Conference of International Exchanges on Ethics Education

Conference of International Exchanges on Ethics Education in Primary and Secondary Schools in Xi’an was Held Successfully at XLIS

 

On the morning of Thursday, November 24th, 2022, XLIS set the stage for a unique international communication for educational experts. The conference of International Exchanges on Ethics Education in Primary and Secondary Schools in Xi’an was co-initiated by the Xi’an Association for Science and Technology (XAST) and the Xi’an Educational Psychology Association (XEPA), which Xi’an Liangjiatan International School eventually hosted. More than ten domestic and foreign educational experts, principals, and teachers were invited to dive into the ideas, sample ethics education cases, and explore innovative daily teaching methods in the context of the Double Reduction Policy. The event was live streamed for those unable to attend on campus. More than 1,000 educators from three special committees (for primary and secondary schools as well as kindergartens) from XEPA, five guidance research centres, and six educational psychology research practice bases, together with principals and teachers hailing from more than 200 primary and secondary schools and kindergartens, and educators from more than 20 countries, including the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, and Australia, attended the conference online.

 

Mr. Li Yuqi, the Secretary of the Party Committee of the Shaanxi Association for Science and Technology; Mr. Liu Fakui, the Vice Chairman of the Xi’an Association for Science and Technology; and Mr. Shang Hua, the Chairman of the Xi’an Educational Psychology Association, gave opening speeches and extended their congratulations on the successful hosting of this meaningful event. Mr Li stressed the value-leading role of science in the address, “Science association organisations at all levels in Shaanxi province have always been missioned to cultivate talents for CPC and the whole country through actively promoting the spirit of scientists and constantly popularising the dominant value that science created.” We aim to guide the vast majority of young learners who join in science and devote themselves to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the evolution of human beings,” he said. As the event host, Dr. Liu, Head of XLIS and Vice Chairman of the Xi’an Educational Psychology Association, welcomed all participating guests and online participants and extended heartfelt gratitude.

 

As President Xi Jinping pointed out in the Report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, education is critical to our country’s and our Party’s future. What kind of people we should cultivate, how, and for whom—these are the fundamental issues that education must address. The most basic aim of education is to foster virtue. We will fully implement the Party’s educational policy, carry out the basic task of fostering virtue through education, and nurture a new generation of capable young people with sound moral grounding, intellectual ability, physical vigour, aesthetic sensibility, and work skills which will fully develop socialism and carry forward the socialist cause. With this guideline, this conference designed keynote speeches and roundtable discussion sessions to communicate further and effectively carry out ethics education under the Double Reduction Policy.

 

In the keynote speech session, five guest experts invited from Xi’an local and international schools shared their experiences and reflection on ethics education from different aspects of youth growth. Mr Luo Kun, Principal of the Experimental Primary School of Shaanxi Normal University, shared the topic of Thinking and Exploration of Ethics Education in Primary Schools under the context of the Double Reduction Policy, analysing the problems existing in ethics education and figuring out the corresponding solutions from four aspects respectively covering the nation, society, family and school levels. Ms Lea Grinter, the Middle School Lead Teacher and MYP English Language and Literature Teacher, and Ms Michelle Taylor, the Whole School Counsellor from XLIS, both delivered their speeches on Why Social and Emotional Health for Our Students and Social Emotional Learning and Wellbeing, addressing the importance of social and emotional development in youth growth. Mr Zhang Yawu, Vice Principal of Xi’an Ai Zhi Middle School, promoted self-education and shared their innovative research results through his presentation. Ms Ding Xiaojun, Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy of Xi’an Jiaotong University, combined Philosophy and Psychology, explored the new forms of ethics education under the Double Reduction policy.

 

During the roundtable discussion sessions, Mr. Yang Zhende, Principal of Fengxi Experimental School, Mr. Alex Rambaud, Head of XLIS Whole School Cultural Activities and Dormitory, Mr. Li Zhengqi, Principal of Xidian University Chang’an Greenland Elementary School, and Mr. Liu Lubin, Principal of Wenjiaoyuan No. 1 Primary School, exchanged their understanding and views on four topics. “Implementing Ethical Practices in the Context of the Double Reduction Policy,” “How to Further Enhance the Cooperation between Schools and Parents on Ethical Practices, in the Context of Double Reduction?” and “How do Differentiated Teaching Approaches Promote the Physical and Emotional Development of Students?”The roundtable panellists deeply analysed different features regarding students’ physical and mental development at various stages from multiple dimensions, and specific challenges primary and secondary schools face in ethics education implementation while sharing the new directions and actions practised in each school.

 

The implementation of the Double Reduction Policy has inspired educators to reflect on ethics education and brought more possibilities for the future. Focusing on the topic, these four experts, who have been deeply engaged in education for many years, put forward the idea that ethics education should be transformed from knowledge to behaviour, and the subjects taught should be systematically and deeply integrated with multiple activities. At the same time, listening to students’ voices and needs should be prioritised to guide the corresponding ethics education to happen naturally, which will help us achieve our teaching goal. When it came to the formation of the family-school co-education system in the context of the Double Reduction initiative, they aimed to build a community of shared futures through ways of changing parents’ thinking, guiding parents to have a scientific concept of education, creating an efficient family-school communication platform, encouraging the PTA to be involved in the decision-making making process and systematically integrating educational resources with the support from all parents. To implement differentiated teaching effectively, firstly, teachers should learn to understand, respect and recognise the differences between students, thus catering to their individual needs. Educators should also be mindful of leading education through a student-centred approach and guide them to explore their development potential.

 

Talent is the capital of virtue; virtue is the commander of talent. Cultivating talents for CPC and the whole country is each educator’s original aspiration and mission. An essential part of educating lives is jointly combining ethics education with knowledge education. When carrying out ethics education, we should consciously follow the features of growth and development, keep pace with times and constantly enhance the advancement and effectiveness of ethics education. Meanwhile, we should also strengthen the connection between school, family, and society, thus exerting a joint effort in education to open up new fields and tracks of ethics education and promote the high-quality development of basic education in the new era.

 

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Author:

Fancy Fan (PR Officer)