(Ecns.cn)--At no more than 1.2 meters (3'11") tall, or roughly equal to that of a preschool student, 39-year-old Guo Xing has served as a teacher in a remote rural area of Hebei Province for about 20 years.
Although Guo has never formally signed a labor contract with the local education department, he is unquestionably the most respected and beloved teacher among the students there.
But things may be about to change. On Monday, thanks to media reports lauding his work in the countryside, Guo was called to teach at the county level and have to leave his students behind.
Handicapped hero
Since the age of three, Guo has struggled with polio. Because of the disease, he must curl up both of his legs and walk with sticks beside him. "From the front, my body looks like the letter X, while from the side it is the letter S," said Guo, who is used to making jokes about his body.
In the spring of 1992, as a graduate from a junior middle school, Guo was asked to teach in the only primary school in the little county of Xi Shuiquan.
At that time, there was only one teacher at the school, and that teacher was preparing to leave the county, giving Guo a chance. With no formal contract, Guo began his career.
Three years ago, Guo was assigned to teach at another remote village in a county called Weixian, which takes him an hour to get to. He was the first and only teacher there, where the students learn Chinese, math, English, music, PE, painting and other courses.
Although there are only 11 students currently at the school, Guo does his best to provide quality education.
Guo knows little about music, for example, so he bought CDs and played them on players donated by charities. He cannot really participate in PE classes, so he has asked some senior students to teach the smaller kids how to do simple gymnastics.
Students in the county take spring outings, and Guo also conducts such activities. But with no school buses, no snacks and no money for the trips, Guo takes his students hiking or climbing mountains near their village instead.
"It makes me happy to 'travel' with the students, and I love to watch them laugh, play around and make jokes with me," said Guo. Even though it is hard for him to go on such trips for long distances, he insists on being together with his students.
During classes, Guo must climb onto a stool to reach the blackboard. Though it looks strange, the knowledge he imparts to the students has more than won their admiration.
"Our teacher is a hero and he knows a lot," said a student.
