The government has launched a campaign to teach primary and middle school students more about legal affairs.
The campaign was initiated in Shenyang, capital of the northeastern Liaoning Province, and has been followed by many other cities.
In these cities, each primary or middle school has invited a law expert from local judicial departments to work as deputy headmaster in charge of legal affairs.
Law education has been included in the school curricula, and the special deputy headmaster is responsible for holding teaching activities such as lectures on legal affairs and simulated court hearings.
Meanwhile, the deputy headmaster also helps improve security around the school to ensure the safety of students.
In Shenyang, special textbooks have been published to standardize the teaching of legal affairs in primary and middle schools.
The campaign has resulted in a drop in juvenile crime in these cities, the sources said.
(Xinhua News Agency January 7, 2003)