Chinese Education
Educational System
Chinese students go to school for two semesters: from September to January and from February to July. We have a long break between semesters to celebrate Chinese New Year. In many ways the Chinese educational system is different from the American school system. China has 9 years of compulsory education. At six or seven years of age, we start elementary school, which lasts for six years. Middle school has three grade levels, as does high school. The schools have specialized programs. Parents must pay $100 to $10,000 per year for tuition. If the families don't have money, then the schools do not have to accept the students. Children get to keep their books and write in them because they pay for them. In some schools, students have to wear uniforms. High school lasts for three years. Students have to take an exam to get into the high school of their choice.This puts a lot of pressure on students, as high school is very competitive. After graduation, many people go to college. However, others who do not have that opportunity go to a community vocational school instead. Grades are based not on letters or numbers but on four levels: excellent, good, fair, and failing.
School Day
Students can either walk or ride their bicycles to school. Students stay in one classroom, while teachers move from class to class. Teachers lead the students in exercises to strengthen their eyesight since they spend so much of their day reading and writing. Elementary students have recess for a few minutes each period, but older students have a much more demanding schedule. School starts at 7:00 a.m. and ends in the evening. Students can go home for lunch and dinner, but they usually return to school until 9:00 p.m. for extra help.
Student-Teacher Relationship
Corporal punishment is common in Chinese schools. Teachers and principals are allowed to hit children for minor and major offenses. Parents usually side with the school in such incidences. Students and teachers have a less friendly and more formal relationship than they do in America. They don't usually talk about how they are feeling. When the teacher walks into the room, all the students must stand up and say, "Good morning." If a student answers a question incorrectly, he or she sometimes has to stand in the back of the room. Students have to be very respectful of teachers because teachers have absolute authority.
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