“There is no way to talk about the Race problem and tell the truth, and make logical suggestions based on the truth, without White People being offended, and without Non-White people being embarrassed.” – Neely Fuller Jr.

I wasn’t sure how to begin this piece on racism in international education, bilingual schools, English training centers, and the likes here in China. But when asked to share my thoughts, I began reflecting on what I’ve witnessed over the past several years.

Let me first define racism so that my audience clearly understands the context and weight of the observations I’m about to share. I’m using Neely Fuller Jr.’s definition, which encapsulates a systemic, global form of racism. He defines racism as:

“One or more white people using deceit, direct violence, or the threat of violence to promote falsehood, non-justice, and/or incorrectness against non-white people on the basis of color, in order to satisfy white people, in every area of people activity – including economics, education, entertainment, labor, law, politics, religion, sex and war.”

This form of racism knows no borders. Its influence travels through people, media, and information, shaping how individuals see themselves and others. It conditions behavior, spreads confusion, and controls perception, and China is no exception.

So, based on that definition, I do not believe the Chinese are racist in the same way. However, what I have observed is that some have adopted the qualities and behaviors modeled by those who historically used racism as a tool of power and control. These learned behaviors – favoring whiteness, excluding others based on skin tone, or internalizing racial hierarchies – cause harm to the greater human community, even if they are not rooted in the same structure of global dominance.

I was shocked the first time I saw job postings that openly stated “White female preferred” or “Only applicants from the U.S., Canada, or U.K. – white applicants only.” These weren’t isolated cases. They circulate frequently in WeChat job groups and read like echoes from 1960s America.

Why do we see these job postings?

Many Chinese parents, often unknowingly, have internalized the idea that “white is right.” That whiteness equals excellence, refinement, and in the case of English education, authenticity. Schools, in turn, feel the pressure to market themselves with this illusion. They staff white foreigners to meet parent expectations, filling brochures, websites, and social media posts with light-colored faces.

But what gets lost in this process? Qualified non-white candidates.

I know of a highly qualified Black educator with years of experience, teaching and leadership certifications, and a record of success in international schools. When a leadership role opened at his school, he wasn’t even granted an interview. Instead, the job was given to a white female with less experience, no leadership background, and no completed certifications at the time.

This wasn’t an exception – it’s part of a pattern.

Now, I’m not saying that all light-skinned educators are unqualified. The point I’m making is that often, qualified Black educators are passed up based on skin color. How often do we see Black professionals in leadership roles in international schools in China? Rarely. So we must ask: Are leadership roles factoring in skin color rather than relying solely on competence? If so, then parents are being sold an image.

This isn’t just about hiring preferences. It’s about systemic exclusion and a lack of representation. When leadership remains overwhelmingly white or Chinese, it reinforces a limited set of perspectives. In some cases, decisions may be shaped less by qualifications and more by racial comfort zones.

If you’ve read my previous work, you know I don’t just talk problems – I propose solutions. Racism, like all social issues, requires collective action from school leaders, teachers, parents, and the community.

Here are a few steps we can take:

1. Host Cultural Awareness and Anti-Bias Workshops
   Help staff, school leaders, and parents understand how racial bias – both conscious and unconscious – shows up in hiring, evaluation, and daily interactions. Challenge the myth that English ability is tied to skin color.
2. Audit Hiring Practices for Equity
   Schools should regularly review their recruitment and promotion processes. Are hiring decisions made based on credentials and performance – or on optics and assumptions? Diverse hiring panels and anonymized CV reviews can help reduce bias.
3. Promote Diverse Role Models in Marketing and Public Events
   Representation matters. Schools must ensure that qualified staff of all racial backgrounds are visible in promotional materials, on stage at events, and in leadership positions. This normalizes diversity and helps shift parent perceptions.
4. Empower BIPOC Educators With Clear Growth Pathways
   Establish mentorship programs, leadership training, and internal pipelines that help talented non-white educators move into leadership roles. Sponsorship, not just mentorship, is key.
5. Create Space for Uncomfortable but Necessary Conversations
   School leaders should facilitate open dialogue on race, equity, and inclusion. These conversations won’t always be easy – but they are essential to building a truly inclusive school culture.

Racism in education will not dissolve through silence or neutrality. It will take courage to name it, address it and actively dismantle its influence.

If schools truly believe in global citizenship, diversity and inclusion, they must first look inward and confront the racial inequities within their own walls.

Check out Malcolm Solomon’s bilingual book Choosing the Best International School for Your Child, where he dives into the world of international education in China and how to find the school that’s the perfect fit for your child.

