Fan Meizhong, who "instantly became famous" during the Wenchuan earthquake, initially caused an uproar with his behavior. Many people criticized him verbally and in writing, believing that he had abandoned his duty as a teacher.
Time flies, fifteen years have passed, but Fan Meizhong's life trajectory has undergone unexpected changes.
So, what happened to Fan Meizhong? How did he counterattack in the whirlpool of public opinion and become a winner in life? What unknown stories are hidden behind all this?
A "rebel" who emerged from adversity
In 1972, Fan Meizhong was such a child who seemed destined to be abandoned by fate. However, his life bloomed with a different brilliance because of repeated resistance and challenges.
In Fan Meizhong’s childhood memories, home was a place full of fear and insecurity. My father often stayed away from home for five days and five nights, gambling at the card table for five days and five nights, while my mother silently endured the burden of the family and her husband's violence every day.
Whenever his father punched him, other children in the family could only cry silently on the sidelines, but Fan Meizhong chose to stand up and accuse his father in a childish voice. Although his resistance didn't change anything, at least he tried and struggled.
Such a family environment made Fan Meizhong eager to escape and explore the outside world. As a result, the railway side became a place where he often stayed in a daze.
Looking at the speeding train, his thoughts drifted into the distance. "What is the outside world like? I must go and see it." This idea took root in his heart.
In order to realize this dream, Fan Meizhong can only rely on his own efforts. He studied hard and his grades were always far ahead.
's excellence continued until the college entrance examination, and he was eventually admitted to the History Department of Peking University. This was a major turning point in his life and the beginning of his escape from adversity.
After entering college, Fan Meizhong did not relax his demands on himself because of changes in the environment. He continued to maintain the habit of studying hard, and at the same time began to pay attention to social practical issues. His thoughts gradually matured and his understanding of life became deeper.
From an “angry young man” at Peking University to a “lone ranger” in the education world
This atypical academic from the History Department of Peking University has demonstrated his unique “rebellious” temperament from the first day he enrolled.
While the freshmen obediently participated in military training and endured the constraints of semi-military management, Fan Meizhong scorned the school's ban. Playing cards and other entertainment products have never disappeared in his world.
During his four years in college, Fan Meizhong’s attitude towards learning can be described as cynical. Not only was he uninterested in his studies, he even lacked basic respect for his teachers.
In class, he openly ridiculed the teacher, which caused many professors to have headaches for him. But Fan Meizhong didn't care about these. He was immersed in his own world and read a lot of books, especially the works of the Western liberal school.
Fan Meizhong, who was deeply influenced by Western thought, wrote the article "Comments on the Masters of the History Department of Peking University". This article was like a shock bomb, causing an uproar in the school.
He criticized the school's history teachers mercilessly, and came to the conclusion that "it is not taboo for the venerable". This spirit of outspokenness and daring to challenge authority made Fan Meizhong famous at Peking University.
After graduation, Fan Meizhong became a history teacher. He did not choose to take the traditional path of teaching and educating people. On the contrary, he prefers to instill in his students the Western values that he has been exposed to and his extreme ideas about Chinese education. This unique teaching model of
quickly caused dissatisfaction among parents and children. They complained to the principal that Fan Meizhong's teaching methods were too radical and did not meet the requirements of the syllabus. After listening to the opinions of parents, the principal
decided to attend Fan Meizhong's class in person. As a result, Fan Meizhong still went his own way in class and did not teach knowledge according to the syllabus. This made the principal feel very disappointed and helpless.
In the end, the school had to fire Fan Meizhong, a maverick teacher. However, Fan Meizhong was not discouraged. He firmly believed that "If you don't leave me here, I will leave you."
Fan Meizhong, who "instantly became famous" during the Wenchuan earthquake, initially caused an uproar with his behavior. Many people criticized him verbally and in writing, believing that he had abandoned his duty as a teacher.
Time flies, fifteen years have passed, but Fan Meizhong's life trajectory has undergone unexpected changes.
So, what happened to Fan Meizhong? How did he counterattack in the whirlpool of public opinion and become a winner in life? What unknown stories are hidden behind all this?
A "rebel" who emerged from adversity
In 1972, Fan Meizhong was such a child who seemed destined to be abandoned by fate. However, his life bloomed with a different brilliance because of repeated resistance and challenges.
In Fan Meizhong’s childhood memories, home was a place full of fear and insecurity. My father often stayed away from home for five days and five nights, gambling at the card table for five days and five nights, while my mother silently endured the burden of the family and her husband's violence every day.
Whenever his father punched him, other children in the family could only cry silently on the sidelines, but Fan Meizhong chose to stand up and accuse his father in a childish voice. Although his resistance didn't change anything, at least he tried and struggled.
Such a family environment made Fan Meizhong eager to escape and explore the outside world. As a result, the railway side became a place where he often stayed in a daze.
Looking at the speeding train, his thoughts drifted into the distance. "What is the outside world like? I must go and see it." This idea took root in his heart.
