Tensions and dilemmas for Chinese teachers in responding to system wide change: New ideas, old models

This chapter discusses what teachers' personal and professional lives look like against the background of the current contradictory, uncertain and rapid educational changes in China. Before examining the impacts of these changes on Chinese teachers' work and lives, it is necessary to understand the major features of the management of Chinese educational reforms. Moreover, the continued use of these change models create tensions and dilemmas in teachers' lives, pose threats to teachers' professional practice, identities and their sense of professionalism and risk the loss of their commitment. In the chapter, we take as an example the current government policy to make education more student-centered and classroom teaching more creative. In conclusion, the chapter has investigated the contexts for, management and impacts of educational reform changes on school teachers' identities, practices and sense of professionalism with a focus on decentralization, the Teacher Act, Regulation of Teacher Qualification, and Curriculum Reform. Copyright © 2015 Q. Gu.