Liu Zongyuan's use of planting trees was extended to officials in the Tang Dynasty. He pointed out that many officials went to the people in the name of "loving the people", but in fact they were "harming the people". Farmers put down their jobs to meet officials, and even listened to officials "teach farmers to farm." In the end, it made people miserable.
The story of Guo Tuo planting trees contains profound philosophical thoughts. It can be used not only in government affairs, but also in contemporary education.
Our generation just happened to meet the period of family planning and rapid economic development after the reform and opening up. In a society where the gap between the rich and the poor is widening rapidly, parents are deeply influenced by the idea that "knowledge changes fate". At the same time, our generation has a huge group of only children. Therefore, parents, schools and society can all be described as "loving too much and worrying too much".
For parents, on the one hand, they regard their children (especially the only child) as the "darling" of the family. Many parents, even grandfathers, focus on their children for fear that the "little emperor" and "little princess" will be hurt and wronged a little. They may often say, "I am such a precious son/daughter." And this gave birth to many "Xiong Haizi". In Luo Xiang's words, their parents are "Xiong Da" and "Xiong Er".
On the other hand, many parents are too strict with their children. The idea of "expecting sons to succeed and daughters to succeed" is particularly prominent among this generation of educators. It seems that the dream of "honoring ancestors" of thousands of families has become the responsibility of thousands of children. Many people are always worried that children will "lose at the starting line" from the moment they are born. This kind of anxious competition in society is transmitted to children through educators, spreading to primary and secondary schools and even kindergartens, bringing children's books, strollers, milk powder and so on. Many parents are more anxious about their children's lives than their children, and this emotion is undoubtedly passed on to their children.
The control of culture by some departments is also puzzling. For example, when Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf were reported for rectification, I joked with my friends that when I was a child, I didn't expect to hang my classmates from a tree to make "roast whole sheep".
The rationality of this concern is indeed worth discussing. Do children really need this kind of high-intensity "protection"? If children have been growing up in this meticulous care, they will lose the ability to judge right and wrong and grow into "giant babies" without speculative ability.
Education in contemporary China, if given correct guidance, might as well give children more free space, and perhaps see more surprises in the next generation.