Go straight to the first day of school in many places across the country: Can after-school services meet the needs of students and parents?
Different from previous years, the first new semester after the implementation of the "double reduction" policy has attracted much attention.
More than a month ago, on July 24, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council issued the "Opinions on Further Reducing the Burden of Compulsory Education Students’ Homework and Off-campus Training" ("double reduction" policy), clarifying that off-campus training institutions shall not be occupied National statutory holidays, rest days and winter and summer vacations organize subject training, and at the same time, it is proposed to comprehensively reduce the total amount and duration of homework and improve the school's after-school service level.
On September 1st, "Mythical Beasts Returned", new students enrolled, and China's education reform stood at a new starting point.
Compared with the past, have parents' mindsets about off-campus training changed?
Regarding the "delayed service after class", what preparations have the school made, and how much do parents expect?
Can the "stress" of the students really be relieved?
On the first day of school, The Paper interviewed teachers, parents and students in many cities.
Head teacher of Beijing No. 1 Primary School:
After-school services are well received by parents, and "expansion classes" are the most popular
On September 1, 1.4 million primary and middle school students in Beijing started a new semester.
In the past few days, a series of regulations issued by the Beijing Municipal Education Commission have all aroused widespread concern, such as providing at least 2 hours of after-school service every day in primary and secondary schools, and starting school hours no earlier than 8:20 in primary schools.
Li Shuai (pseudonym) works in a municipal demonstration elementary school in Xicheng District, Beijing. This school year, he served as the sixth-grade class teacher, teaching mathematics.
On the first day of school, he told The Paper that after the "double reduction" policy, he felt a lot of changes.
The most concerned is undoubtedly the after-school service.
Li Shuai introduced to The Paper, taking his school as an example.
Every day at 3:30 in the afternoon, students end the day's course, and the next two hours are after-school service hours.
"After-school service is divided into two stages," Li Shuai told The Paper. The first stage is from 3:30 to 4:30. "In this hour, students are guaranteed to have 20 minutes of sports activities, and another 40 minutes are arranged. Students complete the homework of the day and arrange for teachers to answer questions. This part is also mandatory for students, and the second part is for students to sign up voluntarily." Li Shuai said that between 4:30 and 5:30, the school designed three forms , Respectively called "interest class", "expanding class" and "custodial class".
Li Shuai said, "Interest Class", as the name suggests, the school will provide students with some interest courses, so that students can develop their interests, such as football, basketball and other sports and chorus, musical instruments and other art projects, excluding cultural courses.
Involving the content of cultural courses is the "expansion class".
Li Shuai said that the extension class includes major subjects such as language, mathematics, English, "but it is clearly stipulated that the course content is not allowed to be taught in advance, and mathematics is not allowed to teach Mathematical Olympiad." It is to "solve the problem of not having enough to eat for the students who study eugenics."
Li Shuai said frankly that the opening of the expansion class "can give parents who have cancelled the cram school for their children peace of mind", because it involves cultural teaching, the expansion class is also the most favored by parents. "Therefore, there is no place for the expansion class in the school. limited".
The custody class will arrange some reading, entertainment projects and other content.
Li Shuai told The Paper that after-school services will officially start on September 6, and all three courses are free.
Parents and students can sign up according to their own wishes, "Choose one from Monday to Friday, and click this for the whole semester."
Judging from the current registration situation, after-school services are well received by parents.
In addition to after-school services, according to the latest regulations of the Beijing Municipal Education Commission, the school hours of elementary schools should not be earlier than 8:20 in the morning. Earlier, there were voices questioning "Although the school hours are late, there are morning readings and morning exams, and soups and medicines are changed." .
In response to this statement, Li Shuai said, “Classes start at 8:20, and students enter the class before 8:15. There is only a 5-minute morning check. There is absolutely no case of early morning check and class." Li Shuai told The Paper before the implementation of the New Deal. , The students enter the class at 7:30 in the morning, "Reading early, handing in homework, etc., are now cancelled. Students can enter the class five minutes earlier."
After the "double reduction" policy, homework problems have also received great attention.
According to the latest requirements, in grades three to six in elementary school, the total amount of written assignments scheduled per day should not exceed one hour.
