This study examined and reflected viewpoints of 11 former rural students on rural educational issues in general and opinions that they hold of the values of rural teachers and rural teaching in particular within a certain cultural and social context of the People's Republic of China. By observation and analysis from a student's perspective, the study hoped to reveal the situations of rural teachers and rural teaching in China from a fresh vantage point and this has been borne out by the remarks of the respondents interviewed.;Findings of this study indicated that the perceptions and opinions that these former rural students hold of rural teachers have experienced fluctuations due to contextual as well as personal factors. This was organized in a three-phase model in the conclusion with regard to the fluctuation in how the public value teachers.;Common to all the respondents in this study, rural teaching was not attractive, nor in their opinion, attractive to rural talents in general compared to other professions beyond the rural areas. Indeed it was even less attractive than some of the occupations requiring less skill. If this image of the rural teaching profession continues to be stereotyped and rooted in people's values, rural teaching will inevitably confront a gloomy future. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
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