SCHOOLING IN CHINA By: Hayli King

SCHOOLING  School for students ages is required but free  Schooling is free but students must pay for uniforms and books  An average school year starts in the beginning of September and ends in the middle of July  The students’ summer break is usually spent in summer classes, studying for entrance exams, or with tutors

TEACHERS  In most schools, teachers make just enough to support their families  When choosing a job, teachers take in consideration not only salary, but the conditions of the school  These conditions include school hours, the types of students who attend the school, and the school’s dedication to their staff

TRANSPORTATION  Most students take public transportation or walk to school  Some schools provide buses for students in the mornings and after school  Most students walk to and from school during their lunch break

AN AVERAGE SCHOOL DAY  School usually runs from 7:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.  Students have about ten minutes in between their forty- minute classes  Students have a two- hour- long lunch break which most students spend napping or studying  Dedicated students stay for hours, after school ends, to study or work with teachers and personal tutors

CUSTOMS DURING SCHOOL  Every morning, students stand quietly while the flag is raised and the principal gives a lecture  If a student misbehaves, they are punished by being forced to stand in the back of the classroom  The top two rules in every school are “Love the motherland” and “Cherish the group”

WHAT THEY LEARN  Students start to learn the English language from early on in their schooling  Students learn Math, History, and Science in every grade  They also learn Chinese (like our English or Language) in primary school

CLASSES  In most schools, there are 5 or 6 classrooms in every grade  Teachers specialize in a specific subject  Students stay in the same room while teachers go to each classroom and teach their subject

COLLEGE  After going to their nine years of mandatory schooling, less then half of the students go to college  Most students immediately start work in factories or where their parents work

SCHOOLS  Most schools do not have heating or air conditioning  Most schools have a field where students can spend their recess  Wealthier schools may have a dirt soccer field

CHINESE EYE EXERCISES  Students do eye exercises frequently during their long school days to relax and concentrate  These exercises are based on ancient acupressure to prevent nearsightedness  These exercises include massaging your temples and eyelids