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Media Recommendation
"... with the increasing importance of China in the world community， we need a better sense of Chinese people， of actual ... individuals. Piercing through political， ideological and economic differences， and culminating with building a school， Taplin introduces us to a wide cross section ... of his friends， acquaintances and students in the far west. In them we recognize the values of friendship， family， peace， economic opportunity and the will to help others， unmistakable touches of ourselves ... "
——Hon. Michael N. Castle， former Member， United States House of Representatives， former Governor of Delaware Julian Taplin's humanitarian engagement with China shines through... He sees culture at the ... level... of the everyday lives of ordinary people. Andin the process， he purposefully but gently prods the reader to an awareness of the common traits we share. The hopes， dreams， and ambitions of julian's "Chinese family" are not that different from those of our own progeny.It is a worthwhile lesson to keep in mind as Americans grapple with the realization that China poses a growing challenge and opportunity for the West. ... Taplin should rest content in his efforts to encourage enlightenment on both sides of the Pacific." ——David E. Zweifel， US Ambassador （retired）
It's a pleasure to read Taplin's book， ...and see the slice of China through his eyes， I am moved by his devotion to the Hope School. I am delighted by the inspiring story of an American and his Chinese colleagues working together for good.lt shows that doing good things is a universal aspiration that can cross national borders， guide us all to meaningful achievements and open up new opportunities for young people， who are the future of our world. ...this book can bring its ... readers together in friendship and understanding.
——Li Xiaolin， President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendships with Foreign Countries
Dr. Taplin's book is an incredible journey through China， old and new， challenging and hopeful， idealistic yet grounded in reality...Dr. Taplin's sincere care for his Chinese friends and his hope for their brighter future is reflected in every word of this amazing work
——Andrey Gidaspov， PhD， Director， The U.S.-China Bilateral Trade Internship Program， Washington Center Washington， DC
About Author
Julian Taplin was born in UK of an American mother and British father.After a childhood unsettled by WWIIhe obtained BS degree in physics at Oregon State, followed by MA and PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Oregon. His career centered on child, youth and familymental health, finishing in 2001 as first permanent Director, Division of Child Mental Health Services, State of Delaware. Taplin has visited China some 26 times, for over 3 years' total experience in China. In that time, hehas given almost 200 talks, written 15 books and organized a strong rural school. He has served as Guest Professor, Sichuan Academy of Social Science, since 1998. In 2010 he was nominated for the national competition, "10 People Raising China" sponsored by China Central Television (CCTV). He was elected"Honorary Citizen of the City of Chengdu" in 2011.
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The Principal visited every class every two weeks, reading the nameand performance rank of every student. Those who fell in rank more thana place or two were deemed to be "slacking" (not working their utmost)and then subjected to special review at every class period, with nightlyreview by the housemaster. If they continued unsatisfactory, they werebeaten with a rod that evening by the housemaster. Somehow I survivedthe adjustment, eventually, I managing to catch something of the spiritof academic competition, even doing well enough to surprise my formmaster. But, just as I was becoming well settled in the third term, wordcame that I was to move yet again. The parents had found the fees toomuch, and with two little girls about to need schooling, decided to sendme to the public local day school near home.
The new school in the autumn of 1950 was to be FarnboroughGrammar School. I was initially assigned to the weakest, coarsest, worstbehaved class. My King William's manners and elegant speech were not reallywelcome, but I silenced them all soundly one day by showing that I knew allthe things they thought coarse and funny, and a good deal more besides.
Soon, I was transferred to the science class, remaining withthem through the first set of General Certificate examinations at age15. In those, I eventually equaled the performance of the best inclass. Farnborough had a strong corps of cadets. In the quite happy,productive nearly five years, I made my way through the ranks to seniorcadet posts. Headmaster had the clear idea that I should apply foradmission to Sandhurst, the opposite number of the United StatesMilitary Academy, West Point. I did take the examination, scoring in 8thplace in the entire United Kingdom national competition, but my realinterest was in university entrance.
