should also add a dish for each meal. Do you agree?" Zhang Peirong nodded quickly and said happily: "Agree! Fully agree!" Then, the whole school conscientiously implemented Zhu De's instructions, from the leaders of the brigade to every mate, everyone respected the teachers, and the teachers worked harder, caring for the students, and doing everything possible to improve the quality of teaching.
◆The former site of the Anti-Japanese First School.
Deng Xiaoping:On November 30, 1949, the People's Liberation Army occupied Chongqing. On December 8, Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping led the Second Field Army to Chongqing. After arriving in Chongqing, Deng Xiaoping thought of the principal of Mr. Wang Yunsong, the preparatory school for work-study in France that he respected. Time flies, 29 years have passed. Deng Xiaoping went from the scene when he went to France from Chongqing to study. He remembered the teacher who cared for him very much back then, so he sent military cadres to Xiubi Street to find Wang Yunsong's residence. Because the troops who went there did not make it clear, Wang Yunsong, who served as the Taoist pedestal of the Qing court, served as an advisor to the Chongqing Municipal Government and president of the Municipal Chamber of Commerce during the Republic of China, was suspicious. He did not know whether it was a blessing or a disaster, so he did not dare to meet the People's Liberation Army, but asked his eldest son Wang Rixian to send them away with a false excuse. Two days later, several more cadres from the Southwest Military Region came to find Wang Yunsong in a jeep, and explained that it was a warm invitation from Political Commissar Deng Xiaoping. Only then did Wang Yunsong get into the car with them with a nervous mood. When he arrived at the Southwest Bureau of the Communist Party of China, Deng Xiaoping was particularly intimate when he saw the teacher who had been reunited after a long time. He held Wang Yunsong's hand for a long time and asked about his long and short questions. Wang Yunsong's uneasy mood swept away. They recalled the past of the Preparatory School for Work-Study in France, and Deng Xiaoping also told Wang Yunsong about his work-Study and engaging in revolutionary struggles over the past 29 years. It was cold in winter, but the harmonious conversation between teachers and students made the room full of warmth. Deng Xiaoping and his wife warmly treated Teacher Wang and sent him a car to take him home. After returning home, Wang Yunsong told many relatives and friends about his interview with Deng Xiaoping, and said with great emotion: "Who said that the Communist Party does not talk about human feelings? I now know that the Communist Party is the most concerned about human feelings and does not forget old friends. Deng Xiaoping recognized me the most." Due to Deng Xiaoping's recommendation, Wang Yunsong went to Beijing to attend the Second National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in 1950 and was treated with kindness from leaders such as Zhu De and Chen Yi. When Deng Xiaoping introduced Wang Yunsong to Chairman Mao Zedong, Chairman Mao said that he had heard of his contributions to Wang Yunsong in Chongqing. He shook hands cordially with a smile and said, "Thank you Mr. Wang." In the spring of 1952, when the Chengdu-Chongqing Railway was about to be completed, Deng Xiaoping specially invited Wang Yunsong to take the railway construction vehicle to inspect and visit the construction site. Under Deng Xiaoping's care, Wang Yunsong served as a member of the Chongqing Municipal People's Government, a member of the Southwest Military and Political Committee, and a representative of the First People's Congress of Chongqing, and was hired as the deputy director of the Chongqing Municipal Museum of Literature and History. After Deng Xiaoping was transferred to work in the central government, he had been thinking about his teacher Wang Yunsong. After he learned that Wang Yunsong was ill, he called him to come to Beijing for treatment. When Wang Yunsong died at the age of 84 in 1958, Deng Xiaoping sent a condolence message to express his deep condolences and extended condolences to his family.
