Guest
Wang Yizhuo
Interview Background
Shanghai Shidai Middle School, a public boarding junior high school, stands at 476 Wuding Road, Jing'an District, Shanghai. From its founding as St. Francis Xavier's College in 1874 to the current municipal model school, in the 150-year-long development, it has distinguished itself in Shanghai's basic education community through diverse achievements and a rich cultural heritage.
Journalist:
Shanghai Shidai Middle School, a public boarding junior high school, stands at 476 Wuding Road, Jing'an District, Shanghai. From its founding as St. Francis Xavier's College in 1874 to the current municipal model school, in the 150-year-long development, it has distinguished itself in Shanghai's basic education community through diverse achievements and a rich cultural heritage. Today, we are joined by Wang Yizhuo, a student from Shanghai Shidai Middle School, to explore this century-old institution. Hello, Wang Yizhuo!
Wang Yizhuo:
Hello, glad to be here. Hello, everyone.
Journalist:
Shanghai Shidai Middle School traces its origins to 1874. It was originally established as St. Francis Xavier's College and underwent multiple relocations and name changes. Since becoming a boarding junior high school in 2001, it has developed a distinctive path through diverse educational practices.
Wang Yizhuo:
Yes. In 1947, the school moved to Fuxufang Lane on Middle Yan'an Road. It adopted its current name, Shanghai Shidai Middle School, in 1950. Three years later, the school split into north and south campuses and became a public institution. In 1966, it relocated to 476 Wuding Road. In 2001, it transitioned into a boarding junior high school.
Journalist:
Over its century-long history, the school has nurtured numerous outstanding individuals.
Wang Yizhuo:
Its alumni include five academicians, like Lin Zonghu, Hong Guofan, and Liu Baicheng; politicians such as Chen De’ming and Yuan Cai; educators such as Yu Lizhong and Yu Guanghong; medical professionals like Zhou Yunzhong and Zhang Yongxin; cultural figures including Wu Yigong and Qu Shijing; and volleyball players like Zhang Zu’en and Zhu Jiaming. These distinguished alumni collectively form the school's "Hall of Talent".
Journalist:
"Authentic education cultivates character through practice." Wang, could you share with us the educational philosophy of your school?
Wang Yizhuo:
Certainly. Guided by the "people-centered, student-focused, and school-based" principle, the school has established a "Three Authenticities" education system: (1) cultivating "authentic individuals" through interpersonal communication and daily teacher-student interactions to foster integrity and moral character; (2) pursuing "authentic knowledge" by encouraging curiosity among students and nurturing a passion for learning through classroom discussions, after-class reading, and independent inquiry; (3) practicing "authentic actions" through social activities and academic competitions to develop students' perseverance and resilience in the face of challenges.
Journalist:
We see many famous quotes along classroom corridors and sculptures in cultural spaces on the campus. These all embody the school's "authentic" culture.
Wang Yizhuo:
Yes. The "Three Authenticities" concept is deeply embedded in both subjects and school-based curricula. It blends historical tradition with contemporary values. For us, this is a solid foundation for lifelong growth.
Journalist:
As a representative boarding school in central urban areas, Shanghai Shidai Middle School adopts the philosophy of "Quality, Image, Brand, and Holistic Development". It has created distinctive development models through coordinated efforts in moral education, curriculum, faculty development, and technology. Wang, could you elaborate on this?
Wang Yizhuo:
My pleasure. For moral education and innovation, the school has established a model that involves self-management, self-directed learning, self-organized activities, self-evaluation, and self-supervision to develop life skills, learning abilities, practical skills, innovative capabilities, and collaborative competence. This is called “Five-Self & Five-Skill Mode”. Through curriculum and practical activities, the school fosters a growth environment of solidarity, progress, and self-development.
Journalist:
What distinctive models does your school employ in teaching?
Wang Yizhuo:
In curriculum reform, the school takes the principle of "seek authenticity, excel in practice" and has developed an "SD3+1" framework (core subjects plus a specialized course on technology, humanities, or arts). It provides tiered education to meet diverse needs and develops practical courses to expand pathways for competency development. In faculty development, the school prioritizes "ethics first, competence foremost", fostering teacher teams with both educational passion and innovative capabilities through school-based research that integrates teaching and scholarship. For technology empowerment, the school deepens the fusion of IT with education by developing a digital course resource library and smart classrooms and upgrading digital platforms for showcasing campus cultural activities. Shidai aims to reinforce its educational approach of "technology-driven, balanced with the humanities".
Journalist:
Thanks for sharing. Shanghai Shidai Middle School is rooted in history and advances toward the future. With a century of heritage as its foundation and "authentic" education as its core, the school continuously explores innovative approaches to basic education at the intersection of tradition and modernity. For Jing'an students, this is more than a school preserving historical memories—it is a fertile ground where lives flourish. Thank you, Wang Yizhuo.
Wang Yizhuo:
Thank you, everyone! Thank you!