Devoted headmaster wins praise
Print Edition
iu Zhonghai, headmaster of Qibao High School, is the only person in the Minhang District to be nominated for honors as a “2015 Shanghai Model Worker.”
The nomination drew praise from students, faculty and alumni of the school, where Qiu’s dedication to education is legend.
“He’s the most extraordinary headmaster,” said 30-year-old Amy Chen, a former student of the school. “I still remember him dressed up as Santa to greet us at the school gate on one Christmas Day.”
Qiu has been an educator for more than 40 years and headmaster at three schools.
In 1994, when Qiu came to then 47-year-old Qibao High School, his task was to rejuvenate the institution that was on the skids. The faculty was dispirited. Qiu was hit with several resignation letters soon after he arrived.
“I believed that I could change the situation for the better,” he said. “I believe that if a man does just one thing well in his life, he can be called successful.”
An ancient tree on the school campus became symbolic of Qiu’s commitment to change. The tree was on the verge of dying when Qiu first arrived at the school, and the faculty suggested it be removed.
Qiu disagreed. He had a shelter built around the tree and everyone was asked to nurture it. Three years later, the tree produced new shoots.
In that same three years, the school, too, came alive again.
A new curriculum was designed to allow students to pursue their interests and talents more freely, and a slate of school activities enriched the lives of both students and faculty.
Qiu himself was considered a “weird” headmaster but totally in an awesome ways. Students would not forget him dancing with “Gangnam Style” at the school carnival.
For the past decade, the school, as well as Qiu himself, won countless awards, both municipal and national.
The school came to be considered one of the top schools in Shanghai and Qiu was appraised as one of the best headmasters in the city.
“If a school is like a tree, then the students and teachers are the branches and leaves,” said Qiu. “If you care for them as you would care for a tree, they thrive.”
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
