MICRO-STUDY REVEALS FLAWS IN PEDAGOGY: A STUDY OF SOCIAL PROMOTION IN TIANJIN, CHINA.

This study investigated what the school policy change from grade retention to social promotion revealed about education in Tianjin, China. I interviewed four school teachers, one academic administrator and one school counselor in Tianjin, China. The findings showed that three participants were in favor of social promotion, while the other three were strongly against it. However, no matter how different their views were, when asked how they helped low-achieving students meet grade-level curricular reqrirements, they gave the same answer, which was to increase tutoring hours without modifying their teaching method. Based on this finding, three suggestions are provided for both preservice and in-service teachers in order to improve their pedagogical skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]