At the head of the class, for a price

(ECNS) -- September 10 should bring about a selfless show of respect for classroom instructors. But in China, where educational stakes are high, it has also become an opportunity for parents to curry favor with teachers, the Beijing Times reports.

In the past, students wrote cards, gave flowers, or simply said thanks, but Teachers' Day is now marked by increasingly lavish gift-buying by parents looking to gain an edge for their children.

Such gifts vary from outright cash money to luxury items such as designer purses and brand name cosmetics.

Gift cards have become particularly popular. Earlier this month, a supermarket chain launched a new series of cards marketed specifically for Teachers' Day that carried face values of 200 yuan ($32.66), 500 yuan and 1,000 yuan.

Amid public outcry, the supermarket ended the sale, yet similar gift cards can still be purchased elsewhere.

The Beijing Times found that both 360buy.com and Yihaodian.com are also offering virtual gifts cards targeting Teachers' Day. Customers can determine for themselves how much money to put on them.

Many have complained that these cards are merely a less direct way for parents to "bribe" teachers.

Despite admitting that it's an oppressive and unethical practice, many parents say they have engaged in such gift-giving -- mostly because the overwhelming majority of the other parents around them did so.

And in an environment where the practice is common, failing to deliver may mean less classroom attention for your child.

A mother surnamed Chen whose son transferred to a Beijing high school from Australia, says that initially the boy was neglected and criticized by his teacher. But on the advice of other parents, Chen visited the teacher and gave her three gift cards. After that, Chen's son was given more attention and encouragement.

Children whose parents don't pay up may miss out on front row seats in class, as well as leadership positions and recommendations to better schools after graduation, says the Beijing Times.

A parent surnamed Zhou put it plainly: "I don't want to put my child at a disadvantage."

However, the gifts are also complicating things for teachers.

Du Jinxia, who works at a primary school, says she has received cosmetics and gift cards for two years in a row. "It's hard to reject presents from warm-hearted parents, since they might feel hurt if I refuse," she says, "but I feel equally embarrassed and uncomfortable when I receive them."

Another primary school teacher says some enterprising parents have even found teachers' home addresses and sent gifts directly to their homes.

Educational authorities in China have begun creating anti-corruption measures to prevent such gift-giving to teachers, but they have not been effective at curtailing an increasingly systemic practice.

Feng Guilin, a researcher at the Hubei provincial social academy, says that educational resources are limited, so parents are engaged in a cut-throat competition to create better opportunities for their kids.

Qiao Xinsheng, the head of the Social Development Research Center at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, says the important things are to rebuild ethics and to curb bribery among teachers, as well as doctors and civil servants.