Li Shuai introduced that the school has also made great changes in homework.
He showed the "Schedule of Assignments" to The Paper. According to the school's requirements, only two main subject assignments can be arranged every day, four times each in Chinese and Mathematics and two in English within a week.
Will the lack of homework affect the quality of students' learning?
"Reducing the amount of homework is a major trend in recent years, and it has been implemented. This is not sudden," Li Shuai said of his own views. "I think classroom teaching is more important. Reducing homework will not affect the quality of learning. Have too much influence."
What worries Li Shuai is the "Notice on Strengthening the Management of Examinations in Compulsory Education Schools" recently issued by the Ministry of Education, which clearly states that no paper-based examinations will be conducted in the first and second grades of primary schools. The school organizes a final examination every semester for other grades.
Li Shuai told The Paper that because school has just started, the school has no clear rules for examinations.
In his view, how to define "examination" is a problem that needs to be clarified. Li Shuai is a little worried. If there is only one final exam, it may cause problems that can't figure out the level of students.
Parents of a primary school student in Xi'an:
Be cautious about policies such as "delayed classes" and did not give up off-campus custody classes
Zhu Yun (pseudonym), the parent of Lele (pseudonym), a third-grade student in Xi’an No. 1 Primary School, told The Paper that although Lele’s school has implemented after-school service policies, it is not for "double reduction" and after-school "delayed classes" The effect, she thinks it takes a period of observation to draw a conclusion.
According to Zhu Yun, the after-school service provided by Lele's school is commonly known as "Delayed Class".
Although it is voluntary to participate in principle, "but the teacher is more euphemistic when he informs, and the teacher asks those who do not want to participate in the'delayed class' to tell her in a private message." With the "mobilization" of the parents of the family committee, Zhu Yun reported to Lele. Postponement class", "Of the 54 children in the class, 53 of them have participated in the postponement class. The one who did not participate is due to special circumstances."
Lele School’s "Deferred Class" charges 140 yuan a month, in addition to 600 yuan for food per semester.
"Extended shift" from 4:10 pm to 6:30 pm, during which one hour for homework and one hour for activities.
Zhu Yun said that the reason she was reluctant to let Lele participate in the "delayed class" at first was because Lele may not be able to complete it in one hour according to the daily workload of Lele in the previous two years.
However, Zhu Yun's concerns will be improved in the new semester.
An article titled “These changes will be made in the new semester in Xi’an” previously issued by the Xi’an Education Bureau mentioned that in order to implement the “double reduction” policy, Xi’an will ensure that no homework is assigned to the first and second grades of primary schools. The average completion time of the sixth grade written homework is no more than 60 minutes, and the average completion time of the junior high school written homework is no more than 90 minutes.
Students who participate in after-school services promote primary school homework not to leave school, and junior high school students complete most of their written homework in school.
In addition, Zhu Yun also said that although there are teachers who are also tutoring students to do homework, she is worried that the school's "delayed class" is a large class, and the teacher may not be able to take care of it.
The off-campus custody class is a small class with only a few children, and is familiar with the teacher, and the teacher can find problems in time.
Zhu Yun was cautious about the new services such as the "Delayed Class" launched by the school in the new semester and did not give up the off-campus trusteeship class.
Zhu Yun said that Lele has been in an off-campus custody class since the first grade. The cost of custody per semester is 4,600 yuan. Generally, a teacher takes four to six children.
When school ends at 4:10 pm, the students will be picked up by the trustee class teacher.
Generally, at around 8:30 in the evening, parents will pick up their children from the custody class. “Some parents will pick up their children after nine or even ten o’clock if something happens temporarily. Other parents will go to the custody class early to watch the child. Do homework together. Under normal circumstances, children will finish their homework in the nursing class.” The nursing class also has a special kitchen and aunts to cook.
She introduced that the teachers of the off-campus trusteeship class will help students write homework and arrange some "dual-teacher classrooms" in due course, that is, the teachers of the trusteeship class will teach the corresponding knowledge to help students consolidate the school's learning achievements.
In addition, Zhu Yun said that in accordance with the new policy, Lele's school also postponed the morning arrival time.
