Strengthening the Construction of the Contingent of Ideological and Political Theory Course Teachers

Recently, General Secretary Xi Jinping issued important instructions on the construction of ideological and political theory courses in schools, emphasizing the need to continuously open up new prospects for ideological and political education in the New Era, and to strive to cultivate more new-era individuals who reassure the Party, love the country, contribute to the nation, and shoulder the heavy responsibility of national rejuvenation. He pointed out that “efforts must be made to build a contingent of ideological and political theory course teachers who are strong in politics, deep in sentiment, innovative in thinking, broad in vision, strict in self-discipline, and upright in character.” These important expositions set forth the overall requirements for the construction of the contingent of ideological and political theory course teachers on the new journey of the New Era and provide scientific guidance for comprehensively improving the quality of this contingent.

近期，习近平总书记对学校思政课建设作出重要指示，强调要不断开创新时代思政教育新局面，努力培养更多让党放心、爱国奉献、担当民族复兴重任的时代新人，指出“要着力建设一支政治强、情怀深、思维新、视野广、自律严、人格正的思政课教师队伍”。这些重要论述，为新时代新征程上思政课教师队伍建设提出总体要求，为全面提升思政课教师队伍质量提供了科学指导。

“Strong in politics” is the fundamental requirement for the quality construction of the contingent of ideological and political theory course teachers. First, it is necessary to grasp the correct political direction. Ideological and political theory course teachers must take a clear political stand, always uphold the Party’s leadership, deeply understand the decisive significance of the Two Establishments, strengthen the Four Consciousnesses, fortify the Four Confidences, and achieve the Two Upholds. They must always proceed from the standpoint of the Party and the people, consolidate the main front of ideological and political education, guide students to strengthen confidence in the path, confidence in the theory, confidence in the system, and confidence in the culture, and aspire to take root among the people and dedicate themselves to the country, shouldering the heavy responsibility of the era of national rejuvenation. [1]1 The Two Establishments refers Second, it is necessary to firm up political conviction. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Ideological and political theory courses must solve the problem of students’ ideals and beliefs. Let those who have faith preach faith. The belief in Marxism, the conviction in socialism and communism, can only blossom and bear fruit in the hearts of students if it first takes root in the hearts of ideological and political theory course teachers.” Ideological and political theory course teachers must consciously arm their minds with the Party’s innovative theories, take the lead in truly studying, truly understanding, truly believing in, and truly applying Marxism, guide students to establish the lofty ideal of communism and the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and strengthen their faith in Marxism and their conviction in communism and socialism. Third, it is necessary to temper political literacy. Ideological and political theory course teachers should continuously strengthen the study of political theory, read original works, study original texts, and comprehend principles, constantly improve political judgment and political acumen, maintain political sobriety in the face of major issues of principle, and clearly oppose and resist any views, trends of thought, words, or deeds that contradict the Party’s basic theory, basic line, and basic strategy.

“政治强”是对思政课教师队伍质量建设的根本要求。一是把准政治方向。思政课教师要旗帜鲜明讲政治，始终坚持党的领导，深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”，始终从党和人民立场出发，筑牢思想政治教育主阵地，引导学生增强道路自信、理论自信、制度自信、文化自信，立志扎根人民、奉献国家，肩负起民族复兴的时代重任。二是坚定政治信仰。习近平总书记指出：“思政课要解决学生理想信念问题。要让有信仰的人讲信仰。对马克思主义的信仰，对社会主义和共产主义的信念，只有首先在思政课教师心中扎下根，才能在学生心中开花结果。”思政课教师要自觉用党的创新理论武装头脑，带头真学、真懂、真信、真用马克思主义，引导学生树立共产主义远大理想和中国特色社会主义共同理想，坚定对马克思主义的信仰、对共产主义和社会主义的信念。三是锤炼政治素养。思政课教师应不断加强政治理论学习，读原著、学原文、悟原理，不断提高政治判断力和政治敏锐性，在大是大非面前保持政治清醒，旗帜鲜明地反对和抵制各种与党的基本理论、基本路线、基本方略相悖的观点、思潮、言行。

“Deep in sentiment” requires cultivating the contingent of ideological and political theory course teachers’ feelings for the country and the nation, feelings for the people, and feelings for education. First, it is necessary to cultivate deep feelings for the country and the nation. Ideological and political theory course teachers must hold the country and the nation in their hearts, pay attention to the times and society in the great practice of the Party and the people, absorb nourishment, enrich their thinking, and guide students to unify their personal development with the strength of the country, consciously integrating patriotism, the aspiration to strengthen the country, and the action of serving the country into the struggle to uphold and develop the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, build a modern socialist country, and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Second, it is necessary to forever maintain feelings for the people. The people are the greatest source of strength for the Party’s governance and also the source of the Party’s power. Ideological and political theory course teachers must care about the warmth and cold of the masses, listen to the voices of the people, and always maintain respect for the status of the people, concern for the interests of the people, and responsibility for the expectations of the people. Third, it is necessary to adhere to feelings for education. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, “Love is the soul of education; without love, there is no education,” and “One must have benevolent feelings, integrating love for the country and the nation, love for education, and love for students, always keeping students in one’s heart, making ideological and political theory courses a course with warmth.” Ideological and political theory course teachers should adhere to the original aspiration of loving the cause of education, truly center on students, care for students, serve students, take students as the foundation, and integrate students’ growth and success with the needs of the country and society and the well-being of the people’s livelihood.

