China Education/China Jobs

About a month ago, I did a post entitled, "Promising Blog: Ben's Blog Is Certainly "Cutting Edge.'" The post was on Ben's Blog, a blog by an ethnographer who had just started working in a Chinese barber shop for a month in an effort to understand China's working class. The post was part of our "Promising Blogs" series.

Well, Ben just ended his month's stint at the barbershop despite my all but begging him to stay longer. Though Ben just ended his barbershop work, he intends to continue with the blog, using his new free time to write on topics he previously lacked time to cover.

Along with its insight into the lives of those who worked at the barber shop, Ben's blog also provided equally interesting observations on the shop's owner and in one of Ben's most recent posts, "Last Day on the Job," Ben did a fascinating and moving post on the shop's uneducated, yet obviously very bright owner. This post is a must read for anyone wanting to learn more about China's small business entrepreneurs. I also urge you to check out Ben's most recent post, "Continued Education and the Rural/Urban Divide," which does an excellent job explaining college's differing role for China's rural and urban population.

Ben, please reconsider.

Comments

I do believe you also have to pass an exam to get into high school, and of course there is tuition for that too. A double whammy for poor country kids.

Posted by: nanheyangrouchuan | June 11, 2007 7:55 PM

nh --

I do believe you are right.

Posted by: China Law Blog | June 12, 2007 12:05 AM

Just confirming that nh is right.

Posted by: Jeremy | June 12, 2007 8:44 PM

Yes, but the high school exams can not be compared to the College Entrance Exams. I'm not sure how they're run, but I believe it is done on a local basis.

Posted by: chriswaugh_bj | June 13, 2007 12:32 AM

Jeremy --

Thanks.

Posted by: China Law Blog | June 13, 2007 7:52 AM

chriswaugh_bj --

You have to be right about that as I have never heard of high school students going to school outside their area. Also, am I wrong for thinking that if you can afford to pay for high school and are even just a mediocre student, you can go to high school?

Posted by: China Law Blog | June 13, 2007 7:53 AM

There are "elite" high schools in China now, some are "elite" only if you have the money, others require scores and money, or just scores if you show some sort of prodegy abilities (I knew such a girl way back when), but if you are not at least a 3.0 student you may well find your academic life coming to an end after middle school.

Posted by: nanheyangrouchuan | June 13, 2007 11:55 AM

@CLB: You're not wrong about students paying to get in to high school "through the back door". I've worked at two such places, reputable schools, even.

Posted by: chriswaugh_bj | June 13, 2007 7:11 PM

Yes, it is my understanding there are elite public and private high schools.

Posted by: China Law Blog | June 13, 2007 10:55 PM

I was not even so much referring to getting in through a back door, though I know that occurs. I was just referring to the fact that all but the worst students (if they have the money to pay the tuition) get in.

Posted by: China Law Blog | June 13, 2007 10:56 PM

China Law Blog

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