Spending time outdoors with their children has become a daily compulsory activity for many parents in Shanghai since kids have been banned from playing during their break at some elementary schools, according to Shanghai Morning Post.
School authorities say naughty kids always act up during breaks and sometimes injure themselves from falls and tumbles. In order to ensure child safety, teachers have to keep all students in the classroom during the break.
Parents disagree with the schools' decision, saying canceling outdoor activities is bad for children's growth.
Educational experts say outdoor activities are absolutely necessary for juvenile. Safety concerns are not an excuse for forbidding them. School authorities should be responsible for teaching children how to avoid dangerous activities, not evade their duties.
(CRI November 28, 2006)