In order to realize this dream, Fan Meizhong can only rely on his own efforts. He studied hard and his grades were always far ahead.
's excellence continued until the college entrance examination, and he was eventually admitted to the History Department of Peking University. This was a major turning point in his life and the beginning of his escape from adversity.
After entering college, Fan Meizhong did not relax his demands on himself because of changes in the environment. He continued to maintain the habit of studying hard, and at the same time began to pay attention to social practical issues. His thoughts gradually matured and his understanding of life became deeper.
From an “angry young man” at Peking University to a “lone ranger” in the education world
This atypical academic from the History Department of Peking University has demonstrated his unique “rebellious” temperament from the first day he enrolled.
While the freshmen obediently participated in military training and endured the constraints of semi-military management, Fan Meizhong scorned the school's ban. Playing cards and other entertainment products have never disappeared in his world.
During his four years in college, Fan Meizhong’s attitude towards learning can be described as cynical. Not only was he uninterested in his studies, he even lacked basic respect for his teachers.
In class, he openly ridiculed the teacher, which caused many professors to have headaches for him. But Fan Meizhong didn't care about these. He was immersed in his own world and read a lot of books, especially the works of the Western liberal school.
Fan Meizhong, who was deeply influenced by Western thought, wrote the article "Comments on the Masters of the History Department of Peking University". This article was like a shock bomb, causing an uproar in the school.
He criticized the school's history teachers mercilessly, and came to the conclusion that "it is not taboo for the venerable". This spirit of outspokenness and daring to challenge authority made Fan Meizhong famous at Peking University.
After graduation, Fan Meizhong became a history teacher. He did not choose to take the traditional path of teaching and educating people. On the contrary, he prefers to instill in his students the Western values that he has been exposed to and his extreme ideas about Chinese education. This unique teaching model of
quickly caused dissatisfaction among parents and children. They complained to the principal that Fan Meizhong's teaching methods were too radical and did not meet the requirements of the syllabus. After listening to the opinions of parents, the principal
decided to attend Fan Meizhong's class in person. As a result, Fan Meizhong still went his own way in class and did not teach knowledge according to the syllabus. This made the principal feel very disappointed and helpless.
In the end, the school had to fire Fan Meizhong, a maverick teacher. However, Fan Meizhong was not discouraged. He firmly believed that "If you don't leave me here, I will leave you."
So he continued to teach in other middle schools, trying to find schools and students who could accept him. But unfortunately, his personality and teaching methods are difficult to be accepted by mainstream education, and he faces frequent dismissal.
The legend from "wandering teacher" to "free lecture hall"
But before 2005, he was more like a "wanderer" wandering around in the education world. I changed to seven schools in eight years, but each time I couldn't stay for long. Until that year, Dujiangyan Guangya Middle School extended an olive branch to him.
For Fan Meizhong, Guangya Middle School is not just a school, but also a land of free education. This private, international middle school has a unique teaching philosophy - as long as students earn enough credits, their dream of going to a foreign university will be within their reach.
Here, teachers are no longer constrained by the syllabus. The course content is like a piece of uncarved jade, waiting for teachers to carve it into a finished product.
Fan Meizhong seized this opportunity and fully demonstrated the free teaching atmosphere. His class seemed to be a feast of knowledge, and students could come and go as they pleased.
This unprecedented free atmosphere coupled with Fan Meizhong's profound knowledge and extraordinary charm of conversation made his courses quickly popular among students.
Three years have passed by in a blink of an eye. Fan Meizhong has not only gained academic recognition, but also gained a happy family life. However, just when everything seemed to be going smoothly, fate played a trick on him.
On the peaceful afternoon of May 12, 2008, a sudden earthquake broke the tranquility of the campus. Fan Meizhong was teaching students at the time. When the ground began to shake violently, he instantly realized the danger.
Almost subconsciously, he chose to rush out of the classroom and run to the playground. At that moment, his figure became the first ray of hope in the school to escape the disaster.
Fan Meizhong’s move quickly aroused widespread attention and controversy. Some praised his acumen and decisiveness, while others questioned his choices and sense of responsibility. But no matter what, Fan Meizhong has become a presence that cannot be ignored.
The crisis instinct and public opinion storm of "Fan Paopao"
When the shaking of the earthquake swept across, the teaching building of Dujiangyan Guangya Middle School seemed to be crumbling. The students were panicked, but Fan Meizhong, this maverick teacher, did what he did at this moment He made an unexpected decision - he chose to escape alone.
At that moment, Fan Meizhong's figure rushed past in the corridor, leaving a look of astonishment. His students hurriedly got off the stairs under the guidance of other class teachers. They took refuge in the building, and their hearts were undoubtedly frosted by the teacher's behavior of taking refuge alone.
Fan Meizhong's move soon triggered a strong response from all walks of life. Accusations and criticisms came like a flood, His behavior was criticized verbally and written, and he was even labeled a "coward". Faced with all this, Fan Meizhong did not choose to remain silent.
