Most netizens criticized Fan, saying that a teacher is obliged to protect students at school. In a situation where the students are in danger, Fan should have taken on his legal liabilities, they said.

Others defended Fan by arguing that not everyone can be a hero, and life is equally valuable for all people. Perhaps Fan was not capable of saving his students under the circumstances. A liberal society could allow different views and forgive faults or wrongdoings, they said.

Fan was eventually sacked by Yaguang School on June 11. Local educational authorities also revoked his teaching certificate.

Code of ethics

Xiao Qing (Changjiang Daily): To spurn Fan Meizhong, currently ridiculed by being called Fan Paopao (meaning fleeing Fan) on the Internet, signifies the recognition of today's moral standards. All the debates will allow us to see moral conflicts in a transitional society.

Fan, as a teacher, is naturally responsible for the safety of his students.

A certain number of supporters may appreciate Fan's honesty, but whatever he says, a teacher, who does not bear his due obligations in a state of emergency, is truly selfish.

Yang Tao (hlj.rednet.cn): When massive disasters strike, everyone wants to escape from danger as fast as possible. But for those who risk their own lives to help students, it is a virtue, which constitutes a driving force for the continual progress of human society.

When the Wenchuan earthquake hit, most people managed to unite and help each other survive. We are all deeply moved by the image of the teacher who was crushed to death, while sheltering students with his body, enabling them to live. When the quake hit in the afternoon during school time, most teachers organized students to evacuate to safety.

It is instinctive for human beings to escape from disasters. But for better self-development, society needs ethical standards and awareness of duty to measure its level of morality. Due to varied individual characters and born weakness, we should not force everyone to be a hero and sacrifice themselves for others. That is the reason why we could allow Fan to