Children's Day loses some joy in China
Source: Xinhua |
June 1, 2010, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
FROM increased security guards to cutting back outdoor celebratory activities, primary schools and kindergartens across China have tightened campus security ahead of today's International Children's Day following a string of deadly attacks on young students.
At junior schools in the eastern cities of Jinan and Nanjing, parents are now required to show a special pass or are even filmed when they drop off or pick up children.
In addition to helmeted campus security guards armed with batons and pepper spray, police officers patrol school areas, which are cordoned off at arrival and departure times.
"We had planned to celebrate International Children's Day in parks and in the school playground," said Gu Na, a teacher with the No. 2 Primary School Affiliated to Shandong University in Jinan.
"We dropped the plan because of security concerns and decided to hold celebrations in classrooms.
"Unlike in previous years, celebrations will be shortened to a single day this year, instead of five days."
In Beijing, education authorities have asked primary schools and kindergartens to reduce or cancel outdoor celebrations.
Security checks will be conducted for the first time at all entrances to the Working People's Cultural Palace in downtown Beijing, where large outdoor celebrations are held on June 1 every year with the participation of thousands of children.
The Ministry of Education, the All-China Women's Federation and 16 other agencies jointly issued a circular requiring local authorities nationwide to take measures to ensure children's safety during celebrations.
In southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, police are setting up 10,000 more security cameras around schools this year.
In the most recent atrocity, a 48-year-old man killed seven children and two women with a meat cleaver at a kindergarten in northwest Shaanxi Province on May 12. The man committed suicide.
At junior schools in the eastern cities of Jinan and Nanjing, parents are now required to show a special pass or are even filmed when they drop off or pick up children.
In addition to helmeted campus security guards armed with batons and pepper spray, police officers patrol school areas, which are cordoned off at arrival and departure times.
"We had planned to celebrate International Children's Day in parks and in the school playground," said Gu Na, a teacher with the No. 2 Primary School Affiliated to Shandong University in Jinan.
"We dropped the plan because of security concerns and decided to hold celebrations in classrooms.
"Unlike in previous years, celebrations will be shortened to a single day this year, instead of five days."
In Beijing, education authorities have asked primary schools and kindergartens to reduce or cancel outdoor celebrations.
Security checks will be conducted for the first time at all entrances to the Working People's Cultural Palace in downtown Beijing, where large outdoor celebrations are held on June 1 every year with the participation of thousands of children.
The Ministry of Education, the All-China Women's Federation and 16 other agencies jointly issued a circular requiring local authorities nationwide to take measures to ensure children's safety during celebrations.
In southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, police are setting up 10,000 more security cameras around schools this year.
In the most recent atrocity, a 48-year-old man killed seven children and two women with a meat cleaver at a kindergarten in northwest Shaanxi Province on May 12. The man committed suicide.
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