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The detention of a school headmaster after an incident with a top local
official about two weeks ago in Suide County, Shaanxi Province, has sparked
widespread public and media criticism across the country over the abuse of power
by the local administrative authorities.
On December 25, Gao Yong, the headmaster of an occupational school, went to
the office of the county mayor asking him to sign a paper approving funds to the
school for zhuxuejin, or assistance for poor students.
The mayor turned down the request on the grounds that he needed to examine
the paper before signing it, and told the teacher that he was leaving for an
important meeting.
Thinking that officials in charge of education had signed the paper and
that the mayor only needed to approve it, Gao insisted the mayor sign the paper
right there and then.
He held open the door of the mayor's sedan and would not allow him to
leave.
Later the head of the county's bureau of education suspended Gao from his
post and forced him to apologize to the mayor. The chief of the police bureau
ordered that Gao be detained.
After the event was revealed, media directed their criticism at the
officials' abuse of administrative power. They rightfully pointed out that many
local officials still regard themselves as lords, rather than servants of the
public. This mindset of arrogance seems to exist among many officials and is
easy to discern.
Nevertheless, another mentality which appears the opposite, but which is
also common among these officials should not be overlooked. That is, the
servility to the superior.
The punishment of Gao ordered by the chiefs of the education and police
bureaus was undoubtedly unreasonable and illegal. They obviously did so to win
favor of the mayor. All officials who bully their subordinates fawn on their
superiors. If bullying the subordinate is the habitual behavior of a bureaucrat,
toadying to the superior is the most despicable means of climbing up the
official ladder. It helps corrupt the officialdom and in many cases develops
into the direct trade of official posts for money.
In the Suide case, the mayor was reportedly unaware of the decisions of the
two bureau chiefs in advance, though there is suspicion he had given
instructions to them.
Even if they had got some hint from the mayor, they still would not be able
to clear themselves of the infamy of toadying to the superior. And even if they
had been explicitly instructed by the mayor to take moves, they are not
qualified government workers, who should insist on behavior norms of public
servants and reject incorrect orders from the superior.
Unconditionally following orders from leaders at higher levels is common
among officials and there are too few people who dare to argue against their
superior about right and wrong.
Gao, who is also a public servant as a school headmaster, is a rare one of
great courage.
Gao's act of blocking the mayor's way may not be proper behavior, for the
county head may have really needed some time to examine the paper. But his
courage deserves our respect and his concern for the poor students is even more
commendable.
His obstinacy is not without a reason. He wanted to get the assistance for
the students before the end of the year and the money should have been allocated
soon after the semester began in September.
Frankly speaking, if all officials are as brave as Gao in safeguarding the
public's interests, the atmosphere of China's officialdom will be much more
honest.
E-mail: liushinan@chinadaily.com.cn |
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发表于 2016-7-9 23:44:31