Guest
Shanghai Shixi High School
Interview Background
Shanghai Shixi High School stands as an institution that embodies modern Chinese educational history. Shixi boasts the honors of National Civilized Campus and winner of first prize in the National Teaching Achievement Award, which, among other advantages, makes it a beacon of Shanghai-style education.
Journalist:
Shanghai Shixi High School stands as an institution that embodies modern Chinese educational history. Shixi boasts the honors of National Civilized Campus and winner of first prize in the National Teaching Achievement Award, which, among other advantages, makes it a beacon of Shanghai-style education. Today, we are joined by Tang Zixuan, a student from Shanghai Shixi High School, to explore the cultural heritage of this century-old institution. Hello, Tang Zixuan!
Tang Zixuan:
Hello, glad to be here. Hello, everyone.
Journalist:
Tang, this building seems to have a long history. Could you tell us about it?
Tang Zixuan:
Certainly. This is the Chuanjia Building, constructed in 1925. It bears an educational motto on it: "Diligence in Learning, Commitment in Practice" by our first principal, Zhao Chuanjia. This is a century-old building, and we still feel that it resonates with the educational philosophy of "Unity of Knowledge and Action". In our school emblem, we see the "SSX" motif, which serves as both a pinyin abbreviation and a visual embodiment of educational ideals. For the pattern part, the dancing flame in it represents teachers' passion, the budding sapling signifies students' growth, and the soaring seagull embodies their patriotic aspirations.
Journalist:
Thanks. I heard that there is also a place, called the Square of Thinking, that is distinct from regular classrooms.
Tang Zixuan:
Yes. The Square of Thinking is a collaborative initiative launched by the Chinese, English, Politics, and History teaching and research groups. Each week, students gather here for interdisciplinary discussions, exploring topics ranging from current affairs to academic themes. They engage in social debates, explore classical texts, exchange diverse perspectives, and develop conceptual models. This is a convergence of humanities perspectives, and it sharpens students' critical thinking. Because of such activities, kids are more willing to express themselves.
Journalist:
It seems the Square of Thinking particularly appeals to liberal arts students.
Tang Zixuan:
Indeed. Science-oriented students also have their dedicated learning space. The Mansi Lab serves as a workshop for scientific reasoning. There is plenty of laboratory equipment here so students can conduct physical, chemical, and biological experiments and also observe geographical patterns in models. In Shixi, we admire the approach of "goal-oriented learning, independent study, collaborative discussion, and critical thinking", and in such a way, science education here transforms from passive listening in the past to active exploration. Knowledge is going to take root in students’ minds through practice.
Journalist:
That is so impressive.
Tang Zixuan:
Additionally, the school collaborates closely with universities and research institutes to establish eight specialized laboratories spanning space science, environmental science, life sciences, chemistry, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, humanities, and mathematics. These partnerships yield distinctive courses and activities. From robotics programming to AI algorithms, and from genetic exploration to classical text studies, students discover their unique academic passions here.
Journalist:
Now, let's step outside to uncover what the "energy formula" is on the playground.
Tang Zixuan:
Here, students choose their workout schedules and turn exercise into a habit. Shixi hosts basketball leagues and sports festivals for kids. The rising physical fitness scores reflect what Shixi’s education philosophy values, that is, "mind-body-personality". This track is mainly used to measure girls' 800-meter and boys' 1,000-meter runs, and beyond that, it is a part of building the foundation for lifelong fitness.
Journalist:
Thanks for your introduction. The motto "Diligence in Learning, Commitment in Practice" endures. A hundred years ago, Mr. Zhao Chuanjia rebuilt Shixi amid the ruins of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Today, teachers and students make innovations in the AI Laboratory. History lives on as each generation of the Shixi community passes the torch of education. Thank you, Tang.
Tang Zixuan:
My pleasure! Goodbye!