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.
(China Daily January 9, 2008)