Images: Malcolm Solomon, Freepik

Are you as curious about who’s shaping the young minds of our kids as we are? We’re sitting down with teachers and staff from Beijing’s vibrant international schools to learn more about their unique stories, experiences, and perspectives. From the challenges of adapting to a new culture to the joys of building connections across borders, these conversations will shine a light on those who make up our education community. Whether you’re part of an international school yourself or simply curious about life in Beijing’s globalized education hubs, join us as we get to know the people behind the classrooms, hallways, and campuses that shape this extraordinary world.

This week’s #BeijingEducators features Dr. Benita Sumita, associate curriculum director at Tsinghua International School (THIS).

I first met Dr. Sumita back in 2017 and was immediately taken by her charisma and the politeness of her young son. Years later, I had the privilege of training her students at the jingkids summer internship. These students were outstanding, and they raved about what an inspiration Dr. Sumita was on campus.

So, who’s this extraordinary woman, and why do we all adore her?

“We moved from the UK to Beijing for work and have been here for 12 years now. My son was born here. I was still completing my PhD in the UK when we moved, and so between that and my son, there wasn’t much time for anything else,” says Dr. Sumita.

Let’s get to know you a bit.

You took a career gap for your Ph.D. and family. Did this period contribute to your professional growth? 

If raising another human doesn’t develop you personally and professionally, then nothing else will. However, I believe that pedagogical acumen is significantly influenced and honed by tacit knowledge and experience, as scholars such as Eraut and Hughes have shown in their research. Theory and training are essential and fundamental, but teachers contextualize these to suit the school culture and ethos, student needs, and other factors. This is what I love about THIS and our teachers because though each teacher has rich proficiency in their pedagogical content knowledge, there isn’t one person who isn’t constantly seeking deeper expertise from colleagues, daily class experience, and through reflection.

How would you integrate your passion for sustainability into a school’s curriculum or culture? 

Sustainability is a necessity, if not a disposition, that each of us must have and/or adopt. The drive to make it part of the school culture started with a project in the International Relations course I was teaching in high school. Groups of students worked on a sustainable development goal (SDG) of their choice for a year. Their research and solution were required to have an impact on the school community. Students also decided how impact and successful impact would be measured. It was encouraging when students in one year were able to convince the school to stop printing report cards and instead send them electronically to parents. Through monitoring the printers on each floor for a year, the students identified a small solution.

Their focused efforts also gained accolades in the 2022 international SDG competition (https://www.globalsocialleaders.com/sustainable-spartans/#next). We also have capstone projects in grades 5 and 8. In consultation with the grade-level teachers, the THIS capstone initiative focuses on sustainability through themes of social responsibility. We also have many student-driven clubs – Roots & Shoots, Sustainability Team, Animal Conservation Team, and more – that work towards creating a sustainable community in small ways. Hopefully, in the long-term, it becomes the norm.

What do you like to do with your family on weekends?

Weekends can get busy with football practice, taekwondo and other interests that my son is into. But we like to try out different cuisines, new restaurants, brunches, and we never miss The Beijinger’s Juicy Burger Fest. So, I guess our weekends get foodie quite often. We also go-kart quite a bit a well.

Let’s talk about your teaching style.

What does being the associate curriculum director at Tsinghua International School mean? What’s an average day like for you?

My role as ACD is defined by the vision of and reports to THIS’ academic principal. It involves meeting with teachers about their curriculum scope and sequence, with department heads about vertical alignment, assessment, rubrics, and all that good stuff. My job is not possible without collaboration with teachers, department heads, and division heads. So, my typical day involves communicating with different people, listening to ideas, reflections, and feedback and then visualizing programmatic options.

As ACD I also lay out plans for weekly professional learning. At THIS, our professional learning includes teacher meeting time, in-house workshop rotations, grade-level pedagogy sessions, and this year, we also introduced continued professional learning that enables teachers to work on their individual goals as decided with their goal coaches.

Your philosophy mentions empowering students to “find their own voice.” How do you implement this in your classes? 

The profession of teaching has been transforming since I was in school, and today, the education discourse is buzzing with the mushrooming of AI threatening the need for a teacher. Doesn’t matter whether it was back in my school days or today, the core essence of the profession is about teaching students to think – not what to think, but how to think. Doesn’t matter which class you walk into at THIS, teachers are guiding students to find their writing voice, reading voice, analytical voice, transformative voice, etc., all of which is rooted in teaching students how to think.

