- China Pictorial 1966.6, p.26

The main purpose of school education in China is to train children to become socialist-minded, educated labourers, well developed morally, intellectually and physically. Following Chairman Mao's teachings, the Tungmenli Primary School in Tientsin helps the youngsters cultivate the revolutionary ideals and feelings of workers and peasants. Through actual participation and struggle, they learn how to fight for the socialist revolution and construction. The school's Young Pioneer organization has been encouraged to play a special role in communist education.

Since 1958, it has been the practice to give the pupils light jobs in factories and the countryside at fixed intervals. Those in the third form and up, work from one to three hours a week in any one of the five neighbouring factories. In spring and summer vacations, those in the fifth and sixth forms go to the city's outskirts to work on farms. In addition, once a week, the pupils do odd jobs at bus terminals, vegetable markets, libraries and parks. Through these activities, they learn to work; but more important, they are influenced by the ideas of the working class and the former poor and lower middle peasants. They learn to love labour and grow fond of the labouring people.

Early this year, when the Provincial Congress of Former Poor and Lower Middle Peasants of Hopei was in session, the children wrote 200 letters of congratulation to the representatives. The school's art group performed for them in their hotel. Last summer, pupils on their own initiative served tea to some road repairers whom they saw working in the hot sun.

Great emphasis is placed on seeking help outside the school. Veteran Party members, workers, outstanding members of the Communist Youth League, fighters of the People's Liberation Army, people's policemen and activists in neighbourhood committees are invited to serve as counsellors to the Young Pioneers. They willingly take it on as a bounden duty. They tell about their own personal experiences and those of advanced figures, and in this way, they train the younger generation in class struggle and revolutionary traditions.

Ching Hsien-chou, vice-chairman of the cadres' welfare committee of the municipal Party committee of Tientsin, has been in the Party for 44 years. At 80, he works as chief counsellor of the Young Pioneers in the school. He comes to visit on national festivals and encourages the youngsters to follow Chairman Mao's teachings, to study hard, to go on making steady progress and to be worthy successors to the cause of the proletariat. The Young Pioneers often visit Grandpa Ching, and listen with rapt attention to his accounts of past revolutionary struggles. His perseverance in study at such an advanced age spurs them on and they feet they "must study hard for the revolution as Grandpa Chin does."

The Young Pioneers run a broadcast, a blackboard news and a newspaper" to report what is happening at home and abroad. They are organized to see exhibitions, films, plays and operas which reflect the revolutionary struggle of the people of the world. Through these activities, their vision is no longer limited to classrooms, teachers, class-mates and text-books. They think of the interests of society as a whole-of workers, peasants and production. They follow closely events at home and the revolutionary movements of the oppressed people throughout the world. When the U.S. imperialists expanded the war of aggression in Vietnam, they-wrote letters to young Vietnamese friends expressing their support, and staged performances in factories, parks and on street corners dramatizing activites which aid Vietnam and resist U.S. aggression.

Hobby groups have been organized for recreation, sports, science and technology. The Tungmenli girls' table-tennis team has won the team events title in the Tientsin inter-school championships many times.

Altogether 434 family members have been invited to act as tutors to help the 1,842 pupils do their home work in study groups and to supervise their extra-curricular activities.

Outstanding success has been achieved, as can be seen in the overall improvement in study and behaviour. A younger generation is growing up vigorous and healthy both in mind and body.