Located less than 100 kilometers from downtown Beijing, Miyun County has begun to take shape as a “growth paradise for rural students.” With the push of the Miyun County Education Commission, 11 municipal-level extracurricular activity stations in towns have been established, three of which are rural school youth palaces. Nowadays, a total of 36,662 primary and secondary school students are studying in Miyun County, and they are enjoying a “rich campus life” brought by quality education.
Dongshaoqu Town Primary School emphasizes traditional arts; its soccer and basketball teams win regional championships
Walking into Dongshaoqu Town Central Primary School in Miyun County, Beijing, on the spacious playground, several groups of students are happily running on the soccer and basketball fields. The school authorities introduce that the school sets up “club activities” for students every week, covering five major categories including subject field expansion, physical fitness, science and technology information, and comprising 36 sub-projects.
Since 2005, with calligraphy as a flagship, the school has established various traditional art activity groups including hard and soft pen calligraphy, painting, opera, folk art, choir, and guzheng. The school has hired seven external experts specializing in Peking Opera, choir, guzheng, and other traditional art forms. Students have performed on external stages multiple times, with many winning awards in municipal competitions. In this “rural school” located 20 kilometers from the county town, extracurricular activities have narrowed the gap between the countryside and the city. Under the dedicated guidance of their teachers, students find joy beyond their studies in their respective interest groups.
In 2013, the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams of Dongshaoqu Town Central Primary School won first place in the Miyun County competition, and the girls’ basketball team also claimed the championship. Teachers at the school said students are highly enthusiastic about sports activities such as soccer, basketball, and table tennis. The club activities, combined with the school’s physical education classes, provide an excellent platform for exercise. Officials from the County Education Commission noted that Miyun County has always emphasized students' physical training, requiring each school to ensure students run for half an hour every day.
Tan Ying Primary School highlights ethnic minority characteristics; its martial arts program wins national second prize
In the northeast of Miyun County, Tan Ying was originally a garrison site for the Manchu and Mongol banners of the Qing Dynasty. Tan Ying Primary School, established 70 years ago, now has 30% of its students from Manchu and Mongolian ethnic groups. The school has consistently upheld the educational philosophy of inheriting ethnic traditions, and in addition to academics, focuses on organizing ethnic-themed extracurricular activities. Among them, the martial arts team won the national second prize in the performance category at the National Ethnic Games with a set routine called “Mongolian Equestrian Skills,” and the horsehead fiddle team has twice won first prize at the municipal level.
As a municipal-level base school for ethnic sports in Beijing, Tan Ying Primary School has hired teachers who graduated from the Martial Arts Department of Beijing Sport University to lead martial arts-related extracurricular activities. To prevent injuries, the school specially laid anti-fall mats on the training grounds. Over the past five years, the martial arts team has grown from nothing to having three levels of squads. Students never complain about the strenuous training, and many even give up their holidays to voluntarily come to school for extra practice.
Nowadays, extracurricular club activities at Tan Ying Primary School have been incorporated into teachers’ workloads. The school has brought in a professional horsehead fiddle teacher from Inner Mongolia to teach students. Moreover, the school has formed its own teacher horsehead fiddle club to act as a supporting group, ensuring the sustainability of the activity while strengthening student management.
A non-Beijing resident student representative said that when she first came to the school, she didn’t dare to speak to her classmates. After joining extracurricular interest clubs, she gradually gained confidence, and even became more motivated in her studies. “Extracurricular activities have brought me happiness,” she said. The principal of Tan Ying Primary School introduced that the school’s future goal is to strive to make the activities meet the needs of all students. The school facilities remain open year-round, with outreach covering the entire Miyun County.