The composition of some sixth-graders in a primary school in Xiangyang, Hubei province, saying their ambitions are to become billionaires or senior officials and have their own mansions and cars, have left their teacher rather worried. This shows that compared with students of the previous generations, today's schoolchildren have more materialistic dreams, says an article on cnhubei.com. Excerpts:

The Xiangyang primary school teacher, according to media reports, has said that lessons in the Chinese textbook are mostly about the heroic deeds of some historical characters and are aimed at instilling positive energy among students. It is thus hoped that students would learn from the examples of historical figures and shape their dreams likewise - lofty ideals that's what their dreams should be made of.

Therefore, if a student dreams of becoming super rich, he/she will neither be honoring the spirit of history and heroic figures nor will he/she be able to develop and follow the right values.

But some other teachers have tended do disagree. They say that it is not a good idea to rubbish the dream of a school boy to become super rich, because many rich people have made great contributions to society. There is nothing wrong in being rich or trying to become rich. What matters is how much he/she contributes to society. Also, teachers should pay equal attention to students' lofty ideals and materialistic dreams.

The family and social climate that a child grows up in have the greatest influence on its ambitions and aspirations, and the way it thinks. Many people regard success to be synonymous with money and power. Some parents even plant in their children's mind the idea that by studying hard they could make big money, which sometimes conveys the wrong message.

Apart from hoping that people across the spectrum of society join hands to build a healthy and upright social climate, teachers and parents should start from minor matters to properly guide students and teach them to stand on solid ground rather than seek too much material enjoyment.

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(China Daily 04/16/2014 page9)