In the bustling city of Lishui, Zhejiang province, eastern China, a young boy’s inventive ploy to sidestep school and its ensuing consequences became the center of social media amusement. The lengths that the seven-year-old went to avoid facing repercussions for not doing his homework offers a humorous yet thought-provoking insight into the significant academic pressures that Chinese children experience.
When faced with the daunting prospect of going to school without his corrected test papers, the child hatched a plan. He called the police, alleging that he was a victim of domestic violence perpetrated by his own father. Swiftly responding to such a grave claim, the officers immediately initiated an inquiry.
A widely-shared video clip from the incident shows a concerned officer gently questioning the boy, asking, “Did you call the police? Who hit you?” With an almost theatrical display of sorrow, the boy softly murmurs, “My dad”. Testing the child’s claim, the officer lightly taps him on the back and inquires if the purported hit was similar. The boy nods in agreement, but the officer, growing increasingly skeptical, remarks, “But that wasn’t very hard.”
Subsequent investigations unraveled the truth behind the boy’s claims. He had crafted this intricate tale as a diversion from his uncorrected homework. However, instead of reprimanding the imaginative child, the compassionate officer offered to tutor him. “Let uncle first finish correcting the test paper for you, then I’ll take you to school,” the officer gently proposed, emphasizing the importance of education.
The incident was met with a mix of amusement and reflection on mainland social media. While many lauded the boy’s quick thinking, they also stressed the importance of recognizing the serious implications of making a false report. Comments ranged from light-hearted jests about the boy’s lack of foresight to more profound observations about the need to educate children on the gravity of raising false alarms.
The story is emblematic of the broader societal pressures in China, where academic achievement is highly prized. Often, children are inundated with vast amounts of homework, frequent exams, and extended tutoring sessions that spill over into weekends and late evenings. The Chinese government, recognizing these immense pressures, has implemented measures to alleviate the academic load. The “double reduction policy,” introduced in July 2021, seeks to reduce the academic and financial strains on students and their families by regulating after-school tutoring.
Interestingly, this is not the only quirky tale of a child trying to escape academic responsibilities. Another anecdote from Zhejiang province involves a young boy who resorted to tossing SOS notes labeled “help me” from his bedroom window, hoping to find a way out of his homework duties. While these stories bring smiles, they also serve as a poignant reminder of the pressing need to address and balance the academic demands placed on children.
READ MORE: