Eastern Schools

During spring break, while every other professor and administrator was apparently in Florida or the Bahamas - anywhere but Hanover during mud season - History Professor John S. Major was touring the People's Republic of China with 15 students.

The focus of the trip was on education in China, and while in Canton, Shanghai, Soochow, and Peking, the group visited educational institutions from kindergarten to the university level. Major said he was surprised by the relative political liberalization since the death of Chairman Mao and the downfall of the Gang of Four. He noticed in the schools "a swing back away from the previous heavy emphasis on ideology toward a more standard curriculum." An invitation to visit Dartmouth was extended to students and professors, and letters from President Kemeny were delivered to university officials.

A visit to a Shanghai dockyard and a "long and extensive political discussion with dockworkers" was the high point of the trip, Major reported. He added that life in China "wasn't too different from my expectations. I was able to confirm things I've read about. It does seem to be a rather poor country, but also one where there is a good deal of equality and justice."