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

Junjun CHEN, Christopher W. DAY

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapters

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

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.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe work and lives of teachers in China
EditorsQing GU
Place of PublicationNew York
PublisherRoutledge
Pages3-21
ISBN (Electronic)9781315814292
ISBN (Print)9780415844130
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015

Citation

Chen, J., & Day, C. (2015). Tensions and dilemmas for Chinese teachers in responding to system wide change: New ideas, old models. In Q. Gu (Ed.), The work and lives of teachers in China (pp. 3-21). New York: Routledge.

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Tensions and dilemmas for Chinese teachers in responding to system wide change: New ideas, old models'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.