I used to arrive at school at 7:50, but now I arrive at school before 8:40 (you don’t get school before 8:00).
"Today (September 1), some parents said that they were late for work in order to send their children to school." Therefore, some custody classes have also launched a targeted "early care" service. Parents can send their children to custody after 7 o'clock. The parents then go to work, and the parent class teacher will send the children to school on time.
In front of a primary school in Chengdu:
Almost all advertisements are non-disciplinary training institutions, and some parents plan to register for weekend interest classes
Starting at 5 pm on September 1, parents who came to pick up their children from school gradually gathered in front of an elementary school in Jinjiang District, Chengdu.
Most of the crowd are elderly people of grandparents, and the young Mr. You seems more "special": he has relatively free working hours and can pick up children at this point.
With the implementation of the "double reduction" policy, the time for children's out-of-school training is reduced, and post-school services after school are particularly important.
In comparison, Chengdu practiced the "Delayed After Class" service earlier, and has begun to promote it in the spring semester of 2019.
Mr. You told The Paper that the child in his family has just entered the first grade this year, and school is over at 3:30 in the afternoon. The school provides post-class services until 5:30 in the afternoon, and "charges 198 yuan per month."
“It’s still unclear what the child does in the delayed class. If I just stay in school and the teacher helps to "bring the baby", it actually doesn’t make much sense. If I have time, I might choose to take the child out and participate. Some hobby training." Mr. You said.
The Paper noted that at the gate of this elementary school, there are still off-campus training institutions that come to distribute admission flyers to parents, but almost all come from non-disciplinary institutions that are less affected by the "double reduction" policy, such as for 4-12 years old. Children’s "physical training classes", as well as art classes, children's programming, etc.
This kind of scene is different from the previous "special occasion" when various discipline training institutions at the school gate rushed to hand out flyers.
However, Mr. You believes that he, like many parents, "holds a wait-and-see attitude" as to how effective the "double reduction" policy will be after it is implemented.
Mr. You agrees with the view that "the key to reducing the burden lies in the school", "it is necessary to improve the quality and efficiency of school education in order to reduce the need for training outside the school."
He believes that in the future, he may continue to apply for some non-disciplinary tutoring classes based on children's interests. "Teaching knowledge to children is the business of school teachers. I believe they are more professional."
Recently, the Ministry of Education issued regulations that no paper-based exams will be taken in the first and second grades of elementary schools, and there will be final exams every semester for other grades.
Mr. You is also very concerned about this. He believes that examinations are a "habit" for many years. If there is no examination in the first and second grades, "how to judge what the children have learned and whether they have learned well", in addition, no paper and pen test will be taken. , "Will you use iPads and mobile phones to take exams?" It remains to be seen.
Mr. Bai told The Paper that the child is in the fourth grade this year. He had participated in the extended service until 5:20 in the afternoon. The start of this semester was delayed until 5:30 in the afternoon, "10 minutes more."
According to his understanding, the child’s school has two delayed service classes, which are to allow the child to do homework and read books at school, "carried by the head teacher or deputy head teacher."
According to him, the fourth grade only has Chinese and math homework, "no English", "the child can basically finish the homework during the delayed class, and very few take home."
However, in Mr. Bai's view, the school's post-class service is "difficult to replace off-campus tutoring classes."
"The off-campus training arranged by our family is still continuing, but the time has been adjusted to Monday to Friday evening." Mr. Bai said that he plans to enroll his children in interest classes on weekends.
It is undeniable that the extended service after school does bring convenience to parents.
"Before the delayed service, the child ended school at 4 pm. At that time, I was at work and could only entrust others or the elderly at home to pick it up. Now after the delay, I can pick up the child." Mr. Bai said, a friend The child goes to junior high school. "Because of the'double reduction', it is now 20:30 after school. You can eat two meals at school and have evening self-study."
In the opinion of Mr. Wang, a parent of a fourth-grade student in a primary school in Wuhou District, Chengdu, the extended service at the school has really reduced the pressure on parents.
He told The Paper that the post-class service provided by the school is from 3:30 pm to 5:40 pm, "mainly students do homework, or teachers explain test papers."
