1988 65438+1From October 25th to 3rd1day, the State Education Commission held a conference on the work of universities directly under the Central Government in Beijing Jingxi Hotel to make arrangements for the new year's work. After returning to school, I conveyed the spirit of the meeting to middle-level cadres and above, and asked all departments to put forward the work plan for the new semester before the winter vacation, with the focus on changing educational concepts and formulating measures to strengthen teaching reform. At the same time, I organized an investigation team to investigate and study in Law School, Economics College, Library and Information College, Management College, Chinese Department and Chemistry Department. Until the morning of February 9th, I held a teacher's forum in the Physics Department. My plan is to draw up the outline of educational reform in the second decade of Wuhan University on the basis of investigation and study, and set off the second climax of educational reform in Wuhan University from the new semester after the winter vacation.
However, by the next day (February 10), the situation had changed dramatically. That morning, Zhang, the head of the working group of the State Education Commission, informed me to talk at Donghu Hotel and announced that I would be relieved of my post as deputy secretary of the Party Committee and principal. In the evening, the working group held a meeting of university-level cadres of Wuhan University in Donghu Hotel, and read out the fax document of the State Education Commission exempting me from my post.
On the eve of the Spring Festival, the news came out, the whole school was in an uproar and the industry was shocked. Letters petitioning for me inside and outside the school have all been sent to Beijing. Why? Although these things are of no help, my deep sense of injustice has given me great comfort. As a professor said to me, "Comrade Yudao, you were dismissed because your thoughts were ahead of the times and the pace of reform was too great for those' nine-pound old ladies' to tolerate you." I thought to myself, yes, at the age of 32, I was appointed vice provost, at the age of 39, I was appointed deputy secretary of the Party Committee, at the age of 45, I was appointed member of the leading group of the Ministry of Education and director of the Higher Education Department, at the age of 48, I was appointed president of the university, and at the age of 54, I was dismissed. Therefore, some people say that I am an advanced person, not only in the educational concept, but also in the appointment and dismissal.
Many people used to ask me the same question inexplicably: "Why did you resign from the Ministry of Education and don't want to be the mayor of Wuhan? Otherwise, you can be a big official now, at least your status and material living conditions are much stronger than you are now. " To some people, this is incredible. Some people go around for officials and important officials in order to climb up, sharpen their heads and make profits, and even spend a lot of money to buy officials. In fact, there is nothing incomprehensible about this. Everyone has his own desires. Although there is a tendency to be obsessed with power in human nature, I value righteousness over profit and technology over power. China has a saying since ancient times: "A scholar is not an official, and a non-scholar is an official." I believe this. I advocate freedom. I just want to do what I want. I don't want to be pushed around. I want to say what I want to say. I don't want to follow suit. In the eyes of some senior officials, they are the masters and the masses are the people. They can be privileged and overbearing, but they are also servants in a sense in front of their superiors. I hate this relationship between master and servant. There is a saying among ancient literati: "No official, no official." I appreciate this sentence very much and don't want to be an official.
Of course, I have repeatedly declined the arrangement of taking up important positions. For me, this is a kind of giving up, which may make me lose what I could have, but I don't regret it. In fact, in my life, I gave up a lot, such as giving up the superior conditions for studying and researching in the former Soviet Union and the opportunity to get an associate doctorate ... In this regard, some people said: "Liu Daoyu is too stupid to respond to the call of' opposing constitutional amendment'. If he is the same as others, he will definitely get an associate doctorate with excellent results. However, with his cleverness, I think life is a big stage, and each of us has to play a certain role in it, some of which are chosen by ourselves and some are caused by mistakes. I think, no matter what role you play on the stage of life, as long as you try your best to be an upright person, then you have a clear conscience. Therefore, I have no regrets about my life choices, whether I pursue or give up.
Engels commented on Marx in his speech at the grave of Marx: "He may have many enemies, but he may not have a personal enemy." I appreciate this sentence and admire the exemplary behavior of this learned academic master.
