A three-episode documentary series about Chinese teachers will be aired by the country's broadcaster CCTV-9 on the evening of Sept. 10 and Sept. 11, 2020. 

The documentary "Good Teacher," produced by Beijing Normal University (BNU), features ten dedicated teachers in various education fields such as intellectual education, physical education, special education, and online education in China, and offers an authentic portrait of these normal yet extraordinary teachers.

"Movies and television portrayals of this profession are still insufficient. On the special occasion of Chinese Teachers' Day on Sept. 10, the documentary will be aired to celebrate and pay respect for teachers," Yang Chenghu, director of the film and professor of BNU's School of Arts and Communication told China.org.cn. 

"The documentary aims to reveal the teachers' passion for education and love for their students," Yang said. "The audiences will see from the series that sometimes teachers' guidance, care, and company are more valuable than simply imparting knowledge."

The director said that the production team had traveled to several provinces to learn about the stories of teachers in various education fields since the end of 2018.

After six month's research, they decided to turn the camera onto the average teachers working in basic education in China. Six rounds of shooting were carried out in 17 regions spread out between 12 provinces.

The film takes a special interest in portraying teachers in the rural areas, such as the poverty-stricken counties of Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, Sichuan province, and Huaping county in Lijiang city, Yunnan province, hoping to bring attention to China's education disparity and the significance of teachers in underdeveloped regions.

Novice teachers' daily struggles are also authentically documented in the film. Yang noted that no one is born a good teacher and it takes time for teachers to grow and develop professionally.

When describing the impressive teachers filmed, the director mentioned Zhang Guimei, who established a senior high school for rural girls for free; Dai Jianrong, a special education teacher with infinite patience; and Ye Lianping, a 92-year-old retired teacher who continues to teach left-behind children in the village.

"These teachers who demonstrate noble qualities deserve our credit," Yang said.

"We will continue to follow the stories of the teachers we filmed and create a portrait of more educators, especially those in rural areas with poor education quality," he added.

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