A recent happening cause me to write this article. Within a period of several days, I received three almost identical letters from students in three rather well known Chinese Universities, all located in major cities, requesting an electronic copy of a book of mine.
First a little background. Forty years ago, I co-authored a graduate level textbook on the subject of optimal control. The book was well received and attained the status of Science Citation Classic as the most referenced book on the subject. The book has been translated into Russian and Chinese and is still used in many courses in China and all over the world (since I still receive regular royalty income every year). Thus, I know copies of the book are available in many libraries and book stores.
Now let me guess the rationale behind the student’s requests
1. The students are poor and cannot afford to buy a copy of the book - This is possible. However, their letters did not say this is the reason. Besides, I know textbook are subsidized and rather inexpensive in China even by Chinese standards. And anyone who can afford to own a computer should be able to afford a textbook. Chinese universities sometimes even help out students by distributing Xeroxed portions of a textbook (a questionable practice that is now becoming less prevalent)
2. The students are not aware that this shows bad behavior and lack of moral judgment – Asking for complimentary copies of a paper or published reprint is an accepted practice in academia. However, asking for a free copy of a book is a different matter. Doesn’t the student realize that for an author to give out free book copies is equivalent asking him/her to give up his/her income? Many authors depend on royalties to make a living. It is hard for me to imagine that a graduate student is unaware of such basic moral teachings.
3. Consequently I am driven to the more likely conclusion that this is one more sign of academic moral laxity where younger scholars learn to cut corners and take advantage of the system and at others’ expense – while it is true I can afford to give away the royalty income of a copy of my book at my age and situation, it is the principle behind it that matters. First you are asking me to be a co-conspirator of a crime to rob the publishers of their income. Second, if I started to give out free copies when and where do I draw the line and stop?
4. Of course there are probably thousands of morally upstanding and law abiding students in China using my textbook. So what is the big deal about three examples out of thousands? However, statistics and sampling theory say that such examples are like the tips of an iceberg – they are indicators of deeper and more serious problems. May be we are powerless to correct the ills of current academia. But as Professor Wang Hong-Fei lamented much earlier, the bad influences will permeate and pass onto the next generation. Chinese scholastic scene will not improve for another 20-30 years. That will be A TRAGEDY INDEED.
5. Finally, a lesson to be learned - Yes, it is easy to copy some text and send off an e-mail with little or no cost for potnetial gain. But "haste makes waste" . A student in science and technology should realize that 40 years ago, there is no such thing as word processing and PC and hence no electronic manuscripts. A little pause before acting will prevent you from showing ignorance.
Will the young scholars in China help to inform and police each other? You are the ambassadors and future of China.
(See also my added note below in [26]
|