On September 7th, 1983, Beijing Jingshan School wrote a letter of more than 500 words, calling it "Dear Comrade Xiaoping, Dear Grandpa Deng". The letter said, "I hope your old man can write an inscription for us, or say a few words to show us the way forward." Previously, Jingshan School often wrote to Deng Xiaoping to report the teaching reform, and Deng Xiaoping usually replied through the office. Not long ago, Deng Xiaoping approved the report that three primary school teachers in Jingshan School, a "teaching reform experimental field", were promoted to special-grade teachers.

After the letter was sent on September 8th, Deng Xiaoping wrote an inscription for Jingshan School: Education should face modernization, the world and the future.

"Three Orientations" not only required Jingshan School, but also pointed out the direction for the education reform at that time, which was the major policy of China's education reform later. In the Outline of the National Medium-and Long-Term Education Reform and Development Plan (20 10-2020), "Three Orientations" is written in the preface as one of the principles to promote the development of educational science in China.