In response to today's students' tendency to prioritize technical skills over foundational knowledge, Mr. Yang's maxim—“Better clumsy than clever, better plain than fancy”—offers a timely remedy.
In our view, “clumsiness” does not equate to stupidity—it signifies the steadfastness to willingly derive a formula from scratch and the resolve to put in the “dull, hard work.” “Simplicity” is not synonymous with rusticity—it embodies the integrity of meticulously recording raw experimental data and the purity of pursuing the essence of things.
Therefore, we not only implement the “formula tracing method” in foundational instruction, discouraging students from directly applying conclusions; we have also established a “raw experimental data archiving system.” Faculty evaluations will focus more on the depth of students' analysis and adherence to the principle of honesty, rather than whether the experimental results appear flawless. We believe that this “rustic” approach is the most reliable foundation for students' future academic journeys.