Let me give you an example from my AP Psychology class. When teaching students about how memory impacts behavior and mental processes, I designed an experiment to examine encoding of information and short-term memory that we carried out in class with images for one group vs. descriptions of the images for the other group. Without going into too much detail, students demonstrated recall through a survey to complete the experiment. They were then required to use the data to hypothesize about short-term memory and human behavior. The learning, examining, doing, experiencing, and applying create opportunities for thinking and rethinking, especially when it involves real-time experience and an environment that encourages group discussions. Towards the end of this topic on memory, student groups also designed their own experiment that demonstrated their collaborative thinking voices. I guess John Hattie (2008) says it beautifully when he states, “The more the student becomes the teacher and the more the teacher becomes the learner, then the more successful are the outcomes.”

You’re very involved in your students’ extracurricular curricular. Have there been any extraordinary projects that your students have done that stand out?

I am really proud of THIS’ Model United Nations (MUN) club, especially because it is the students who’ve made it what it is today. We hosted our fifth annual conference in March. The students put in a lot of effort every year, conceptualizing, planning, organizing, and running the conference. The conference planning is ongoing even while the student leaders also run weekly club sessions focused on skills and content training. Sustaining a school club is no easy feat for students, and it is impressive how they collaborate, feed off each other’s energy, and bring out the best in each other.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on these:

If a parent struggles to engage their kids in a required course, what would you recommend? 

A parent’s struggle, most often, comes from the fact that they want the child to perform or engage to a pre-determined level of expectation. I guess what I am trying to say is parents should not have pre-determined expectations. Free of the shackles of expectations, a parent can be a strong enabler for learning at home. I have tried out a few of the strategies below with some success:

1. Establish a study routine at home. Depending on the child’s age, this includes planning with your child the amount of time devoted to studying, reviewing, reading, etc., and the amount of time for breaks. It may be worth considering if your child would like to start with the hardest subject, or a subject they aren’t interested in, and move on to subjects of increasing interest. It goes without saying that the routine must be followed, whether there is homework or not. Homework is not studying.
2. Establish a structure at home. As much as we want our children to have freedom and privacy, as a parent we also want to set them up for success. So, when I first sat with my son and helped him come up with a study routine, he was told that he couldn’t study in his room. He resisted at first, arguing about trust and privacy. I held my ground, saying it was temporary and depended on his work, and thus it was really up to him. Study time began at the dining table; in all honesty, no one was watching him, but he didn’t really know that. Now he studies wherever he wants, but he often chooses to start at the dining table.
3. Establish reinforcements. One of the oldest strategies for learning is conditioning. A reasonable and proportionate reward (time on a device, a favorite snack, etc.) normalizes wanted behavior. Punitive measures may work to a certain extent (revoking device privileges, reduction in monthly allowance, etc.), but older kids manage to identify workarounds. Reinforcements work better because of the rush of dopamine that follows a reward.
4. Model wanted behavior. If the child is working but the parent is on their phone or watching TV, it might not set a good example. Younger children can and like to emulate behavior, and it is important they are offered observational opportunities. While your child works, you can work too. And there is nothing like enjoying a reward together!

Of course, much of this would be more effective the earlier they are established as part of the child’s life.

What’s a good way for parents to encourage young kids to try new extracurriculars that they’ve yet to discover?

If you want your child to try something new, you must be willing to try it with them. As a parent, I also feel it helps children to visualize the activity with videos, perhaps. It is important to give your child time to visually and cognitively get comfortable with the idea before diving into a new activity. My son really avoided participating in overnight activities and camps. Initially, I thought it was about being separated from home, but in talking to him many times over, it was mainly his dislike of using public bathrooms. Changing his view of using public bathrooms over a course of a few years and finding the ideal overnight activity – a sleepover with friends at the Beijing Aquarium – was a small breakthrough. Be patient and take your cues from your child. A word of caution would be not to go after new, up-and-coming extracurriculars just because they are trendy; just follow your child’s interest and passion.

Tsinghua International School Presents The Wizard of Oz

Over the years, we’ve been so impressed by the student-led initiatives of the THIS students. On May 25, there’s a chance for the Beijing community at large to get a glimpse of one of the many spectacular events taking place at THIS.

Join THIS students and school community for a spectacular production of The Wizard of Oz, brought to life by the talented grades 6-12 students. Since January, these dedicated performers have been working hard to create a show filled with singing, dancing, and magic perfect for the whole family. Follow Dorothy and her friends the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion as they journey through the enchanting Land of Oz. With beloved songs like “Over the Rainbow” and “We’re Off To See the Wizard,” this timeless classic is a joyful musical experience you won’t want to miss. Packed with colorful costumes, dazzling sets, and a touch of wizardry, The Wizard of Oz is a heartwarming adventure about friendship, courage and finding your way home. Don’t miss this unforgettable performance!

