Lai Chunyi, a primary school teacher in Guangzhou's Tianhe district, has been put in a rather embarrassing situation over gifts from her students and parents.

"Teachers' Day, which falls today, is very close to the Mid-Autumn Festival on Sunday, many of my students and their parents have sent me gifts," she told China Daily yesterday.

"It has put me in a very embarrassing situation.

"If I don't accept their gifts, they may think I do not appreciate their kind gesture.

"If I do, I'm afraid I may be setting a bad example," Lai said.

She said some of the gifts were too expensive to accept and what she most appreciates is a greeting card or something made the by students themselves.

"That's why I've bought these toys and stationery articles to exchange with my students as a solution," Lai said.

Many other teachers in Guangzhou have also been exchanging gifts with their students to avoid embarrassment.

"As a teacher, I of course expect gifts from my students for Teachers' Day. However, the gifts I look forward to are simple, inexpensive ones," Ling Xinping, a math teacher at Guangzhou No 2 Middle School, said.

Ling said he never accepts expensive gifts from his students.

"The relation between a teacher and a student should be simple and sincere," he said.

Several parents told China Daily they support teachers who refuse expensive gifts or exchange gifts with their students.

"Many parents give expensive gifts to teachers, which I really resent," Zhong Miaojuan, whose child is a grade-three student at Guangzhou Tianfulu Elementary School, said.

"If teachers are not aware of their roles, or the negative effects of receiving expensive gifts, it will be difficult to tell them apart from corrupted officials.

"Teachers who care more about expensive gifts than good teacher-student relations should be condemned," Zhong said.

The Shanghai Morning Post reported last week a student's father planned to invite three teachers on a tour of Japan to celebrate Teachers' Day. It has aroused much controversy.

China's Teachers' Day started in 1985 to encourage people to show respect to teachers and care about education.

(China Daily September 10, 2008)