I believe in Mencius' view that human nature is good, and I have always advocated the spirit of fraternity in educational practice. Therefore, for me, there is no "many enemies", let alone "many enemies". However, I advocate and practice educational reform, and the conflict between the two concepts is inevitable in the reform. As a result, a few people who stick to the ultra-left line are jealous of me and both sides are not pleasing to the eye. They regard me as an "enemy" and always want to get rid of me quickly. My sudden dismissal, as well as the subsequent blow, are all manifestations of their thoughts and revenge on me. One of them, after achieving the goal of fooling me, proudly said to others, "It's a real pleasure that I defeated Liu Daoyu. I am not soft, I want him to never turn over. " The same person, taking advantage of his authority, instructed a young teacher to report me to Beijing, saying that if there was no travel expenses, he could go to him for reimbursement. It turns out that this teacher is my student. He used to teach in an ordinary university in other provinces, but he has not been promoted to a lecturer after working for more than ten years. He feels stressed. So, he wrote to me, hoping to transfer back to his alma mater to serve. I think that school has gone too far. In order to protect the students, I transferred him and his wife (no counterpart work) to Wu Da University. In order to support his work, I quickly solved his lecturer title, and I personally wrote a preface for one of his books. But he was not satisfied, and then he asked to be promoted to associate professor, but I didn't agree. In this way, he turned against his enemies and immediately took refuge in the "Left" leaning people, acting as a deep-water bomb against Liu.
However, the teacher was soon despised after he exposed the practice of biting the hand that feeds him. He couldn't stay at school any longer, asked for a transfer and changed his home. I don't know whether it was out of conscience or other reasons, but he actually said goodbye to me before leaving school and asked my opinion. I received him and said to him calmly, "China intellectuals attach great importance to moral articles. I think what you lack is moral cultivation. Although you did something wrong to me, as your teacher, I still don't forget the responsibility of preaching and teaching. It's up to you to listen or not. How to be a virtuous person? I will give you three words: don't judge heroes by victory or defeat, don't judge right and wrong by likes and dislikes, and don't divide friends and relatives by gains and losses. " Then I explained that these three sentences are my creed and contain many principles of being a man. In general, people always strive for victory and avoid failure, but we should also make a concrete analysis of victory and failure. It is a "victory" and shameful to start as a complete person and climb to a high position by stepping on others' bodies; Those who have been hit by telling the truth, or those who have failed in reform, are still glorious. There are objective standards for right and wrong, which have been tested by practice, regardless of people's likes and dislikes. Familiarity and alienation should also be based on correct values. You can't get close to a person just because you get his benefits, or hate him on the other hand. If so, wouldn't it be the same as reducing people to ordinary animals?
There are many similar situations in my experience, too numerous to mention. Some people, I have trained into talents, but he is ungrateful; Some people were highly promoted by me, but he turned his back on me; Others got out of trouble because of mistakes and were protected by me, but he wrote a book and maliciously slandered me. When you are in power, more people follow you, but once the atmosphere changes, you will immediately change your face, expose criticism, or draw a line. A kind person asked me, "What do you think of those heartless people? Have you ever regretted it? " People are all kinds of people. It is necessary to sum up the lessons of identifying people, but it is unnecessary to regret them. My creed is: I would rather be wronged than others. I also believe that love is dedication, which is based on the premise of not asking for anything in return. If you want it, you treat love as a commodity, which is a blasphemy against great love. Therefore, everything I did to anyone was voluntary, and I have no regrets.
In mid-July, 1988, student Tianan invited me to spend my summer vacation in Jiugong Mountain, Tongshan County. I just wanted to take this opportunity to write a book there, so I agreed. To tell the truth, I'm too tired. 15 During my tenure as vice principal, principal and director of higher education department, I didn't have winter and summer vacations, famous mountains and rivers, or even the school trade union organized faculty to go to Lushan for summer vacation in batches, and I never enjoyed it. After being removed from office, I really tasted the sigh of "no official and no weight" when Su Dongpo relegated Huangzhou!
One day, I went up the mountain alone with a box of books and documents. This is the first time in my life to spend my summer vacation in the summer resort, and I have to pay for everything myself. At that time, the tourist conditions were relatively poor, and the road was still a gravel road, and the car bumped badly. Along the rugged mountain road, it was not until 1 in the afternoon that I climbed the Tianchi Lake in Jiugongshan at an altitude of 1500 meters and stayed in an ordinary guest house of the county and township enterprise administration.