Performance dates are Fri, May 23, at 6.30pm and Sat, May 24, at 2pm. Scan the QR code below to purchase your tickets.

Find it:
Zhongguancun North Street, Haidian District

Images: Dr. Benita Sumita, THIS

Every year when September rolls around, a conversation starts among the parents – What do we get our kids’ teachers for Teachers’ Day? As always, the usual suspects pop right up – flowers, cards, baked goods – and I launch into my case for a spa voucher because I strongly believe that all teachers will appreciate the me-time luxury.

So to put an end to all the mystery and endless debate, we decided to ask the teachers themselves what they really want for Teachers’ Day!

1. Gift cards & vouchers 

Whether it’s from Starbucks, Wagas, Peach, or Jenny Lou’s, gift cards are such a great generic gift that are always appreciated and classier than cash in hand. By far the most popular is Starbucks, considering that teachers probably form the largest base of coffee addicts since they need all the boost they can get to handle 20 (or more!) of our kids every day. But if you know your teacher is a new parent, grocery store gift cards could be a lifesaver for when they need to stock up on baby supplies! If you want to have fun with it, restaurant vouchers to the latest hot eateries might do the trick too.

2. Plants

Up your flower game with some beautiful, breathing plants that will spruce up a desk at either the classroom or home office of your kids’ teachers. A succulent is our choice, since they are easy, low-maintenance plants that don’t require a lot of sunlight or water. Case in point, my own succulent is still alive after three winters – and I barely touch it beyond watering it when I remember to every couple of weeks or so.

3. Drinks tumbler/bottle

Teachers love their pick-me-up, and they need something to carry it around in. YETI tumblers have gained popularity in recent years, such that copycats are popping up everywhere at places like Pearl Shopping Center. With a great variety of sizes and colors to choose from, you can definitely find one that’s perfect for your kid’s teacher. If those are too plain for you, check out the Beijing and China-themed souvenir mugs from Starbucks that get a new look every year or so. Those are great for these expat teachers who will someday leave and bring those mementos with them.

4. Sweet treats

Chocolates, cookies, muffins, and other delicious baked goods from any respectable bakery are also welcome at the teachers’ desk on Sep 10 every year. Do take care to ask about allergies, or go safe with a mix of flavors and options like vegan, gluten-free, or dairy-free. Knowing how little time (and interest) teachers have to queue up for the delicious offerings of Butterful & Creamorous, this would be a good chance for you to order some for them to try!

5. Computer bag

This takes a little bit of planning ahead because you have to take note of details such as the size of the laptop your kid’s teacher is using to make sure you get the right fit. Practicality is the name of every teacher’s game, but of course, a sleek design is a bonus if you can find one for a reasonable price tag. It’s also fun if you can get it monogrammed with the teacher’s initials!

6. Alcohol 

This might be controversial, but if we’re being honest, teachers start their days with coffee and usually end with something stronger. (Sound familiar, parents?) This was brought up by a surprising number of teachers, who prefer to remain anonymous. If this is something you can relate to, then pick up a bottle of your favorite vino for Teachers’ Day if you know that your kid’s teacher enjoys a little tipple. We suggest heading down to your nearest CHEERS outlet, or check out the CHEERS Summer Fest this weekend for some unique recommendations!

Whatever you do choose to get, most of the teachers we spoke to said they greatly appreciate a handwritten note  or card with the gift. Such heartfelt gestures are, as a VISA ad once said, priceless.

What NOT to get

A delicate Chinese tea cup set might seem like the perfect gift, but many of the globe-trotting expat teachers don’t want to be burdened with breakables while moving. Also, most of the female teachers say they have received way too many scarves already.

For more tips on what to get your kids’ teachers for Teachers Day, check out our former education editor Julie Wolf’s insights here.

Images: Unsplash

Over the next few weeks, we will be profiling several exceptional educators who will be remaining through the 2022-2023 school year. So, have no fear, parents. Your child will be in good educational hands next year!

Chloe Whitehouse is living a life very different life from the one she was born into.

The daughter of a trained nurse and a mechanical engineer for a coal mine, she spent the first part of her life in the small village of Doncaster, England where her entire family still lives no more than 5 min away from one another. Little Chloe was a natural teacher, always helping her friends learn dances and lines for class assemblies and plays. But it wasn’t until she was about to head off to university to study journalism that she found her true calling. She met with her school’s headmaster and a request.

“I asked if I could perhaps deliver a performing arts course to the primary schools in our area and they were very keen, as it would advertise and benefit our secondary school.  Seeing the students enjoy something that I was passionate about, seeing them learn new life skills whilst singing, acting, and dancing, it was an amazing feeling.  I think from that moment I knew that teaching was my future.”

After several years of teaching in England, Whitehouse was ready for a new adventure and when she was offered the opportunity in 2018 to teach drama in Guangzhou she jumped at it.

As hard as it was to say goodbye to her close-knit family, she packed her bags and took up the challenges China offered. In 2020 she came to Beijing as the Drama Teacher For Dulwich College Beijing (DCB). She raves about her students. “They have incredibly creative minds in China but sometimes, creativity and originality can be stifled. Students can copy and recite very well, but due to pressures on passing exams or a fear of failing, students don’t always take risks or think outside the box. Thankfully, education is developing, and especially in the arts, they are encouraged and praised for expressing themselves and experimenting, that’s why I love it.”

Her students aren’t the only thing she loves about Beijing. When asked about the best part of expat life she said “Your friends become your family.  Everyone is far removed from their home network of family and friends and everyone who comes here is in the same boat. I really don’t think I have ever been surrounded by such an inspirational, caring, intelligent, and skilled set of people. My social circle is the best part of being here.”

But just like everyone else in the expat boat Whitehouse has missed countless major life events with the people she loves back in England. Weddings, funerals, births, and a thousand other family events that she won’t be able to relive. With the possibility of another year without the possibility of traveling home for a visit, you have to ask. Why stay?

“Honestly, right now, I think it’s out of sheer stubbornness! …  I would be pretty annoyed with myself if I left China then everything opened up right after! Haha. But aside from that, I have an incredible job, and a great social circle, my fiancé Joel and I are happy and so are our furry boys (cats Kevin and Brian.) I guess right now, we aren’t broken so we don’t need to fix anything quite yet.”

To get to know this young energetic educator a little better we asked a few rapid-fire questions!

What do you order from meituan for Netflix and chill nights?

A lamb curry or pepperoni pizza!  What do I watch? Anything easy and trashy!

Best gift a student ever gave you?

A random message of thanks. A student from six years previous messaged to say they had made it to theater school and thanked me!

The best thing about being a teacher?

The Eureka moments when a kid just gets it!

The worst thing about being a teacher

Lazy students who have so much wasted potential. So frustrating!

What is always in your fridge?

Cheese and wine!

Favorite book?

Matilda by Roald Dahl

If you could have dinner with one historical figure, dead or alive who would it be?

Henry 8^th the English Tudor King.

What would you say to 18-year-old you?

Don’t chase boys. Let them chase you!

When things reopen you are likely to meet Chloe at one of Middle Kingdom Creatives shows or honing her improvisation skills with Beijing Improve. Make sure to say hello!

If you know of an exceptional educator who intends to stay through the next school year please let us know so we can include them in this profile series!

KEEP READING: Jamie Bevan: 30 Years in Education!

Images: Chloe Whitehouse

COVID-19 has parents worried, not about the virus but about quality education. The current containment measures are causing an unprecedented exodus of qualified educators. According to a report from the British Chamber of Commerce in China (BritCham) international schools are expected to see at least a 40 percent turnover rate in teachers. Most of us know at least one, and in many cases, several educators who have either canceled their contracts early or are planning on leaving at the end of this school year, and replenishing the staff in the current climate is a Herculean task.

The people who are leaving have gotten a lot of press lately. But even as they make the difficult decision to do what is best for their families and return to their home countries, many exceptional teachers are making the equally difficult decision to stay. They know full well that it means another year of not seeing family, not traveling, and potentially going into another round of lockdowns. But they are choosing to stay. Over the next few weeks, we will be profiling several exceptional educators who will be remaining through the 2022-2023 school year. So, have no fear, parents. Your child will be in good educational hands next year!

Allow me to introduce you to Jamie Bevan. Bevan is the 4th grade team lead at Beijing International Bilingual Academy (BIBA) and she is definitely a firecracker. This incredible bundle of energy loves to teach writing and drama, and is easily one of the most engaging and charismatic educators I have ever met. That energy and enthusiasm combine with her decades of classroom experience. In fact, she will be spending her 30^th year as an educator right here in a Beijing classroom.

But she didn’t always want to be a teacher. “When I was very young, I always wanted to be a fighter pilot, and then an astronaut, but finding out how much math was involved I went with my second love, teaching,” Bevan tells us. Her educational hero? “I always watched Little House on the Prairie and wanted to be just like Laura Ingalls Wilder.”