Chen Yun: On July 2, 1984, Liu Yisheng, a teacher at Yidu No. 2 Middle School in Qingzhou City, Shandong Province, sent a letter reflecting the phenomenon that outstanding high school graduates are unwilling to apply for normal colleges to the People's Daily. On September 2 of the same year, in the education special edition of the People's Daily, Liu Yisheng's letter was published under the title "A Phenomenon Worry". After seeing the manuscript, Comrade Chen Yun, who was then a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made an important instruction on September 4, 1984: "This issue (refers that few high school graduates regard normal colleges as their first choice when applying for college) should be taken seriously. The quality of students in normal colleges cannot be guaranteed, and it will have a great impact on future education and the construction of the four modernizations. We must continue to think of some solutions to help teachers mainly primary and secondary school teachers and solve some practical problems, such as housing problems. We must continuously improve their social status and gradually make teachers' work truly one of the most respected and enviable professions in society." After Chen Yun's instructions, the Secretariat of the Central Committee, the State Council and other organizations organized a joint inspection team to investigate more than 20 universities, middle schools and primary schools in the south. On November 13, 1984, the People's Daily published a long investigation report. On December 26, the People's Daily published a headline news on the front page: Comrade Chen Yun's opinions on education are being implemented, and the salary of primary and secondary school teachers will be greatly increased on New Year's Day next year. Soon the State Council made a decision to implement the new salary system from January 1, 1985. It was also decided that September 10 of each year will be determined as Teacher's Day from 1985.
◆On February 5, 1981, Chen Yun congratulated representatives of primary and secondary school teachers and early childhood educators in Zhongnanhai, Beijing.
Peng Dehuai: August 1, 1957 is the 30th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army of China. On this day, Marshal Peng Dehuai was wearing casual clothes and was preparing to meet with representatives of some model teachers in primary and secondary schools in Beijing. The staff reminded him: "Mr. Peng, you are the Minister of National Defense and should wear military uniforms." Peng Dehuai said: "I am going to meet the teacher today, and students should wear casual clothes when they meet the teacher..." When they met, Peng Dehuai smiled frequently and said kindly, "The People's Liberation Army should learn from the teachers, the People's Liberation Army should engage in modernization construction, and learn scientific and cultural knowledge. How can we do without the teachers?"
Chen Yi: In the winter of 1923, Chen Yi went to Beijing Sino-French University to study. Professor Xiao Chunjin and Chen Yi from Peking University, who are often invited to teach at the school, have become teachers and students. In the winter of 1925, after Chen Yi finished his study in the Department of Literature at Sino-French University, Xiao Chunjin said to Chen Yi: "You have such excellent academic performance, and it is very promising to continue studying. I will contact you to join the school at Peking University." Chen Yi said to Xiao Chunjin: "I have received my kindness, and I still have to go back to Sichuan." Xiao Chunjin couldn't stay at Chen Yi, so he held a banquet at home and invited his colleague Professor Li Dazhao to accompany him to give Chen Yi off. During the Anti-Japanese War, Xiao Chunjin served as the director of the Agriculture and Forestry Department of the Kuomintang Jiangxi Provincial Government. During this period, after learning that the Kuomintang was going to send troops to Wugong Mountain to capture Chen Yi, Xiao Chunjin immediately asked his lover Cheng Xiaofu to Wugong Mountain to report to Chen Yi, so that Chen Yi would be spared from arrest. In 1941, Xiao Chunjin, who was also the chairman of the Jiangxi Provincial Supervisory Grain Production Committee, was directly responsible for agricultural production in the province and supplying military rations on the front line of the anti-Japanese war. According to the secret plan with Chen Yi, the acting commander of the New Fourth Army, a large amount of food was transported to the New Fourth Army. One day in early March 1953, Chen Yi, then mayor of Shanghai, learned that Xiao Chunjin, who was teaching at Datong University in Shanghai, was brought back to his hometown by a public security department in Yongxin County, Jiangxi Province on the charge of "the bureaucrat of the Kuomintang Jiangxi Provincial Government and the general backstage of the Yongxin feudal faction", immediately called Chen Zhengren, secretary of the Jiangxi Provincial Party Committee, and said, "Comrade Zhengren, Xiao Chunjin in your province is a senior intellectual, always upright and arrogant, and in the democratic revolution. During this period, we did a lot of useful work for our party, especially for the New Fourth Army. Now we have been captured as a Kuomintang bureaucrat by our hometown Yongxin County, and it is said that we will be beheaded. I suggest that Xiao Chunjin cannot be killed because he has made great contributions to the revolution. If we cannot win, we will forget the help of others. Please ask the Provincial Party Committee to ask about it quickly, release it immediately, apologize, and escort him to Shanghai. "In this way, Xiao Chunjin was safely escorted back to Shanghai. Chen Yi not only went to the station to greet him in person, but also held a banquet that night to entertain Xiao Chunjin and his wife. A few days later, Chen Yi also discussed with the United Front Work Department and Organization Department of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee, and decided to arrange for Xiao Chunjin to teach at Fudan University, and at the same time elected him as a member of the Shanghai Municipal CPPCC. Chen Yi knew that Xiao Chunjin’s incident should not be underestimated. Not long after, he arrived in Beijing. After meeting Chairman Mao Zedong, he would release and resettle and his deep friendship with Xiao Chunjin for 20 years, and would like to inform him in detail. After listening to it, Mao Zedong nodded and said, "You, Chen Yi, are very serious in your work. This Mr. Xiao seems to have a lot of friendship with us and has helped us a lot. In the past, he saved you, Chen Yi and the New Fourth Army. Now you are kind and righteous to save him, it is also true, and it is also true."
