Chinese professor demands students walk over him so theyre not afraid of authority | Daily Mail Onl

Encouraging university students to think for themselves and challenge authority is nothing new, but one Chinese professor has opted for a rather unconventional method.

More than 150 students who attended his lecture were stunned when the 51-year-old professor lay down across the doorway and demanded that they walk over him on their way out.

But there was method behind the madness at the Wuhan University of Technology, in Hubei, reported the People"s Daily Online.

Professor Zhang Nengli, in his lecture series entitled "Thinking and problem solving strategies", hopes to transform what he sees as the traditional Chinese "timidity" - and even says he wants his students to "throw eggs" at U.S. President Barack Obama.

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Professor Zhang Nengli lies on the floor of his lecture hall and demands that his students walk over him as they leave the room, he hopes that the action will teach them not to be afraid of challenging authority

Professor Zhang said: "The aim was to instil in the students a yearning for seeking the truth, and a spirit that has the courage to use the truth to challenge authority.

"In Chinese culture there is a form of timidity that restricts our freedom of thought, so that even if we see something that is blatantly wrong we are reluctant to challenge it.

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"When we are listening to leaders talk, we pay great attention. But in Europe or the US the people are more emotional.

"If they detect they are not being told the truth they will resort to throwing eggs and shoes at their leaders."

But despite Zhang"s open invitation, the students were not willing to play along.

Many of the students applauded their lecturer"s innovative approach to teach, but others left via another exit while those remaining took photos.

But Zhang persisted: "Students, bring out your courage and step over me. Hurry up and step over me!"

After a brave few followed the professor"s request, several others joined in and within minutes more than 100 students had "humiliated" their professor.

When all the students had walked over him, Zhang knelt on the floor, smiling happily.

Zhang examines the cultural differences between perceptions and ideas of the East and West, on the 11-week course.

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Many of the students were reluctant at first, and simply applauded the teacher"s actions. But after a brave few began, within minutes more than 100 of Zhang"s teachers had walked over him

He uses the lectures to investigate new ways of breaking through the "timid" way of thinking that has dominated Chinese culture for thousands of years.

Before prostrating himself across the exit, Zhang told his students this was a way for them to remember his lessons, and for them to reflect on their actions.

Zhang wants his students to use what they have learned to step up and not to be afraid to challenge the wrongdoings of power.

"Innovation is a form of culture that powers a country"s progress. We need innovation," he added.

"We need to use science and the truth to challenge the power of authority, this will lead to progress."

Zhang hopes that his students will now have the "courage to throw eggs at Obama. Because throwing eggs at someone is not to humiliate them, but to defend the truth".