They're done!...and not looking back

Ever gone through your books and found something you read in and kept since high school? I doubt any of the recent graduates at my school will ever experience this as they prefer to throw away, resell, or burn the entirety of their high school books. The picture here is the ever-growing pile of textbooks collected from garbage piles across campus. Everyday the courtyard is full of students selling their college entrance exam prep books, attempting to somehow profit from that which caused years of misery.

The GaoKao (or higher education entrance examination) has officially finished for the year and the test takers aren't looking back. I could write volumes on the ludicracy of this exam, how the foreign language only tests grammar and vocab (having no spoken or listening component, and a pathetic writing part where a bad essay with nice handwriting can get more points than a good essay with bad handwriting) how students live in fear of this test from 7th grade, or how every 7-12th grader studies from 7:15 am to 10 pm every day in hopes they have memorized enough for this sole test.

There are no other factors for entrance to almost all Chinese universities--it is this one test score. If you're sick, oversleep, or simply don't transfer your answers to the answer sheet, your future is over as you will be a waiter or cell phone sales agent for life.

The list continues as I laugh at the millions of resources being expended to examine how to refine this test when, in my opinion, they need to step further back to conclude to abolish THIS test. Unfortunately, those who may make this decision were subject to the same test environment, which thwarted creativity and critical thinking skills. My latest favorite bit of information is that Dominick, the student I coached, has been spending less time rigorously studying and doing less homework, choosing to focus on things he likes or preparing to study in Singapore. By a Chinese estimate he would perform worse, having deviated from relentless studying. However, due to the variety and decreased pressure, his most recent tests actually make him the #1 student in the school. Oh how the evidence stares them in the face and little changes!

All the while, I wish the best for this country and its students as I remain optimistic that it is capable of change. Just don't ask my opinion of this test.