Voices > Adult Memories
Adults recall their education
These links from this page lead to five accounts of school experience in China. They are each given by individuals who have returned to education as adults - in order to learn English language.
These adult students volunteered to recall their primary and secondary education - and to reflect on differences in that experience with childrens experience today. The reflections were written in English or Chinese, accordingly to the individuals preference.
Of course, these memories are not offered as broadly representative. However, they do capture the culture of recent educational practice and some of its variety.
We do not venture any detailed analysis of these narratives here. However, they do seem to illustrate a number of themes that may be representative of a current adult generation's reflection on schooling. The demands on pupils were considerable: days were long and often long journeys had to be made to reach school premises. Classroom life was dominated by teachers who commanded respect and often affection.