Asking migrant workers to "show a little appreciation" - is that really okay?

Recently, some media reported that the principal of a public primary school in Nanjing asked some parents of children of migrant workers attending the school for gift money, saying, "Sorry, you need to show us a little appreciation." After a complaint was filed, the principal was dismissed on the spot by the local education bureau.

Demanding gift money from students' parents not only goes against teachers' ethics, but also violates the relevant regulations of the local education department, so being dismissed means the principal brought it on himself. "Specifically targeting migrant workers for gifts" appears on the surface to be a matter of teachers' ethics and rule violations, but in fact it also reflects the discriminatory mindset and behavior of some local education departments in artificially creating obstacles for the children of migrant workers. Migrant workers in cities have made enormous contributions to urban construction. They should not have to endure this kind of discrimination, and their children should enjoy equal educational opportunities.

In recent years, various places have made obvious progress in handling the education of children who migrate with workers to cities, but there are still various "hidden thresholds" of one kind or another that restrict the enrollment of migrant workers' children. To guarantee their equal right to education, in addition to making innovative breakthroughs in policies and systems, it is even more necessary to take measures to eliminate all kinds of hidden costs or thresholds linked to enrollment, so that the children of migrant workers can attend school smoothly in the city and migrant workers are no longer deliberately obstructed by demands to "show a little appreciation."