On August 5, the school sent a car to send Gao Wei to my guest house in Jiugongshan. Her sudden appearance surprised me. I don't know what happened. I asked, "Why are you here? What's the matter? " She said, "The Party Office of the school called you the other day and said that the Ministry of Education wanted you to go to Beijing. I told them you were on a business trip and didn't reply. I have no idea where you are now. I told them that Liu Daoyu had been removed from his post and there was nothing to talk about. However, they called again yesterday and said that Li wanted to talk to you, which seemed urgent. So, let's discuss it, see or not? "
It has been more than half a year since he was suddenly removed from the post of principal, and there is no job before and after. Why do you want to talk to me now? We have two analysis intentions: first, my dismissal is undemocratic, unfair and unjust, which has aroused strong repercussions inside and outside the school, so that the Ministry of Education is in a very passive situation. They asked Li, who was in the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee at that time, to come out and talk to me. The purpose may be to appease and turn passivity into initiative. Second, it is possible to rearrange my work, because after I was removed from office, the Ministry of Education has repeatedly released the wind. Everyone thinks that my dismissal has nothing to do with Comrade Li, so I should go regardless of organizational principles or etiquette. So, Gao Wei and I arrived in Beijing by train on August 8.
On the morning of the 9th, the person in charge of the Personnel Department of the Ministry of Education arranged for me to meet with the principal person in charge of the Ministry of Education. When I learned that one of them was actually the supreme leader, I said I didn't want to see him. If he attends, I won't attend, because he arranged my dismissal and he took the opportunity to vent his dissatisfaction with my reform. The relationship is very stiff, one wants to participate, and the other doesn't want him to participate, so it is deadlocked. What shall we do? Finally, Deputy Director Zhu Kaixuan called me many times and explained that the person in charge was sincere and came back from Beidaihe to see me. I hope I can clear up the misunderstanding and talk face to face. In this case, we didn't insist, but we still considered the overall situation.
The conversation was so awkward that no one seemed to want to speak first. After a moment of silence, the top leader spoke first. He said, "Comrade Yudao, there are too many misunderstandings between us. In fact, our reform of Wu Da has always been positive, and it is also positive for your work ... "I interjected:" It's not a misunderstanding, but your prejudice against the reform of Wu Da is too deep. It is not that' the credit system in the United States failed, and the Soviet Union also trained outstanding talents without it!' "How can you say that your reform of Wuhan University is positive? Since you are positive about my work, why did you dismiss me for no reason? The headmaster can be improper, and right and wrong must be clarified. Also, on June 5438+09861February 5, 2005 15, I gave an academic report on some issues concerning macro-management of higher education at an academic seminar sponsored by UNESCO. However, after the meeting, you sent someone to collect the tapes of my speech. What is your intention? This is extremely unfair. This speech was published in the Journal of Higher Education and Shanghai Higher Education Research. Do you still need a collection? This is an illegal act and grossly tramples on the academic research policy. "
The person in charge argued, "I'm not pointing at you." I heard that a professor of Wuhan University was very excited when he spoke at the meeting. He would rather be expelled from the Party than criticize the State Education Commission. I think this professor has a problem with me, so I want to find a tape to listen to in order to check my work. "
"No, it must be for me, and a series of facts later illustrate this point. I believe that it is normal to have different opinions in the reform, but we must never use our power to retaliate against those who hold different opinions. "
Of course, the conversation was fruitless and broke up in discord. In the afternoon, the person in charge of the personnel department accompanied us to Beidaihe and stayed in the National Teachers' Vacation Activity Center.
According to the agreement, I will meet with comrades on the morning of August 6. It is a two-story villa, hidden among towering pines and cypresses, with green grass and flowers. The head of the personnel department of the Education Commission accompanied me through the heavily guarded layers of guards and finally came to the reception hall. It was a conversation between Comrade Li and me, and neither his secretary nor the head of the personnel department attended.
