China Goes Back to School

1. Set Focus
Pose these essential questions to guide discussion:How much power should a government have? What are signs that a government has too much power?

2. List Vocabulary
Share with students some of the challenging vocabulary words in this article. Encourage them to use context to infer meanings as they read.

• authoritarian
• misgivings
• flouted
• propaganda
• protocols
• vulnerable

3. Engage
Have students imagine that they are on the school board for a school in an area that was recently a Covid-19 hotspot. Ask students to discuss what protocols—if any—they would implement before fully reopening the school.

4. Read 
Have students read the article, marking the text to note key ideas or questions.

5. Discuss
Distribute or project Up Close: China Goes Back to School, a close-reading activity for students to work on in small groups. (Note: The questions also appear below with possible responses.) Follow up with a class discussion. If you’re short on time, have each group tackle one or two of the questions. Collect students’ work or have each group report its findings to the class.

• In the opening section, what does the author emphasize with the use of the word harnessed? How is this a more effective word choice than “used”? (Word choice) 
  (By using the word harnessed, the author emphasizes the control the Chinese government has over its people—much like a farmer has control over the horses or oxen he or she harnesses to pull a cart or plow fields. In this context, the word used is more neutral and would not have conveyed the same sense of control.)

• In the first section, what main point does the author make about China as compared with the U.S.? How does the author build on this idea in the next section? ( Central idea, text structure)
  (In the first section, the author makes the point that the way China is reopening schools could not happen in the U.S. The author builds on this idea in the next section by contrasting what is happening in the U.S., such as each school having to craft its own approach, with how China dictates national rules, such as corralling college students on campus.)  

• The section “A Propaganda Win” includes a quote from a news commentary. What does the quote suggest to you about China’s control over the news agency? ( Make inferences)
  (Students’ assessments of the quote will vary, but students might mention that the quote tells the audience what will happen and what to think rather than reporting facts. Students might also mention that the quote is in line with the president of China’s declaration that China is handling school reopenings correctly. Therefore, the quote seems more like propaganda and suggests that the Chinese government has tight control over the news agency.)

• The author says, “It’s unclear, however, whether the strict measures are sustainable.” What does the author mean? Which details help show why they might not be sustainable?  (Word meaning, problem & solution)
  (The author means that the government’s ability to impose the rules and people’s inclinations to follow them may not last very long. To support this idea, the author includes details about educators being overworked, equipment not working, and students already rebelling against the rules.)   

• At the end of the article, Sofia Tang says, “If we handled this at all like they are handling it overseas, there would be riots.” Based on other quotes in the article, do you agree? Explain. (Make inferences, evaluate sources)
  (Students’ reactions to the quote will vary, but students should cite evidence from the article to illustrate how they formed their ideas. For example, if students disagree with Tang, they might cite the frustration expressed in the quote from Li Mengtian about the strict guidelines teachers must follow or the anger expressed in Pan Sheng’s quote about restricted movement on college campuses.)

• What does the sidebar “The Blame Game” add to the article? (Integrate sources)
  The sidebar summarizes the various ways China and the U.S. have blamed each other for the pandemic. This provides context for the reference to criticism of China for “mishandling of the outbreak” in the section “A Propaganda Win.” The sidebar also helps explain why China has closely reported on U.S. missteps and is claiming superiority in how it has responded to the pandemic.

6. Writing Prompt
China’s leader praises his country’s “socialist system.” Can a nation that is home to hundreds of billionaires be socialist? Research the issue, and write a brief essay stating your opinion.

7. Video
Watch the video about China and the U.S. What does it add to your understanding?

8. Classroom Debate
Should a government prioritize the health of the economy over the health of its citizens?

9. Quiz & Skills
Use the quiz to assess students’ comprehension and Organizing Ideas to review outlining skills.