Let students find their own stars

A video clip went viral on social networking sites two days ago showing a primary schoolteacher guiding her classroom to dance and say in unison: "You are so good, Xiao Zhan, we like you! Come on!"

The Xiao they named is an emerging pop star in China. The incident was traced to a school in Suqian, Jiangsu province, and the local education bureau suspended the teacher, while also considering disciplinary action against her.

As an adult, the teacher can, by all means, have an idol and express her support for him whichever way she likes, but she cannot thrust it on her students.

Also, it is purely up to the students whether or not they want an idol. A teacher influencing their decision could negatively impact their future decision-making skills.

Besides, primary education being compulsory, it entrusts the teacher with some authority over the students. So, her asking her students to follow her idol amounts to an abuse of that power.

Influencing students this way can also prove detrimental for her idol, who might be seen as exploiting public resources for his personal gain.

Which would be unfair to Xiao, who himself took to the micro blog urging everybody to follow regulations and be rational while supporting him, but putting their jobs above everything else. He has said that many times in the past too.

That does not mean teachers cannot tell children about entertainment stars, who too are doing a job like many others in society, and can be a role model for the students when they have to choose a career in the future.

All's well, so long as the teachers do not force their students to adore their idols, and instead let them to choose for themselves who they should like, if at all.