Last week, I experienced what can best be described as a "blessing in disguise" or "sweet misfortune."

I was struck down by a bout of flu and had to get intravenous shots. The hospital I visited was staffed by people who were so young and good-looking that they could have been the cast of a soap opera - the kind with multiple pairs of young lovers. Not even "E.R." could hold a candle to it.

"Where are the middle-aged nurses?" I wondered. "Surely, there are 'old experts' who are not fashion magazine cover material." But they were nowhere in sight. Bored, I picked up a newspaper. A line-up of mug shots caught my attention. They featured similar faces of the movie starlet types. "Why do they put beauty contestants in the news section?" I asked myself.

It turned out that these were not models or singers, but teachers vying for the title of "Charming Teacher" in the city of Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province. As reported, the contest was patterned after the famous "Supergirls."

Now, I am not so old-school as to suggest that teachers look dour, forbidding and grim. On the contrary, I feel teachers should refrain from talking down to students and treat them as friends. In terms of appearance, if they want to make themselves pretty, it is their right - as long as the look is not too avant-garde.

But looks or no looks, this is not essential to what makes up a good teacher, which is how most people interpret the "Charming Teacher" title. A teacher's "charm" lies first and foremost in the way he or she teaches.

Of course, I cannot dispute that those who made the list were good teachers with good looks to boot. As a matter of fact, I doubt anyone can evaluate teachers based on some online information, especially photographs. Even if I were a student of one of them, I could pass judgment on that person alone. Only a panel of judges who sit in classes of all of them can make comparisons.

Judging from the results, I think they have selected beautiful people who happen to be teachers. Otherwise, how can one justify that there are no middle-aged or old teachers in the league?

The youth culture, often called "the beauty economy" in China, is surging with a vengeance. A generation ago, even fashion models were frowned upon; but now, half-naked bodies are being used to hawk almost any merchandise.

As a form of entertainment there is nothing wrong with it as people are naturally drawn to youth and beauty and it is something to flaunt if you've got it. So, it is okay if the teachers' contest is just another name for a beauty pageant.

But there are many areas where beauty simply does not play a decisive role, or any role at all. When you launch a rocket, do you want a scientist who looks like a movie star or someone who can get the job done?

You may point out that there is actually no contradiction between the two qualifications: One can be both good-looking and competent. That is right. But, most news items with "beautiful women" in the title are titillations with no substance.

Take the recent story of a town in Chongqing that plans to recreate "a women's kingdom," a matriarchal society. The idea that men "float" around from family to family - a la the Mosuo people in Yunnan Province - is just too tempting for some. But wake up! This is only a theme park and everything in it is a show.

Like many creative ideas, this one got a head start by conjuring up "beautiful women in provocative situations." It is a game that people, including us in the media, play to grab attention. And it is up to each individual to see through the smoke and mirror of a gorgeous facade to determine whether there is truly something inside.

Back at the hospital of beau monde, after two days of flu shots, my fever did not come down - it rose even higher. Maybe the whole thing was a coincidence. Maybe they were indeed actors who gave me placebos after all.

Email: raymondzhou@chinadaily.com.cn