Chapter 32 Letter to Ma Xulun[1]

(June 19, 1950, January 15, 1951) one Minister Ma: Another item will be returned.This matter should be resolved quickly. All schools should pay attention to health first and study second.Insufficient nutrition, it is advisable to increase funds as appropriate.The time for study and meetings should be greatly reduced.Patients deserve special treatment.All schools across the country should be like this.Higher churches have already opened, and it is advisable to hold one for each of the primary and secondary levels.Please consider the above.Sincerely, salute Mao Zedong June 19 two Mr. Yichu:

Regarding the issue of student health, I have discussed with my husband before. This issue deserves our attention, and we propose to take administrative steps to specifically solve this issue.Please read one of the telegrams [2] of the East China Bureau of the CPC on January 11. The third item of the telegram addresses this issue, and puts forward the policy of putting health first and learning second, which I think is correct.Please discuss with the comrades of the vice ministers and look forward to it! salute! Mao Zedong January 15 Printed from manuscript. -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------

note [1] Ma Xulun (1885-1970), courtesy name Yichu, was born in Hangzhou County (now Yuhang), Zhejiang.At that time, he was a member of the Central People's Government and Minister of Education. [2] Refers to the telegram sent by the East China Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the East China Working Committee of the Youth League to the Party Committees and Youth League Committees of various places in East China on January 11, 1951, and reported to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Central Committee of the Youth League.The third item mentioned that due to the long-term reactionary rule of the Kuomintang, the students were weak and there were many sick people.However, since liberation, all localities have failed to pay attention to the principle of "health first, learning second". As a result, public schools have the worst physique, and universities are worse than middle schools. This should arouse great vigilance.According to the regulations of the East China Higher Education Conference, the regular class time should be appropriately reduced to take care of students' health needs.