A website that enables students to publicly "grade" their teachers has proven quite a hit in classrooms, but some critics believe it treads into a gray legal area where critical appraisal could damage professional reputations.

 

The site, http://www.pinglaoshi.com, is the country's largest website dedicated to appraising teachers.

 

Since its launch in November, tens of thousands of people have become registered members and posted comments on almost 280,000 university and college teachers across the country.

 

On the website, students can anonymously grade their teachers, pointing out whether they are helpful, creative, funny, interactive and kind. Five points is full marks.

 

The website also allows students to post personal stories and comments about the teacher, both positive and negative.

 

The website has been hailed as a useful tool to assess teachers to see what they are like. Others have said it was disgraceful that teachers should be "sampled" like food dishes.

 

"She is hated by everyone and is taking it out on students," reads one post on the website.

 

And another: "He is wicked and ruined my whole future."

 

The website was founded by three veteran journalists.

 

Chen Qiang, one of the founders said more than 85 percent of the comments were of praise. And of the critical ones, many of those were constructive.

 

"I think such a website is okay as long as the comments do not invade personal privacy or contain libel. It's like bringing student talk in a school canteen, and putting it up on the Internet. As a teacher, I would suggest students say more mild comments to encourage teachers to improve themselves. If the bad comments arouse hatred between teachers and students, it will do no good for either side."

 

Li Shan

 

A teacher with Beijing Normal University

 

"The website is quite useful and it would have been wonderful if it had come out several years ago. It will help students to choose schools and courses. I think the comments on teachers reflect the truth generally and will help teachers improve themselves."

 

Zhang Ruoyu

 

A grade-four student in Central University of Finance and Economics

 

"It is fully acceptable for students to comment on their own teachers. The website is a public forum, everybody can have his or her say. I believe most of commentators are rational. There are some under-table grading systems for teachers in many schools, which might be more harmful to teachers than the open grading system."

 

Zhang Ning

 

A culture critic

 

(China Daily July 9, 2007)