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A father teaches his son and other kids at home in Beijing. [File photo / QQ.com] |
A recent survey conducted by the 21st-Century Education Research Institute suggests that around 18,000 students in China are being homeschooled.
According to the survey, the top five motivations for homeschooling are: objection to the teaching methods in traditional schools (54.19 percent of surveyed families), the slow pace of lessons (9.5 percent), lack of respect for students in school (7.26 percent ), becoming tired with school life (6.07 percent) and religious reasons (5.59 percent).
Of the children in the families covered by the survey, 62.01 percent used to study in traditional schools, and 37.99 percent have never been to a traditional school.
Zheng Yuanjie, a popular children’s book writer, was a pioneer of homeschooling. As well as teaching his son, he also wrote his own textbooks.
"I don't have confidence in the current education system," Zheng said in a previous interview. He remembered that his son was locked in a dark closet by a teacher as punishment, and even when Zheng helped write a composition for his son, the teacher did not accept the writing style.
"The education system ignores moral education: unconditionally loving and respecting every child," he said. Chinese teachers often praise students because of their grades and appearances. Education methods are rigid.
Zheng’s son has now grown up and is the CEO of a cultural company.
Leng Shan, a freelance translator, also quit his job several years ago to homeschool his son, teaching him English, French and German. "Choosing a school is a big problem in Beijing. When you teach your children at home, you can avoid a lot of troubles and it is safer."
Yuan Peishen, a native resident in Qingdao, Shandong Province, also teaches his son with his wife at home. "We hope he can develop freely, unrestricted by the current Chinese education system. Besides, many things school teaches now are not useful. "
Yuan and his wife have taught their son traditional Chinese culture and literature. However, many parents are worried that a lack of contact with other kids has a bad influence on the psychology of homeschooled children. "We have brought our son to community to participate in children's activities as much as possible," Yuan said.
The survey has shown that 45.81 percent of families that choose homeschooling put the mother in charge, and only 24.58 percent choose the father. In 24.02 of cases, responsibilities are shared between teachers. Only 1.68 percent choose private tutors.
Xiong Bingqi, vice president of the 21st-Century Education Research Institute, told the Xinhua News Agency that parents choose homeschooling because they have issues with current education system. As homeschooling becomes more popular, it is set to influence the traditional education system.
But Xiong also raised question for homeschooling, "China has no regulations and laws to regulate the model. Parents' teaching ability, qualifications and grading are under question."
By comparison, the United States has more than 2 million homeschooled kids. States have different laws and regulations for homeschooling. The legality of homeschooling in the United States has been debated since compulsory education began in 1852.
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