We met for the first time and exchanged a few pleasantries. He first opened the topic and said, "I invite you to have a heart-to-heart talk this time, mainly to listen to your views on the education situation, especially your suggestions on education reform and the work of the State Education Commission. At the same time, I also want to exchange views on your work arrangement. "
Since I am no longer under consideration, I would like to express the following opinions frankly:
First of all, I introduced the teaching reform of Wuhan University in the past eight years. Generally speaking, we have emancipated our minds and made great strides in reform. Around the reform of teaching system, we have created six new teaching and management systems, which have greatly improved the teaching quality and students' comprehensive quality. Graduates are well received by the society, especially in coastal open cities. In addition, the reform of scientific research system, personnel system and logistics system has been carried out, which has made the school present a prosperous situation, and the scientific research achievements and academic works have gained an unprecedented harvest. Therefore, Wuhan University is known as "Shenzhen on the front of higher education".
Secondly, I also talked about my views on the situation of national education reform. In my opinion, the pace of national education reform is seriously lagging behind economic reform. 1985 has basically not been implemented, and the education funds have not increased, but the absolute proportion has declined. The reform in the field of teaching is not included in the work schedule of the State Education Commission at all, so that the old educational concepts, teaching systems, teaching contents and teaching methods occupy a dominant position in our school education. To put it bluntly, the education front is the most conservative in the country. The reason is that the State Education Commission is conservative, and the main leaders do not delegate power, reform or go deep into the grassroots. This situation is just like Liang Qichao, the pioneer of the reform and reform, said: "The reform does not change the source, the branches and leaves do not change the whole, and the change at one end will only increase the harm." This is the case with the education reform in China today. If we don't take effective measures, its prospect will be worrying.
Third, about the so-called leadership adjustment of Wu Da. In my opinion, this kind of team adjustment is undemocratic, unfair and does not distinguish right from wrong. In 2 1 day, the working group not only failed to conduct extensive democratic tests, but also talked with only six professors individually, ignoring the opinions of more than 95% teachers and students in the whole school. The so-called normal post change is also not in line with the actual situation. My appointment is indefinite. If it must be changed in four years, it has not expired. Moreover, a female vice principal who works with me still retains her post, but as a 54-year-old principal who inspires reform, she will be removed from her post. I'm not satisfied with this. I can be inappropriate with the headmaster, but I want to explain the reason and distinguish right from wrong.
Finally, about the work arrangement. I said, since I was dismissed, I hope I won't arrange it again. At the same time, the cadres in China are still lifelong, and they can only be promoted but not lowered, and they can only be high and low, and they can only serve the officials but not the people. This situation will be abolished sooner or later. Since I am inspirational to reform, I am determined to start with me. I am willing to be an ordinary citizen. Besides, leadership work is like eating meat, and there are times when you are tired. I am very tired now. I need to rest and try another life.
Comrade Li listened patiently to my introduction and did not interrupt my speech. After I finished, he commented on my speeches one by one. He said:
"Regarding the reform of Wuhan University, the direction is correct, the achievements are the main ones, and the response from the education sector is also good. You are full of reform spirit, enterprising spirit, pragmatic style and close contact with the masses, which must be affirmed. I don't know much about the adjustment of the leadership of Wuhan University, so I can't say what the problem is. However, since the adjustment, we must face the reality and admit it. I hope you can move on. No one can deny the achievements of the reform. Right and wrong will be discussed later, and there is no need to mention it now. I think it is important to arrange your work well and continue to play a role in the reform. Work practice will tell everything.
As for the job, you can choose, you can come to Beijing, you can go to a coastal city, and you can work as a counselor in a foreign embassy. However, I hope you can come to Beijing. Recently, you are going to set up a leading group for education reform and development planning, which will work under the direct leadership of the State Council. I suggest you take this job. How's it going? If you can't decide now, you can think about it before making a decision. "
The hour hand has pointed to 12, and the conversation has been going on for 3 hours. Looks like it should be over. So I said, "Comrade Tie Ying is very busy at work. Thank you for taking the time to see him. As for the work arrangement proposal you mentioned, I need to give a reply after careful consideration. "
"all right! Let's call it a day and contact you later. "
In fact, these are all pleasantries. When I said "seriously consider", I just politely and tactfully refused his suggestion; What he said about "contact again" was also a courtesy, and we never contacted again.