“情怀深”要求培育思政课教师队伍的家国情怀、人民情怀和教育情怀。一是厚植家国情怀。思政课教师要心里装着国家和民族，在党和人民的伟大实践中关注时代、关注社会，汲取养分、丰富思想，引导学生将个人发展与国家强盛统一起来，把爱国情、强国志、报国行自觉融入坚持和发展中国特色社会主义事业、建设社会主义现代化强国、实现中华民族伟大复兴的奋斗之中。二是永葆人民情怀。人民是党执政的最大底气，也是党的力量源泉。思政课教师要心系群众冷暖，倾听人民呼声，始终保持对人民地位的尊重，对人民利益的关切，对人民期待的担当。三是坚守教育情怀。习近平总书记指出，“爱是教育的灵魂，没有爱就没有教育”，“要有仁爱情怀，把对家国的爱、对教育的爱、对学生的爱融为一体，心中始终装着学生，让思政课成为一门有温度的课”。思政课教师应坚守热爱教育事业的初心，真正围绕学生、关照学生、服务学生，以学生为本，将学生成长成才与国家社会需求和人民民生福祉融为一体。

“Innovative in thinking” requires ideological and political theory course teachers to use scientific thinking for analysis and innovative methods for guidance, exercising the ability to handle and cope with complex situations. First, it is necessary to grasp the pulse of the times. Today’s world has entered an era of informatization and intelligence, with world science and technology changing rapidly. Ideological and political theory course teachers should keenly capture changes in the times, firmly grasp the characteristics of the times, flexibly use media, and teach students according to their aptitudes based on their characteristics. Second, it is necessary to keep pace with the times. Teaching ideological and political theory courses well must never rely solely on “dogma,” reading from the script and simply repeating; the teaching content must promptly respond to the concerns of the people, society, and students. Third, it is necessary to innovate educational capabilities. The domestic and international situation and the tasks of the Party and the state develop and change relatively quickly; the teaching content of ideological and political theory courses must keep up with the times. Only through continuous lesson preparation and constant renewal can better teaching results be achieved. Ideological and political theory course teachers should continuously update educational concepts, teaching content, and methods, enhancing the appeal of ideological and political theory courses.

“思维新”要求思政课教师用科学的思维分析、用创新的方法指导，锻炼驾驭应对复杂局面的能力。一是把握时代脉搏。当今世界已进入信息化、智能化时代，世界科技日新月异，思政课教师应敏锐捕捉时代变化，牢牢把握时代特点，灵活运用媒介，针对学生特征因材施教。二是坚持与时俱进。讲好思政课绝不能唯“本本”，照本宣科、简单重复，教学内容要及时回应人民关切、社会关切和学生关切。三是革新教育能力。国内外形势、党和国家工作任务发展变化较快，思政课教学内容要跟上时代，只有不断备课、常讲常新才能取得较好教学效果。思政课教师应不断更新教育理念、教学内容和方式方法，增强思政课的吸引力。

“Broad in vision” requires ideological and political theory course teachers to explain principles deeply, thoroughly, and vividly. First, it is necessary to deeply root the thickness of foundation. Ideological and political theory course teachers must adhere to the guidance of Marxism, take the excellent traditional Chinese culture, revolutionary culture, and advanced socialist culture as the foundation, and explain deeply, thoroughly, and vividly the principle that “the reason why the Communist Party of China can succeed and why socialism with Chinese characteristics is good is ultimately that Marxism works, especially the Marxism adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of the times works.” Second, it is necessary to broaden the boundaries of knowledge. On the basis of possessing a solid theoretical foundation in Marxism, ideological and political theory course teachers must also extensively draw on knowledge from other philosophical and social sciences as well as the natural sciences, continuously expanding the boundaries of knowledge, so as to clearly explain the principles of ideological and political theory courses. Third, it is necessary to expand international vision. Ideological and political theory course teachers should answer students’ doubts through comparison between China and foreign countries, neither being closed and conservative nor worshiping foreign things, guide students to comprehensively and objectively understand contemporary China and view the external world, be adept at distinguishing right from wrong through critical discernment, and educate and guide students to bravely undertake the lofty mission of seeking happiness for humanity.

