As the saying goes, "train in the coldest days of winter." With the weather in Qingdao gradually turning colder, this should be a good time for primary and secondary school students to build up their health. However, recent investigations by reporters have found that some schools have reluctantly "downsized" their PE classes, transforming them into game classes, entertainment classes, or free activity sessions. Some PE teachers even complain that giving a real PE class requires a lot of courage, with many concerns and pressures. A relevant official from the Municipal Education Bureau stated that primary and secondary schools must offer sufficient and complete PE classes. Qingdao will launch a winter long-distance running campaign for students in December. Schools should not avoid physical education altogether just because they fear accidents.
Student twists ankle, PE teacher gets reprimanded
A young PE teacher surnamed Li at an elementary school in Qingdao has been feeling troubled lately. During a PE class a couple of days ago, he led the students in a jumping warm-up exercise, but one little boy, being overly active, twisted his ankle. "The student said it was nothing, that he could still run and jump, so I didn’t think much of it."
Who would have thought this small incident would become a "big deal" the next day. "The boy’s mother went to the school, saying that after PE class her child came home with a swollen foot and questioned how the PE teacher had conducted the class?" Teacher Li said the school quickly asked him to apologize to the parents. The principal also spoke with Teacher Li, emphasizing that student safety comes first during PE class.
"I rarely encountered student injury incidents before, but this time it made me feel like teaching PE is like a courage test. To get students to really move around, PE teachers must have a lot of courage." After being talked to by the principal for a long time, Teacher Li was very disheartened. He admitted he was indeed careless, but minor bumps and bruises are inevitable in PE class. He hadn’t expected such a strong reaction from both the parents and the school. "Wanting zero injuries while also having students exercise more—I’m really caught in a dilemma."
PE classes turned into "pretend play"
Teacher Li’s frustration is not unique to him. Reporters learned that PE classes in primary and secondary schools have long been treated as a "secondary subject." Parents are indifferent, schools don’t pay enough attention, and although educational authorities have repeatedly mandated that PE class hours be guaranteed, some schools’ PE classes have almost become a "formality."
An elementary school PE teacher, surnamed Sun, feels that students’ physical fitness has significantly declined compared to the past, with a noticeable increase in overweight children. He noted that not only are the amount and difficulty of exercises being reduced in PE classes, but many schools conduct PE as if it were "pretend play."
"A 40-minute PE class spends 10 minutes on warm-up and jogging, and the rest of the time is free activity. Kids who like sports will definitely exercise, but those who don’t want to can easily slack off. They might just take a walk or chat, which doesn’t serve the purpose of physical exercise." Teacher Sun believes that a vicious cycle has formed: "the less you exercise, the worse your physique becomes, and the worse your physique, the less you dare to exercise."
Qingdao Qiyuan School’s political education director Zhang Pixi mentioned that now in Qingdao’s primary and secondary schools, "dangerous" PE events like vaulting horses, goat jumps, horizontal bars, parallel bars, and javelin have almost disappeared. Some schools don’t even let students run 1000 meters during sports meets. Students’ physical fitness has dropped significantly—some kids can’t even do one pull-up. Zhang Pixi explained that Qiyuan School has already replaced the regular break-time exercises with running during the longer break periods. Elementary students run nearly 1000 meters and jump rope for 1 minute, while middle school students run 1200 meters and jump rope for 2 minutes. "The colder it is, the more we should get the kids moving. So far, the results have been quite good."
Schools fear liability and avoid risks
Currently, schools generally implement a "one-vote veto" system for student safety. The risks of getting students to "move around" are seen by many schools as unpredictable, so it’s better to simply avoid movement altogether. Therefore, although educational authorities emphasize the need to ensure students get enough daily exercise, the actual effectiveness of physical activity in some schools remains unsatisfactory.