Bevan and her husband Jerry, a former police officer and detective now turned educator himself, lived and raised a family in Florida until a fateful night three years ago. “My husband retired from law enforcement and both of our children were grown up and out of the house, so we were eating pizza one night and I mentioned teaching abroad.” And that was it. The couple packed their bags and moved to China less than a year before the pandemic would change Beijing and the rest of the world forever. But rather than head back home when the virus struck, they stayed to teach and remain here with smiles on their faces. “Jerry and I are staying next year because we love the children here and have met many friends through our time at BIBA.”

Bevan told me they love the community here and she raves about the interesting people she meets from all over the world. They also look forward to resuming their traveling once restrictions are lifted. Just for fun, I decided to do a quick-fire Q&A to see what makes her tick.

What do you like to do when you are not in the classroom?

LAUGH!!! I also enjoy theme parks, bike rides, good food, and thrift stores. I love a good bargain.

What do you order from Meituan for Netflix and chill nights?

Pizza: Pie Squared, Tube Station, and Swan!

Best gift a student ever gave you?

A handmade doll, or a half-empty bottle of perfume (it belonged to the student).

The best thing about being a teacher?

THE KIDS. They make me laugh EVERY day and always teach ME something.

The worst thing about being a teacher

“Red tape.” Assessments.

What is always in your fridge?

Butter, water, and wine.

Favorite book?

The Wizard of Oz.

If you could have dinner with one historical figure, dead or alive, who would it be?

Amelia Earhart.

What would you say to 18-year-old you?

Don’t be stupid, but [have]no regrets!

That last answer seems to sum up Bevan’s general life philosophy pretty well. Her “go for it” attitude and love for her students are just a few reasons we are happy to have her as part of Beijing’s community!

If you know of an exceptional educator who intends to stay through the next school year, please let us know so we can include them in this profile series!

Images: Jamie Bevan

KEEP READING: A Uniquely Chinese Card Game To Add To Family Game Nights

China’s foreign teachers are an interesting group. Like so many other expats, their backstories are varied and they almost never intended to end up in Beijing. But there is something about the combination of being an expat and an educator that pushes people to constantly grow and learn. Most of the educators I know in Beijing are fiercely devoted to their classroom, but they also have side passion projects and talents that have nothing to do with school.

Take Adam Taylor and Najma Saib, for example. Both are passionate teachers working at a bilingual kindergarten here in Beijing. Taylor spoke for them both when he said, “Being teachers allows us the opportunity to not only impart knowledge to very young children but also allows the children the chance to engage in an immersive environment with people from different cultures which we believe is important for young minds in aiding with their positive growth and development. What we love the most about educating children is the way it brings out the child in us and being afforded the opportunity to make a difference by inspiring and mentoring.”

After several years of working side by side as colleagues, they became friends while competing for the same promotion. “We won’t say who got the promotion, but it got us talking. We became incredible friends, and that got us to this point today.” Today they are business partners as well as educators. Taylor has a bit of an obsession with candles but discovered that they are made with a lot of toxic chemicals that are bad for kids, pets, and adults. So In 2021, the two friends started trying to figure out how to make clean candles. What began as an attempt to give a unique Christmas gift for friends turned into Tallow Candle Co.

A selection of Tallow Candle Co. candles

It turned out there was a market in Beijing for their 100% soy candles and the unique, nostalgic scents they created. Despite being full-time teachers “we found ourselves making more and more candles on a daily basis as word of mouth got around, which was great but also stressful and tiring.” The weary expat community found their candles comforting, with scents inspired by everything from the smell of baking cookies to cut grass. They have since launched a home, seasonal and cocktail-inspired collection that is resonating.

“The most rewarding thing for us is seeing the joy on faces when people smell our candles and listening to their stories about the nostalgic memories that our scents bring back… it’s a very difficult time for us all [right now], and knowing we can bring so much joy and warmth to people brings huge smiles to our faces. Since we’ve started to join markets, we’ve met many of our customers face to face and created friendships with many of them.”

Taylor and Saib at a market in Beijing

If you can’t make it to the markets they frequent you can contact them directly via WeChat at Adamleightaylor (Adam) or Whaleshark417 (Najma) or join their WeChat group where they post about their newest scent profiles and specials.

KEEP READING: This Year’s JISE Postponed Due to Covid

Images: Adam Taylor and Najma Saib

I love the week before the kids come back to school! It’s a highly energetic, productive, and creative time as we get organized, rethink projects, refine lesson plans, and design our classrooms. 

