Meng Fei, daughter of an ordinary, hard-working Beijing professor, will always remember June 9, 2006, the day she received a private letter from President Hu Jintao.

The girl made the letter public on Wednesday, four days ahead of Teachers' Day.

"I hope everybody knows that being a teacher is honourable," she said.

Her father, Meng Erdong, a professor of Chinese literature at Peking University, died of oesophageal cancer on April 22 in Beijing. He was 49. He discovered his illness in 2004 while lecturing at Shihezi University in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, but still insisted on teaching.

During his last days in Beijing, he did not stop coaching his students even though he was in hospital and could hardly see and speak.

Media reports on the death of this ordinary but dedicated teacher earned him public respect. President Hu Jintao made a condolence phone call to Meng's family and sent the funeral a wreath in his own name.

To express the family's gratitude, Meng Fei wrote a letter to the president on May 25. She recalled her father's last days and told the president about her sadness that he could no longer teach.

"I also told him that I had decided to carry on my father's career and be a teacher," the girl said. "But I never expected any reply, as I know the president is busy."

Two weeks later, the daughter received the president's reply, in which he spoke of Meng Erdong's noble character and sense of responsibility.

"My family were all moved to tears," Meng Fei recalled.

The letter said her father is an ordinary but highly responsible teacher. His death is a great loss to the family, the school and the country's educational undertaking.

"As a teacher of Chinese culture and literature, your father shows the true virtue of Chinese people."

Hu said he was very pleased to know about Meng Fei's decision and encouraged her to carry on her father's career and be a good teacher.

After graduating from Capital Normal University in July, Meng Fei is now a first-year graduate student in education at Peking University.

Zhou Ji, minister of education, said the letter is an encouragement to teachers nationwide.

Fu Zeng, a professor at the School of Foreign Languages under Peking University, said the letter "reminds us being a teacher is honourable."

(China Daily September 8, 2006)