Tao Zhu:Chen Yinke is a famous historian in my country. He has excellent research on the history of the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, Sui and Tang Dynasties, Mongolian history, as well as Sanskrit, Turkic, Western Xia texts and other ancient characters and Buddhist classics, and is praised by scholars at home and abroad. Before liberation, Chen Yinke served as a professor at Tsinghua University, Southwest United University, and Lingnan University. On the eve of the liberation of Guangzhou, although Hu Shi and Fu Sinian sent him telegrams many times, urging him to go to Taiwan, he flatly refused them. Chiang Kai-shek in Taiwan also sent people to pick up Chen Yinke several times, but none of them did. It became a regret for Chiang Kai-shek to fail to bring a "national treasure" like Chen Yinke to Taiwan. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, during his tenure as a professor at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, Tao Zhu, who worked in Guangdong, not only respected Chen Yinke very much, but also took care of his life, study and work. Chen Yinke's house was small, and he couldn't put up his books. He had no assistant to write. After Tao Zhu knew about it, he immediately notified the school to solve the problem. After learning that Chen Yinke had poor eyesight and felt difficult to read the newspaper, Tao Zhu gave him a rare radio at that time for him to listen to current affairs. Tao Zhu also cared for the Party Committee of Sun Yat-sen University and asked them to lay a white corridor in the yard where Chen Yinke often walked so that he would not lose his direction when walking. In 1954, the newly appointed Party Secretary of Sun Yat-sen University criticized Chen Yinke's thoughts at a meeting that were "old and corrupt". After Tao Zhu learned about this situation, he seriously criticized the Party Secretary and asked him to come to the door in person to apologize to Chen Yinke. In July 1962, 72-year-old Chen Yinke accidentally fell while showering at home, causing his femur to fall and break. After hearing the news, Tao Zhu went to the hospital in person to visit him and studied the treatment plan with the hospital. Because Chen Yinke broke his femur and could only stay in bed for a long time, Tao Zhu instructed to equip Chen Yinke with three nurses, and at the same time, he would give special care in housing, meals, and clothing. Two years later, someone said, "We don't have food to eat, why should we treat him like this?" After hearing this, Tao Zhu said angrily: "Mr. Chen is 74 years old, his legs are broken, blind, and he is still writing books day by day. He himself has lost the ability to live independently. He is like a baby who cannot move independently. Doesn't he need special care?" Chen Yinke's wife later said to her friend: "Only Tao Zhu can truly understand Chen Yinke's value."
