To thoroughly implement the relevant deployment requirements for the construction of integrity culture in the new era and strive to create a sound and upright campus environment for education, on the afternoon of December 9, the Commission for Discipline Inspection of Yuanzhou Town organized 24 representatives of seventh-grade students and teachers from Yuanzhou Middle School to carry out the integrity – themed education activity themed “Uphold Integrity to Stay True to the Original Aspiration and Escort the Life Journey” at the Dongjiang Integrity Culture Education Base.
I. Visiting the Dongjiang Integrity Culture Education Base
This integrity – themed learning activity was carried out through two parts: the outdoor Lotus Garden and the indoor exhibition halls, enabling students to perceive the connotation of integrity culture amid humanistic and natural surroundings.
In the outdoor Lotus Garden, a distinctive model tailored for students was adopted, which deeply integrated traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) culture with integrity education. It took the design concept that the “Prevention Chapter” and “Treatment Chapter” correspond to the TCM principles of “treating diseases before they occur” and “treating existing diseases” . Starting from walking through the Gate of Integrity to reciting classic lines from Ode to the Lotus, interactive questions were incorporated to guide students to take the initiative to reflect on the original aspiration of integrity that lies in being “unstained by mud despite growing from it”. Furthermore, by interpreting TCM allusions and poems such as Zhang Zhongjing’s “medicinal poems advocating integrity” and the story of Bian Que and his two brothers, abstract integrity principles were transformed into easy – to – understand life philosophy. The maxim “One should not indulge in whatever one’s mouth craves” was used to remind everyone to learn self – discipline. Meanwhile, the implied meanings of Chinese herbal medicines were employed to help students intuitively grasp the essence of integrity—for instance, mint symbolizes maintaining a clear mind, and mugwort picked in May signifies resisting corrupt ideological influences.
In the indoor exhibition halls, reflections on “integrity” were initiated to drive students to perceive integrity culture through history. In the first hall, “The Origin of Integrity”, a set of bronze chime bells from the Spring and Autumn Period served as a vivid teaching tool. Taking this as a starting point, the lecturers explained to the students the importance of abiding by order and rules. They also recounted Su Dongpo’s deeds of being honest and dedicated to his duties and caring for the people during his tenure in Huizhou, which helped students form a cognition of integrity culture and subtly fostered their cultural confidence in the process of learning history. In the second hall, “The Governance of Integrity”, combined with the exhibition contents and the video focusing on the “spiritual lineage”, students profoundly realized that the prosperity of the country is built on countless people’s hard work through the stories of role models, thereby strengthening their conviction to inherit the spiritual legacy and bravely shoulder their missions. The fourth hall, “The Cultivation of Integrity”, inspired students with the power of role models. By telling the stories of Li Yuan, a revolutionary figure from Yuanzhou, Zhang Side who stuck to his ordinary post, Jiao Yulu who was honest and dedicated to serving the people, Zhou Enlai who set an example of integrity and self – cultivation, and Xi Zhongxun who passed down fine family traditions, it demonstrated the inheritance of the integrity spirit across different eras. These stories encouraged students to practice such integrity – related qualities as distinguishing public interests from private ones, being diligent and thrifty, and exercising self – discipline in daily life.
The lecturers took the maxim “Integrity in trivial matters ensures clarity in major affairs; purity among teenagers guarantees a positive future” as a guiding principle, encouraging students to internalize the concept of integrity and externalize it in actions, and accumulate integrity through small daily deeds. After the activity, the students gained a deep understanding of the great value of integrity, enhanced their ability to resist negative temptations, and resolved to make integrity an inherent part of their youth.
II. Conducting Mini Integrity Lectures
After the visit, with the organization and assistance of the staff at the education base, Feng Xiumei, Director of the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Office of Yuanzhou Town, and Liu Jianhuan, an ideological and political teacher from Yuanzhou Middle School, delivered mini integrity lectures.
Feng Xiumei gave an engaging special lecture themed “Uphold Integrity to Stay True to the Original Aspiration and Escort the Life Journey” for Yuanzhou Middle School as part of the “Integrity Culture Entering Campus” campaign. Centering on the questions “Why should we emphasize integrity?”, “What is integrity?” and “How can middle school students achieve integrity and self – discipline?”, she expounded on the significance of integrity culture education, interpreted the definition and connotation of integrity, and analyzed prominent integrity – related issues on campus by citing negative cases such as minor corrupt practices at school. She also pointed out the directions for middle school students to practice integrity and self – discipline in study, interpersonal communication and daily life. Through interpreting classic maxims and organizing interactive Q&A sessions, she deepened the students’ understanding and guided them to practice integrity in small matters, laying a solid ideological foundation for upholding integrity.
Liu Jianhuan, focusing on the same theme, elaborated that integrity is not only the cornerstone for educators to safeguard their original aspiration for education but also the “ballast stone” for a steady and far – reaching life. He put forward methods to practice integrity, such as always maintaining reverence and engaging in constant self – reflection. He also noted that the immersive integrity education through visiting the base is more likely to resonate with students and encourage them to practice integrity compared with traditional classroom teaching.
The person in charge of the base stated that teenagers are a vital group in inheriting integrity culture. Sowing the seeds of integrity in their hearts is the responsibility and pursuit of the Dongjiang Integrity Culture Education Base. Integrity, like a ballast stone in the growth of teenagers, helps them keep a calm mind and hold the bottom line amid various temptations, enabling the quality of integrity to become a distinct feature of their youth.
This activity, featuring immersive and interactive integrity education, not only allowed teenagers to feel the power of integrity culture up close but also made the concept of integrity deeply rooted in their minds. In the future, the Commission for Discipline Inspection of Yuanzhou Town will continue to promote the “Integrity Culture Entering Campus” campaign, allowing the seeds of integrity to take root and grow in the hearts of teenagers, and laying a solid foundation for creating a sound and upright campus environment and social atmosphere.
