Yesterday, at Chaoyang Experimental Primary School, a boy was practicing rock climbing. The school has launched a "little men" training program, offering special courses for boys. Photo by Pu Feng, a reporter from Beijing News.
Beijing News (Reporter Du Ding) Rock climbing, nunchucks—these once high-risk sports dismissed by schools—have now become featured courses. Yesterday, news from the Chaoyang District Education Commission said that in order to nurture boys with a bold and masculine spirit from childhood, Chaoyang Experimental Primary School has added seven "macho" courses such as soccer and rock climbing.
Little boys too 'soft'? Elective courses get a 'makeover'
The launch of the "little men" training program stems from some concerns of Chen Lihua, principal of Chaoyang Experimental Primary School. At the start of the new school year this year, Chen noticed in first-grade classrooms that many boys were afraid to answer questions loudly, overreacted to minor injuries, and even cried during breaks to report being bullied by girls. "They’re clearly little boys, yet more timid than girls."
To help boys become more "macho," Chaoyang Experimental Primary School has added seven special elective courses every Tuesday afternoon specifically for boys, including sports like soccer, basketball, and rock climbing. Plans are underway to introduce more intense activities like wrestling and rugby in the future. Meanwhile, hands-on projects boys enjoy, such as computer science, circuitry, and robotics, are also part of the special curriculum.
Physical fitness tests included in primary school performance evaluations
It’s not just Chaoyang Experimental Primary School toughening up boys—other primary and secondary schools in Chaoyang District are also experimenting with reforming physical education programs based on students’ interests. For example, Baijiazhuang Primary School customizes different PE courses and activities each year according to students’ physical conditions. The school has also formed a club for overweight students, who arrive half an hour early every morning for weight-loss exercises.
According to Jiang Jiwei, deputy director of the Chaoyang District Education Commission, to enhance students' physical health, the district has tripled the weight of physical education scores in this year's school political performance evaluations compared to previous years. Physical health test results have also been incorporated into primary school performance assessments.
■ On-site Report
"Hnnngh, haaa!" Time to use the nunchucks
"Come on, come on..." At 10:30 a.m. yesterday, in front of the rock climbing wall on the north field of Beijing Chaoyang Experimental Primary School, a dozen elementary students were looking up and cheering for their classmates scaling the wall.
On the climbing wall, a young boy gripped the holds tightly with both hands, slowly lifting one foot to tentatively step on a higher rock. Losing his grip, he slipped down, but a nearby PE teacher quickly stepped forward and caught him.
At the other end of the field, several boys stood with one hand on their hips, the other swinging nunchucks with practiced flair, performing back whips and shoulder passes while rhythmically chanting "hnnngh, haaa!"
These sports are all part of the special curriculum. Xu, a second-grade student from Class 4, loves rock climbing because it builds arm strength. "I can climb to the top now. Since learning this, I’ve become braver and more confident." Huang, a sixth-grade student from Class 2, feels the special courses have made him more of a man. "I used to be a bit spoiled and shy, but now I’m not afraid of anything."
■ Background
Students’ fitness linked to district government performance
In recent years, although PE teachers take various protective measures during organized sports activities, accidents still occur, making teachers hesitant to push students too hard. Some schools have simply stopped organizing rigorous PE activities or even canceled spring and autumn outings.
A municipal education commission official stated that to encourage districts and counties to improve the physical health of primary and secondary school students, starting last year, the municipal government included the "percentage of primary and secondary school students meeting or exceeding the passing standards of the National Student Physical Health Criteria" in the "Beijing District and County Economic and Social Performance Evaluation System" as one of the key performance indicators for local governments.
Additionally, this year Beijing introduced the "Three-Year Action Plan for Promoting Physical Education in Primary and Secondary Schools (2013-2015)." Starting in the autumn of 2013, the Beijing municipal government will allocate 7 million yuan to provide public primary and secondary schools with liability insurance for non-negligent incidents, reducing risks for students participating in PE activities both on and off campus.