China teacher panned for ‘classism’ quiz ranking family status from ‘indecent’ to ‘better’
Social standing questionnaire for secondary school students posed by intern educator sparks mainland social media storm
An intern teacher at a Shanghai secondary school has come under fire for asking students to answer a questionnaire that ranks their family’s financial status.
A photo circulating online shows a question that suggests the students at Shanghai Longming Secondary School to assess their family’s social ranks.
The question, which is accompanied with a graphic of a ladder, asks them to choose from one, which stands for “the most indecent and lowest-paid jobs” that their parents have, to 10, which represents “higher-level education and better jobs”.
Social media was baffled by the question.
One online observer asked: “Why does the school need to investigate a student’s family status? To treat them accordingly?”
On November 6, the Minhang district Education Bureau in charge of the school issued a statement which said that the questionnaire was distributed by a university student intern without getting the school’s permission.