Ten days later, he published an article on the Internet titled "The Earth Shakes at That Moment" article to defend his behavior.
In the article, he emphasized his strong sense of crisis and said that escaping alone was an instinctive reaction. He even admitted that at the moment of life and death decisions, he might only consider his daughter. Even the mother may not take it into consideration.
These remarks undoubtedly dropped a bombshell in the already boiling public opinion field. The media and professional commentators have commented on the incident. Fan Meizhong’s name is the same as "Fan Pao" "Run" is closely connected with the title and has become the target of public criticism.
In this storm of public opinion, Fan Meizhong seems to be unscathed. He insists on his own values and does not think he has done anything wrong. Even after the state intervened, he still did not change own position.
Transformation from "escaped teacher" to leader in the education and training industry
When the earthquake in 2008 pushed Fan Meizhong to the forefront, he may not have thought that his life would undergo earth-shaking changes.
At that moment , he chose to escape from the classroom alone, a move that triggered overwhelming accusations and abuse.An order from the education department seemed to bring an end to his teaching career.
Life is always full of drama. Although he lost his teaching qualification, Fan Meizhong did not leave the podium. His school still recognized his teaching ability and allowed him to continue teaching at the school, but announced that he had been fired.
This secret balance lasted for several years until Fan Meizhong decided to quit his job as a history teacher for a better livelihood.
He jointly founded a teaching and training institution with his friends to put his teaching philosophy into practice. This time, he is no longer constrained by the system and can fully display his talents. The operation of
institution is gradually getting on the right track, attracting more and more students. Fan Meizhong's income level also increased accordingly, and the two bedrooms and one living room in his home were replaced by a spacious four bedrooms and two living rooms.
In his spare time, he takes his wife and daughter on trips to enjoy the warmth and happiness of family. Those who had criticized him began to see subtle changes in their attitudes when they saw his transformation and success.
They began to admit that although Fan Meizhong may not be a noble person or even worthy of being a teacher, as a man, he has won life.
Faced with the turmoil of public opinion, Fan Meizhong chose to seek inner peace by reading "Zhuangzi". He found comfort and enlightenment from Zhuangzi's philosophy, and gradually emerged from the whirlpool of pain. He began to reflect on his past and think about how to better face the future.
Deserter or mortal?
In all walks of life, professional ethics is like an invisible shackles, binding everyone's self. But at the moment of life and death, this shackles seems to become fragile.
Fan Meizhong, as a teacher, his escape behavior undoubtedly offended this sensitive nerve. He abandoned the students and chose to escape alone. This is a loss of professional ethics and extremely irresponsible to the students.
The level of teaching does not completely define the quality of a teacher. Fan Meizhong may have made an unprofessional choice at that moment, but can we deny everything about him?
Human nature is complex, and survival is instinct. We have no right to criticize others too much from the moral high ground.
After all, in a critical moment, everyone's reaction is unpredictable. Fan Meizhong's choice may just expose the truest and most fragile side of human nature.
An order from the education department seemed to bring an end to his teaching career.Life is always full of drama. Although he lost his teaching qualification, Fan Meizhong did not leave the podium. His school still recognized his teaching ability and allowed him to continue teaching at the school, but announced that he had been fired.
This secret balance lasted for several years until Fan Meizhong decided to quit his job as a history teacher for a better livelihood.
He jointly founded a teaching and training institution with his friends to put his teaching philosophy into practice. This time, he is no longer constrained by the system and can fully display his talents. The operation of
institution is gradually getting on the right track, attracting more and more students. Fan Meizhong's income level also increased accordingly, and the two bedrooms and one living room in his home were replaced by a spacious four bedrooms and two living rooms.
In his spare time, he takes his wife and daughter on trips to enjoy the warmth and happiness of family. Those who had criticized him began to see subtle changes in their attitudes when they saw his transformation and success.
They began to admit that although Fan Meizhong may not be a noble person or even worthy of being a teacher, as a man, he has won life.
Faced with the turmoil of public opinion, Fan Meizhong chose to seek inner peace by reading "Zhuangzi". He found comfort and enlightenment from Zhuangzi's philosophy, and gradually emerged from the whirlpool of pain. He began to reflect on his past and think about how to better face the future.
Deserter or mortal?
In all walks of life, professional ethics is like an invisible shackles, binding everyone's self. But at the moment of life and death, this shackles seems to become fragile.
Fan Meizhong, as a teacher, his escape behavior undoubtedly offended this sensitive nerve. He abandoned the students and chose to escape alone. This is a loss of professional ethics and extremely irresponsible to the students.
The level of teaching does not completely define the quality of a teacher. Fan Meizhong may have made an unprofessional choice at that moment, but can we deny everything about him?
Human nature is complex, and survival is instinct. We have no right to criticize others too much from the moral high ground.
After all, in a critical moment, everyone's reaction is unpredictable. Fan Meizhong's choice may just expose the truest and most fragile side of human nature.