Being an expat teacher often means we have access to some really fun and interesting local teaching tools, but it can also be difficult to find the more familiar tools and products we loved back in our home country. Many of us used to use trips home to stock up on our favorite art supplies and classroom materials but this year we all need to make do with what we can source locally. Here are a few places to find your favorites right here in Beijing:

Taobao: This one feels obvious, but it can be hard to know where to go and what to type into the search tool to find good quality and decent prices. I polled a few Taobao Queens, and have listed their top shops for specifically hard-to-find items below. 

Item: Classroom Boards
Taobao Store: yueling8

This is where my creative teachers shine! A great bulletin board makes your classroom feel personal and welcoming. This store carries bulletin board paper, cellophane sheets, and borders, among many other classroom supplies that aren’t always easy to find!

Item: Bean Bag Chairs and Reading Cushions
Taobao Store: 虹彩汇生活馆 

I love a book nook. I think encouraging children to view reading as a fun, cozy activity is vital to lifelong learning, so sprucing up a corner of the room with a place to cuddle up in with a book is super important. Bean bag chairs at this shop are as inexpensive as RMB 42, so you won’t mind if you only get a year or two of use out of them.

Item: Story and Picture Books
Taobao Store: 小时光图书店 

Getting good-quality English picture books and early readers for your classroom library can get expensive fast. This particular Taobao store has hundreds of titles, including books by Eric Carle and Dr. Seuss, as well as a good selection of Caldecott Medal winners at reasonable prices.

Teacher’s House Shop: This is a WeChat resource that was recently recommended to me. They have everything from classroom materials to games and books and organizational solutions at reasonable prices. Bonus: The whole site is in English, which makes it easier for those of us still struggling with Mandarin.

Teacher2Teacher: This is an online marketplace for teachers to buy and sell lesson plans and class materials, and it is a rich resource for printables and instructions on making great class activities and decorations.

Website: www.teacher2teacher.education

Buy and Sell Groups: A lot of teachers are moving on and cleaning out their classrooms as well as their homes. Check out any of the second-hand groups in WeChat like live LIGHTER, live BETTER!! or 2nd Hand Beijing Bargains. You never know what might show up!

Back-to-School Swap: You have tons of teacher friends and they have teacher friends too. Set up a coffee date or happy hour where everyone brings their unwanted teaching materials and trades their items. It’s a chance to clean out your class closet, get inspired with new products, and also get in some networking!

KEEP READING: Luxcessaries Every Beijing Teacher Needs!

Images: Unsplash, Taobao, WeChat

Sep 1 is just around the corner, and there are a few things we as teachers can do to make our personal lives a little easier, so our professional lives can be focused on helping the kids we love. I call these things luxcessaries (necessary luxuries), and below are a few of my favorites specific to our fair city.

Get an Ayi: I waited way, way too long to take part in this staple of expat life! I was wracked with guilt, because “I’m a healthy competent adult who can clean up after herself, I shouldn’t pay someone to do it!” But when I have a day filled with crying children separated from their mothers for the first time, ten meetings that could have been an email, parents who ‘’just need me for five minutes,” and a stack of paperwork to complete before the first bell tomorrow, keeping my living space tidy often falls to the bottom of my list of priorities. There is nothing that can compare to walking into a clean home at the end of an exhausting day. Hiring an ayi has been worth every single penny, and I got over the guilt real quick!

Upgrade Your Ziroom-Supplied Bed: A good night’s sleep is vital for a positive day in class, but I find standard beds here to be, well, painful. It’s a personal opinion, but one I know a lot of Westerners share. Treat yo’ self! Spend a few RMB on Taobao and get a mattress topper, some good pillows, and soft sheets. The extra Z’s will be so worth it!

Wine Club: It’s no secret I enjoy a nice glass of wine at the end of the day, and WeChat makes getting one even easier. Join a group like We Heart Wine or Morgan’s Cheese and Wine Group. They post regular specials and curated cases at incredibly reasonable prices, and will deliver them directly to your door!

Remix Your Commute: I bike to work whenever I can, partly to get the endorphin rush from a little morning exercise and partly to try and work off the calories from the aforementioned wine. So I pay for the unlimited Hello Bike app to cut a few minutes off my commute time (check out the how-to here). No matter how you get to work, make it “me time” by downloading some new tunes, a podcast, or a audio book you have been dying to hear. Teachers are nerds at heart, but ironically, the things we love to do like reading and listening to lectures on the history of macramé fall by the wayside during the hectic school year. That hour spent on the bike or the train could end up being your favorite part of the day.

