Evening News reporter Yang Yuhong reports
The physical fitness of primary and secondary school students has been declining year by year. How can we boost students' interest and enthusiasm in sports? Recently, Nanyang High School in Xuhui District introduced an elective course — "Rock Climbing" — which has been well received by students. It is reported that the school will build a climbing wall inside the gymnasium to give more students the opportunity to experience this challenging sport.
Declining student fitness is linked to lack of exercise
Last year, a citywide survey on the physical health of middle school students found that the rate of poor eyesight remained high, with an overall detection rate of 70.25%. Among students aged 7 to 18, the rate of poor eyesight increased rapidly with age. Compared to 2005, the overall detection rate of poor eyesight among Shanghai students aged 7 to 22 rose by 5.34 percentage points; the obesity screening rate was significantly higher for boys than girls, and compared to previous years, the proportion of students who were overweight or obese also increased.
Nowadays, living conditions are getting better, so why are students’ physical conditions getting worse? Chen Hongguan, Party Committee Secretary and Vice Principal of Nanyang High School, found that students’ physical condition is related to their current level of physical activity. Some high school students reduce their exercise time due to academic pressure, while others lack interest in activities such as long-distance running or ball games... As students exercise less, their ability to endure hardship also weakens, making them more prone to injuries during activities like pull-ups or long-distance running.
How to encourage students to participate in more sports? Nanyang High School, known for its sports specialties, offers a rich “menu” of activities. In addition to ensuring basic physical education classes, the school also provides distinctive electives such as football, badminton, rock climbing, and curling.
Over 70 students compete for 30 spots
Can rock climbing be promoted among students, combining sports and education to strengthen students’ willpower and improve their resilience? A idea by Yu Donghang, principal of Nanyang High School, received a positive response. Wang Maogong, Party Working Committee Secretary of Xuhui District Education Bureau, and Li Mingyi, Director of Xuhui District Sports Bureau, quickly agreed to launch a pilot program at Nanyang High School. They commissioned the Shanghai Mountaineering Association to send professional coaches to offer a "Rock Climbing" elective course to first-year high school students.
Since it was a beginner-level course, and considering teaching effectiveness and student safety, the climbing lessons were held at the Shanghai Stadium Climbing Gym. Liu Guobin, a physical education teacher at the school, explained that as soon as the climbing course was announced, over 70 students signed up. After screening based on factors like physique, 30 students were selected as the first group of participants.
Rock climbing is a sport that challenges oneself, and injuries such as abrasions and blisters often occur during practice. Would parents be concerned? Regarding this, Chen Hongguan explained that before the course began, the school invited experts from the Mountaineering Association to give lectures at the school, educating all students about...outdoorsports and key points of safety precautions. In addition, the school purchased extra accident insurance for students taking the elective. Beyond setting up a safety net, the school also invited top climbers — Li Chunhua and Wang Ran — to demonstrate techniques for the students.
Building a climbing wall to let more students experience it
"Rock climbing," commonly known as the "ballet on the wall," may look cool, but it’s not easy once you get started. Professional climbing shoes are two or three sizes smaller than regular shoes, and the entire foot is curled up to grip the holds better. After the initial excitement fades, how many students will stay? Liu Guobin said that out of the 30 students, not a single one backed out, and they all gained something.
Upon hearing that the school would offer a free rock climbing course, Zhang Zhen, a curious student from Class 1 of Grade 10, signed up for the elective. When he tried it for the first time, he noticed some difficulties: "Although the instructors were very skilled, when I tried it myself, I found my strength wasn’t enough and it was quite tiring." Seeing the instructors patiently explaining and demonstrating, his curiosity was reignited. After practicing for a while, he can now easily climb to the top. He also discovered his own athletic potential and realized that perseverance is key to accomplishing anything. ”
In November last year, Shanghai hosted its first Rock Climbing Championship. Some students from the class signed up for the youth division and ultimately won three first-place awards.
Chen Hongguan explained that the Nanyang High School gymnasium, currently under renovation, will feature a dedicated climbing wall to give more students the opportunity to experience this challenging sport.