"The importance of physical exercise is understood by all, but schools also have to consider risk factors. What parents demand most from schools is their child’s academic performance, and for PE, the only requirement is that no injuries occur." A junior high school principal admitted frankly that to avoid trouble from parents when students get injured, schools can only weaken the intensity of PE activities accordingly.
"From my teaching experience, if students have poor physical fitness, it’s hard for them to complete normal academic tasks, which directly affects learning efficiency. Appropriate physical exercise can also relieve stress, so high school students especially shouldn’t give up physical training." Li Xiaojie, a PE teacher at Qingdao No. 17 Middle School, said that to spark students’ interest in exercising, No. 17 Middle School allows students to freely choose their PE content, selecting voluntary courses in subjects like basketball, soccer, and volleyball. Students’ enthusiasm for PE class is fairly good.
"Many schools, especially primary and secondary ones, downplay physical activities just to avoid the trouble caused by student injuries. If a child gets hurt during school sports, the school may have to bear corresponding responsibility. Many schools cancel long-distance runs out of this concern, fearing that any problems will implicate them. This is actually irresponsible toward students." Liu Changqing, a member of the Municipal Political Consultative Conference and chairman of Qingdao Huanghai College, believes that schools should not take an evasive attitude when it comes to ensuring students’ physical health. At Huanghai College, he organized freshmen and sophomores to run for 30 minutes every morning. After implementing this for some time, students’ overall physical fitness improved significantly. So the key lies in proper guidance from the schools.
Parents spoil children, leading to less exercise
Not only do schools have safety concerns, but parents do too. Nowadays, every family has just one child, and each is considered a precious treasure. Parents raise their children very cautiously, afraid of any accidental injuries. They’d rather have their kids attend various training classes and tutoring sessions on weekends or holidays than let them go outside to exercise.
"Physical health is the most important thing for children. Without a healthy body, nothing else matters. Both schools and parents should avoid the misconception of prioritizing intelligence over physical health." Ma Hui, principal of Hudao Elementary School, said that using safety as an excuse to deny students adequate opportunities for exercise essentially deprives them of their right to physical and mental development. And parents being overly protective directly affects their children’s physical condition.
Ma Hui stated that with parents’ tacit approval or encouragement, many children are only allowed to stay indoors and not "run wild outside." As a result, kids become addicted to digital devices, staying at home watching TV, surfing the internet, or playing on their phones. These modern forms of entertainment are encroaching on students’ already limited after-school time, competing with sports activities for their attention.
Getting students to move around in winter
At a press conference last year, a relevant official from the Municipal Education Bureau revealed that Qingdao students’ physical fitness indicators have been declining for 12 consecutive years. This highlights the importance of physical exercise for primary and secondary school students. On the other hand, isolated incidents have left schools on edge.
Reporters learned that so far this year in Qingdao, there have been three cases of students dying suddenly during PE class, including one junior high school student and two senior high school students. Similar sudden deaths during PE classes have also occurred in multiple regions across the country recently. Winter is also a high-incidence period for student falls and collisions, all of which make many schools very cautious when conducting PE classes.
"It’s unfortunate when a student dies suddenly during PE class, but such events are extremely rare. Schools should understand each student’s physical condition and pay special attention to those with specific physical defects, ensuring they engage in appropriate exercise. Parents should also fulfill their duty to inform and communicate promptly with schools about their child’s health status." The official from the Municipal Education Bureau explained that schools should offer sufficient and complete PE classes and must not reduce or occupy PE class time for any reason.
The official admitted that currently, many PE teachers are hesitant in their teaching. They tend to avoid slightly difficult or risky movements, fearing accidents. "PE teachers should be bolder. As long as they follow standard lesson plans step by step, demonstrate and provide protection during teaching, and ensure students warm up properly, so-called dangerous activities can absolutely be carried out." The official said Qingdao plans to launch a citywide Sunshine Sports Winter Long-Distance Running Campaign in mid-December to encourage one million primary and secondary school students to "get moving" this winter.