“视野广”要求思政课教师把道理讲深讲透讲活。一是深植底蕴厚度。思政课教师要坚持以马克思主义为指导，以中华优秀传统文化、革命文化和社会主义先进文化为根基，把“中国共产党为什么能，中国特色社会主义为什么好，归根到底是马克思主义行，是中国化时代化的马克思主义行”的道理讲深讲透讲活。二是拓宽知识边界。思政课教师在具备扎实的马克思主义理论功底基础上，还要广泛涉猎其他哲学社会科学以及自然科学的知识，不断拓展知识边界，这样才能把思政课的道理讲清楚。三是拓展国际视野。思政课教师要在中外比较中回答学生的疑惑，既不封闭保守，也不崇洋媚外，引导学生全面客观认识当代中国、看待外部世界，善于在批判鉴别中明辨是非，教育引导学生勇于承担起为人类谋幸福的崇高使命。

“Strict in self-discipline” requires ideological and political theory course teachers to conduct themselves, cultivate virtue, pursue learning, and express themselves, leading by example and setting an example for students. First, it is necessary to strengthen self-cultivation. Ideological and political theory course teachers must always strictly abide by teacher ethics and conduct, understand great virtues, observe public virtues, and strictly guard private virtues, always remember their sense of responsibility and mission, be strict with themselves, adhere to the bottom line, resolutely resist money worship, hedonism, utilitarianism, and extreme individualism, and strive to resist all vulgar aesthetics and unhealthy social trends. Second, it is necessary to maintain the unity of knowledge and action. For a value to truly play a role, it must be integrated into social life, allowing people to perceive and comprehend it in practice. Ideological and political theory course teachers must truly achieve consistency inside and outside the classroom, online and offline, and always remember their mission and responsibility in terms of knowledge, emotion, intention, and action. Third, it is necessary to set an example. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “For teachers, if they want to cultivate students into what kind of people, they themselves should first become that kind of person.” Ideological and political theory course teachers should be disseminators of knowledge, guides of students’ spirit, and instructors of their behavior, using firm Marxist faith, excellent traditional Chinese culture, and traditional virtues to spur themselves on and be themselves, truly playing an exemplary and leading role.

“自律严”要求思政课教师立身、立德、立学、立言，以身作则，为学生树立榜样。一是加强自我修养。思政课教师必须始终严守师德师风，明大德、守公德、严私德，始终牢记责任感和使命感，严于律己，坚守底线，坚决抵制拜金主义、享乐主义、功利主义、极端个人主义，着力抵制一切低俗审美和不良社会风气。二是保持知行合一。一种价值观要真正发挥作用，必须融入社会生活，让人们在实践中感知它、领悟它。思政课教师要真正做到课上课下一致、网上网下一致，从知、情、意、行上时刻牢记使命担当。三是树立榜样作用。习近平总书记强调：“对教师来说，想把学生培养成什么样的人，自己首先就应该成为什么样的人。”思政课教师要做知识的传播者，做学生精神的领路人、行为的指导者，用坚定的马克思主义信仰，用中华优秀传统文化与传统美德鞭策自己、做好自己，真正发挥榜样示范作用。

“Upright in character” requires ideological and political theory course teachers to influence and win over students with noble character. First, it is necessary to uphold an upright character. Cultivate a good character of being loyal to the Party, loyal to the country, and loyal to the people, be an upright person, do practical work, guide students to shape a correct worldview, outlook on life, and values from an early age, and continuously enhance the ambition, backbone, and confidence of being Chinese. Second, it is necessary to adhere to the power of truth. Ideological and political theory course teachers should use the Party’s innovative theories to arm students’ minds, making the light of the truth of scientific socialism even more brilliant, inspiring students to clarify their direction and devote themselves to inquiry. Third, it is necessary to strive to be good teachers and helpful friends. Only by being close to the teacher can one believe in the way. Ideological and political theory course teachers must uphold a benevolent heart, enhance affinity, genuinely care for students, treat students equally, strictly demand of students, be good teachers and helpful friends to students, become people that students like, and become guides and leaders for students’ healthy growth.

“人格正”要求思政课教师用高尚的人格感染学生、赢得学生。一是秉持正直品格。树立忠于党、忠于国家、忠于人民的良好品格，堂堂正正做人，踏踏实实做事，引导学生从小塑造正确的世界观、人生观、价值观，持续增强做中国人的志气、骨气、底气。二是坚持真理力量。思政课教师要用党的创新理论武装学生头脑，让科学社会主义真理之光更加璀璨夺目，感召学生明确方向、潜心问道。三是争做良师益友。亲其师，才能信其道。思政课教师须秉持仁爱之心，提升亲和力，真心关爱学生，平等对待学生，严格要求学生，做学生的良师益友，做让学生喜爱的人，成为学生健康成长的指导者和引路人。

(Author: Zhang Jingmei, Lecturer at Beijing Information Science and Technology University)

（作者：张婧梅，系北京信息科技大学讲师）

Online Editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心