Hu Yaobang:On November 29, 1981, Hu Yaobang wrote a letter to Mr. Yu Keying, who was studying at Liuyang County Junior High School in Hunan more than 50 years ago. The letter reads: "Teacher Keying: I learned that my jade body is still strong and my food is normal. My children have already started working and I am very relieved to do my best for the country and the people. ... I have not forgotten you, nor have I forgotten the other teachers in elementary and junior high school. Because these teachers' integrity, integrity and tireless teaching spirit once gave me great infectious power. ... I am very happy to see you in Beijing. However, the climate here is now cold, and people who are too old have many discomforts. I hope you will come next summer and autumn." On July 5, 1982, Teacher Yu took his daughter to Beijing. On the afternoon of July 7, Hu Yaobang met his teachers who had been separated for more than 50 years. Teachers and students talk together, recall the past without restraint, and share their feelings. Hu Yaobang said, "Teacher! I have been looking for teachers from elementary and junior high schools for a long time, and you are the only one I can find..." Then, Hu Yaobang also carefully asked how big the teacher's house is, how much family income is, how to arrange his later life after retirement, etc. During dinner together, Hu Yaobang told the teacher again: "You make your own plan, and you can see wherever you want, and just talk about it." Teacher Yu stayed in Beijing for ten days and visited many famous places and historical sites. Before leaving, Comrade Yaobang bought a piece of clothing for Teacher Yu and his daughter, and set up a light meal for farewells. I also wish the teacher a healthy and long life, and I ask the teacher to come back next time, and "please say hello to the teacher's wife"...
Wang Zhen:On August 7, 1990, the National Outstanding Teachers' "Gardener's Home" event was held at the Beidaihe Teachers' and Workers' Activity Center. After Wang Zhen learned about it, as soon as the inspection of the Heilongjiang Military Reclamation Farm ended, he rushed to Beidaihe and cordially met with teachers from all over the country and ethnic groups. In August, there was scorching air over Beidaihe. When Wang Zhen walked into the National Education Commission’s Teachers and Workers’ Activity Center in the hot and scorching heat, the teachers waiting there were thunderous applause. Wang Zhen said affectionately: "I just returned to Beijing from the Northeast and Northwest Wilderness. I wanted to take a few days off. I heard that you, the heroes and models who have made outstanding contributions to the education front in the country, have come here. I can't sit still in Beijing, so I rushed immediately! I was happy and forgot all my fatigue! Beidaihe is a summer resort. Please come here and let the sea breeze blow away all your fatigue! Return to their respective positions in a few days, continue to work hard, and make new contributions to the cause of education! You are hard work, the people thank you, and history thank you! Our revolutionary cause urgently needs talents. You are fighting on the front line of education and bringing batches of talents to the country. You are unknown heroes who cultivate talents!" Wang Zhen said this, bowed deeply to everyone respectfully.
◆In 1990, Wang Zhen visited outstanding teachers in Beidaihe.
Chen Geng: When Chen Geng was the dean and political commissar of Harbin Military Engineering College, most of the administrative cadres of the college were old comrades who passed through the Long March and the War of Resistance Against Japan. They have great opinions on the ranks of associate professors and professors who were also awarded the ranks of lieutenant colonels and colonels. Chen Geng patiently convinced these "old qualifications": "You have the gunshot wounds on your body, and they have been working hard for ten years; you have your 25,000, and they have the arduous process of pursuing knowledge and knowledge. If you can design a "wind tunnel", I will also give you a colonel. Building national defense and cultivating talents requires intellectuals. Our old comrades must establish the service idea of serving dishes and bowls for teaching!" He finally patiently convinced these complaining "old qualifications". When the anti-counterfeiting movement was launched in 1955, some teachers at Harbin Military Engineering College were anxious due to family background, social relations, personal history, etc. After Chen Geng discovered this sign, he immediately met with teachers at the Military Engineering College level 6 and cadres above the colonel and above at the Harbin Friendship Hall. He said to them sincerely: "The central government is now carrying out an anti-counterrevolutionary campaign, don't be afraid. If you talk about problems, I am bigger than any of you. During the Great Revolution, I protected Chiang Kai-shek. You can't say anything to the party. We are nothing more than opening our hearts to show the party." His words were like a timely rain, which relieved everyone's concerns. During the anti-rightist movement in 1960, Peng Dehuai's letter to Mao Zedong was taken to the Military Engineering Academy for criticism and eradication of the "poison". In order not to prevent these teachers from being criticized or persecuted, Chen Geng asked a vice president to lead them to visit Changchun City, Jilin Province, and went there for more than 20 days. It was not until the college's "criticism" was over that these teachers were notified to return, so none of them were labeled as "rightist".
This article is original by "Party History Bo Cai"
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