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denigration of intellectuals and intellectual achievement. Although Mao himself was reasonably learned in his own culture he was throughout his life distrustful of scientists and other intellectuals, particularly those trained in the West. He believed that they would constantly turn to capitalism. During the Cultural Revolution he countenanced their disgrace and humiliation. When the People's Daily said in January 1976 that "the majority of intellectuals are basically bourgeois in world outlook" it was reflecting the views of Mao. Their place in society was expressed in the name given to them of "old ninth " (often "stinking old ninth ") a term of opprobrium which put them only just outside the category of the eight "bad elements" in society.
9. The reconciliation with the intellectuals has begun with an acknowledg- ment that they have been wearied and dispirited by the treatment they have received. A diversity of measures have been taken to start the restoration of their morale. Scientists and professional men have now been given a new respect. Academic titles such as Professor and Academician have been restored. In factories formal appointments as "chief engineer" and "engineer" are being made once again. Those exiled earlier to demeaning posts are being recalled to posts with professional responsibilities. Overseas Chinese with
Overseas Chinese with scientific and technical qualifications are being encouraged to return to China in a manner reminiscent of the early days of the régime. It is freely admitted that the level of Chinese science and technology is, with a few exceptions even further behind Western science and technology than it was 10 years ago. A massive effort will be required to catch up, and for this purpose" intellectuals are part of the revolutionary force says the People's Daily in December 1977, and "to be a proletarian intellectual is not an unattainable goal". To study techniques for the sake of the revolution is now deemed to be " a sure indication of the effort to become red and expert ".
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10. Changes in education policy strongly reflect the reformist spirit. Mao is reported to have said that "The more books you read the more foolish you become ", even though he had read quite a few himself. In the same line of thought the 17 years of orthodox educational policy before the launching of the Cultural Revolution were said to have been dominated by the "black line" of Liu Shao-chi, the former Head of State who was disgraced during that revolution. In consequence, for the last decade before Mao's death, students spent a con- siderable part of their time engaged in manual labour which was treated with mystic reverence. Today the stress is on reading books and classroom study. Manual labour at universities has been greatly reduced and examinations have regained their pre-1966 importance. Soon after the Cultural Revolution a student gained fame, and "helicopter promotion to an official position, by handing in a blank answer paper as a protest against a test which required some knowledge of the subject. He was one of the first victims of the purge of the " Gang of Four ". In 1973 a middle school student who could not answer the questions in her English paper wrote "I am a Chinese, why should I learn a foreign language?" She was failed, criticised with a severity still now judged excessive and committed suicide. A national Press campaign made a martyr of her while her teacher and an administrator in her school were imprisoned for two years. Now the line is that the unfortunate girl was not the victim of her teacher but of the “notorious Gang" who discouraged study, diminished the authority of teachers and scorned examinations. The teacher and administrator have been restored to their former posts. This decision is part of the drive to restore authority to teachers. Moreover hard-working, intelligent children can once again hope to win direct entry to university from middle school without spending two years on manual labour in the countryside. The "new born things" which had issued from the Cultural
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