Jiayou Box: OK, this one is super cheesy. At the start of the school year, I make myself a “You can do it!” box. I fill it with little treats, cards, or pictures from old students and positive notes to myself and I hide it in my classroom or office. When I am having one of those days where I feel like I should have gone into something soulless but financially practical like banking or app development, I close my eyes, stick my hand into the box, and randomly grab something out of it. Whatever it is usually makes me smile. My expat twist is I save all the hard-to-get stuff, like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups or Trader Joe’s snacks in the box.

That’s my list! What are your luxcessaries?

Images: Unsplash

KEEP READING: Making Your Temporary House Feel Like a Forever Home on a Budget

China’s Ministry of Education intends to prohibit teacher-student relations in primary and secondary schools.

On Apr 6, the Ministry of Education began to solicit public opinions on the draft of the School Protection Order for Juveniles. The document pointed out that schools should prevent faculty and staff from establishing romantic relationships with underage students and improve regulations on student dormitory safety, surveillance cameras, and other systems, establishing a working mechanism for preventing and reporting sexual assault.

No. 35 of the “Order” clearly states that schools should take necessary measures to prevent and stop faculty and visitors to campus from committing the following behaviors that harm the physical and mental health of students:

1. Having a romantic or sexual relationship with a student;
2. Indecent behaviors such as deliberately touching private body parts of the student;
3. Teasing or sexually suggestive behaviors to students;
4. Showing students’ information, books, movies, pictures, or other materials that contain pornographic or obscene content;
5. Holding obscene and pornographic materials that involve underage children;
6. Other illegal and criminal acts which constitute sexual harassment and sexual assault.

In addition, schools should normalize sexual assault prevention education for students and parents based on students’ physical and mental development.

The current draft of the School Protection Order for Juveniles is a specific implementation of the School Protection part of the Law on Protection of Minors; the latter will be formally implemented on Jun 1 of this year. From a literal point of view, the Order states that “primary and secondary schools prohibit teacher-student relationships” is a step further than the previous “prohibition of improper relationships between primary and secondary school teachers and students”. In addition, Xiong Bingqi, Dean of the 21st Century Education Research Institute, believes that in actual situations, due to the lack of clear definition of improper relationships, if the faculty members involved are young single teachers, it is difficult for the education department and schools to punish them. Usually, the teacher leaves the post instead of being disciplined according to teacher ethics standards. Under the new regulations, such actions will no longer be taken as lightly.

Regulations prohibiting the relationship between teachers and students in primary and secondary schools have long existed in developed countries. The main reason why teacher-student relations are forbidden is that their status is not equal. Teachers can easily use their power to lure and intimidate students to fall in love with them. After being accused of sexual assault, they may use “falling in love” as an excuse for improper relationships.

For years, public opinions have been calling for China to explicitly prohibit teacher-student relationships. Some opponents, however, believe that love is the legal right of every individual.

In China, the age of consent is 14. So for elementary and middle school teachers, if they have sex with a student under the age of 14, they are held criminally liable. If they have a relationship with a student over the age of 14, they will not be held accountable. However, Xiong believes that in order to implement standardized governance in schools, it is necessary to clarify the relationship between rights and responsibilities, and not allowing teacher-student relations is also a necessary standard for teachers’ professional ethics.

Wen Fang, Director of the Beijing Elementary and Secondary School Psychological Counseling Center, pointed out in an interview that the occurrence of teacher-student relationships is often related to the students’ family factors, the campus environment, and the students’ cognitive bias. “Under the influence of emotion, the lives, studies, and careers of students and teachers will be affected, and there are actually many cases of such tragedies,” Wen said. Similarly, in the view of Chu Zhaohui, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Educational Sciences, the existence of teacher-student love makes it difficult for teachers to maintain their own professional responsibilities. “On the basis of establishing a romantic relationship, how can teachers guide students? How will students be judged in the examinations?” Chu points out that the Order mainly supervises teachers’ responsibilities, but from a global perspective, the relations between teachers and students should be the untouchable red line.

According to Chu, the purpose of the Order is to further implement the Law on Protection of Minors, since special problems such as bullying and sexual assault have become more prominent in recent years. “In the past, the protection law for minors was not well implemented, but now it is necessary to pass regulations to make the protection measures more clear and specific.”

Other proposals in The Order include: schools shall not publicly release student test scores and rankings, schools shall not force students to pay fees, and other regulations.

KEEP READING: Homework: What is it Good For? Two Teacher’s Tips to Get It Done Without a Fight

Image: ThePaper.cn, Baidu Image