"After the delayed class is over, the child still has a little homework when he goes home. There should be no time to go to the training class. On weekends, he is not allowed to participate in out-of-school training." The parent said that his child also has various interests in the extended service at the school. Classes are available for selection, so the off-campus "interest class" is not necessary.
Parents of Chongqing Junior Three Students:
Faced with the pressure of entering school, or anxiety
At around 7:50 pm on September 1, Xiaojie (pseudonym) went to study in the evening, returned home, and added a meal.
Xiaojie is a junior (seventh grade) student in a well-known middle school in Yubei District, Chongqing.
She said that the school had morning self-study at 7:45 a.m. every morning during this semester, and early self-study only had 15 minutes.
There are 4 classes in the morning, and the afternoon classes are divided into Monday to Thursday and Friday.
"Classes start at 2:30 pm from Monday to Thursday, eat and rest after three classes at 4:50, self-study at 6:25, and go home at 7:20; Friday is 2 pm Class starts and ends at 4:20, and there is no self-study in the evening."
Xiaojie said that during the evening self-study on the first day of school, the teacher talked about the class rules and the general arrangements for the evening self-study. "The teacher said that half of the evening self-study time is the key and difficult points of the teacher’s assignment of homework on the day, and we write it ourselves in the second half. Homework. Go home and write if you can't finish it at school."
According to Chongqing’s new requirements for students’ homework, Xiaojie should complete the written homework for at most half an hour after returning home from school even if her studies are tight.
On August 30, the Chongqing Academy of Educational Sciences issued a notice requiring that the average total time to complete written assignments in various disciplines in junior high schools should not exceed 90 minutes per day.
In addition to the municipal level, some districts and counties in Chongqing have also made specific arrangements for the implementation of the "double reduction" work.
Take Yubei District as an example. This year, the Yubei District Committee held a special meeting on after-school service issues and put forward new requirements: First, service hours: After-school service hours in primary and secondary schools are after school until 18:00 , Divided into two periods, the first period is after school to 17:00, the second period is from 17:00 to 18:00; the second is the service content: the first period of service content is mainly to guide students to complete their homework, the second period The main purpose is to carry out a variety of popular science, culture, art, labor, reading, interest groups and club activities. Primary school students who participate in after-school services will no longer assign written homework; the third is the charging standard: the first period will be charged by the finances per student per month The 80 yuan standard is guaranteed according to the facts. The second period is based on the principle of voluntary participation, and the service fee is charged to the parents at the standard of 80 yuan per child per month.
In addition, Yubei also requires full labor classes to ensure that the extracurricular and family labor time is no less than 2-3 hours; to effectively strengthen the school physical education curriculum and extracurricular physical exercises, to carry out good sports games; to carry out in-depth assessment and evaluation of the artistic quality of primary and secondary school students Supervision and evaluation of aesthetic education.
The staff of the Education Commission of Yubei District said that because the school has just started, the specific results have yet to be tested.
But for the parents of junior high school students, their anxiety may not be alleviated in the first semester under the "double reduction" policy.
"Next year will be the senior high school entrance examination. Which parent does not want his doll to take a good school? The baton remains the same, which parent dares to relax? Don't talk about us, the kids are all fighting." said Chen Ye (pseudonym), the parent of Chongqing junior high school students. .
The father of a junior high school student in Beibei District, Chongqing City (a pseudonym) is also quite anxious.
Shuangshuang’s English and math scores are not very good and need to be improved. In May of this year, her father selected a Chongqing local after-school education and guidance agency for her. It’s nearly 400 yuan per lesson."
The day after the "Shuangshui" opinion was released, Shuangshuang's head teacher posted a form on WeChat, asking parents to fill in whether their children were making up lessons outside the home.
In early August, after discussing with them, the father and daughter decided to suspend making up classes outside.
Mr. Zhu said that the last time I went to class, there were only six or seven students in the training institution. Every time I went there, basically 40 or 50 students made up classes there.
Shuangshuang’s father told The Paper that the school’s after-school service has not yet officially operated. He has expectations about the effects of the after-school service, but he can’t rest assured.