KC Hill
Dexter
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Craig Hill
Oracle of DelphiChina: Child Soldiers At High School
October 16th 2008 16:26
Getting chased by the Chinese police again for taking unauthorised photos didn't worry me that much. It was the realisation that those photos possibly showed that every single man, woman and child in China is probably a trained soldier.
I have put some of these photos, along with classroom pictures of the same students, into a picture slide show. The story follows, and explains, the video.
I returned to my teaching job in Jiangdu, near Nanjing, after the summer break in 2003, but arrived three days earlier than the school had expected. I noticed they were a little concerned, but didn't think much of it. I moved back into my apartment inside the school compound, and started to unpack.
Looking out my window, I was surprised to see the students, still on summer break, exiting from their dormitory block wearing army fatigues. A short while later, it became apparent that most of the younger ones in senior high school were dressed this way. And all carrying guns.
Then it became bizarre. While they were wearing full combat gear, their footwear was very much civilian, such as joggers and sandals. I even noticed, with initial amusement, that one of the girls was wearing pink fluffy slippers, hardly in keeping with jungle warfare. Then the true nature of it hit me. She was carrying a rifle slung over her right shoulder.
In her left hand, she was carrying her teddy bear.
These kids are about 13 or 14. But, because of the Chinese one child policy, most have no interaction with siblings, which limits social development.
This limit on social development is compounded by the amount of time spent at school, and the little time left for recreation and social activities.
Classes at this particular school started at 7.00 am, and finished at 5.15 pm, six days a week. Most students, however, were expected to attend night classes every night, from 6.00 pm to 10.00 pm. This was to complete the lessons they had been unable to complete during the day. Many viewed this as "punishment" for being bad students, not realising that the study expectations were totally unrealistic by established standards used outside China.
So, with just a short 45 minute break for an evening meal, these high school students spent almost all their waking day studying, with considerable homework set for their one day off, Sunday.
To compound these hardships, electricity in the dormitories was turned off at 10.00 pm sharp. So when the students returned to their dorm, they had to find their way around in the dark, including showering in the by-then-cold water (even when it was snowing outside).
This was viewed by many as a further punishment for failing in their studies.
As a result of these psychological traumas, most Chinese children suffered social and psychological development impairment. So, while they may have been 13 or 14, by western standards, their development was often that of an eight year old, or even less.
Later, my driver took me into the village. On the way, we saw long lines of of these student soldiers marching with banners, and controlled by the teachers. My driver told me that I shouldn't be in the village until a few days later, because of the military training.
As explained to me, all students in China must undergo compulsory military training between passing from junior high to senior high school. Sort of like a rite of passage. Such training had apparently been the way of life throughout China for many generations. Teachers at the school later confirmed this.
It was also explained to me that the school I taught in was a special school, because students from all over the province came there for their military training. This was because there were very few foreigners in the village I worked in, and the foreigners were persuaded to leave the village during the training period. This was apparently official Chinese policy.
The driver told me I should not have come back to the village early, because the school did not want foreigners there while the training was on.
I mused back to the previous semester at the school. I had marvelled at the military precision with which the five thousand students at the village's only high school conducted their morning exercises every morning. It was exactly the same time every morning, and the teachers guided the students into rank and file. They all exercised in exact precision. Sort of like a cross between a giant line dancing session, and tai-chi.
Now it became a clear that it was military discipline being instilled each morning, not just exercise. In essence, these were babies learning to kill.
As I was taking pictures of the child soldiers, a Chinese policeman came over and tried to stop the car. The driver said we were in trouble because I was taking pictures, and we must try to get away. We were followed by a police car for about a mile, until the driver managed to lose it. The Chinese are very protective about their military establishments and soldiers being photographed. Myself and others had been through similar experiences before, with a few cameras being confiscated. Most times they were returned, with the photographs deleted, or the film removed.
If what the driver and the teachers told me is true, and I have no reason to doubt them, then every person in China has trained to be a soldier. All 1.4 billion of them.
And that seems to me to be something to keep in mind.
Other related stories by this author about China
01 "China: Streets Of China" posted on Street Beat
02 "Huai'an, China: Bad Times" posted on World Travel
More stories by this author after the following important information
I have put some of these photos, along with classroom pictures of the same students, into a picture slide show. The story follows, and explains, the video.
I returned to my teaching job in Jiangdu, near Nanjing, after the summer break in 2003, but arrived three days earlier than the school had expected. I noticed they were a little concerned, but didn't think much of it. I moved back into my apartment inside the school compound, and started to unpack.
Looking out my window, I was surprised to see the students, still on summer break, exiting from their dormitory block wearing army fatigues. A short while later, it became apparent that most of the younger ones in senior high school were dressed this way. And all carrying guns.
Then it became bizarre. While they were wearing full combat gear, their footwear was very much civilian, such as joggers and sandals. I even noticed, with initial amusement, that one of the girls was wearing pink fluffy slippers, hardly in keeping with jungle warfare. Then the true nature of it hit me. She was carrying a rifle slung over her right shoulder.
In her left hand, she was carrying her teddy bear.
These kids are about 13 or 14. But, because of the Chinese one child policy, most have no interaction with siblings, which limits social development.
This limit on social development is compounded by the amount of time spent at school, and the little time left for recreation and social activities.
Classes at this particular school started at 7.00 am, and finished at 5.15 pm, six days a week. Most students, however, were expected to attend night classes every night, from 6.00 pm to 10.00 pm. This was to complete the lessons they had been unable to complete during the day. Many viewed this as "punishment" for being bad students, not realising that the study expectations were totally unrealistic by established standards used outside China.
So, with just a short 45 minute break for an evening meal, these high school students spent almost all their waking day studying, with considerable homework set for their one day off, Sunday.
To compound these hardships, electricity in the dormitories was turned off at 10.00 pm sharp. So when the students returned to their dorm, they had to find their way around in the dark, including showering in the by-then-cold water (even when it was snowing outside).
This was viewed by many as a further punishment for failing in their studies.
As a result of these psychological traumas, most Chinese children suffered social and psychological development impairment. So, while they may have been 13 or 14, by western standards, their development was often that of an eight year old, or even less.
Later, my driver took me into the village. On the way, we saw long lines of of these student soldiers marching with banners, and controlled by the teachers. My driver told me that I shouldn't be in the village until a few days later, because of the military training.
As explained to me, all students in China must undergo compulsory military training between passing from junior high to senior high school. Sort of like a rite of passage. Such training had apparently been the way of life throughout China for many generations. Teachers at the school later confirmed this.
It was also explained to me that the school I taught in was a special school, because students from all over the province came there for their military training. This was because there were very few foreigners in the village I worked in, and the foreigners were persuaded to leave the village during the training period. This was apparently official Chinese policy.
The driver told me I should not have come back to the village early, because the school did not want foreigners there while the training was on.
I mused back to the previous semester at the school. I had marvelled at the military precision with which the five thousand students at the village's only high school conducted their morning exercises every morning. It was exactly the same time every morning, and the teachers guided the students into rank and file. They all exercised in exact precision. Sort of like a cross between a giant line dancing session, and tai-chi.
Now it became a clear that it was military discipline being instilled each morning, not just exercise. In essence, these were babies learning to kill.
As I was taking pictures of the child soldiers, a Chinese policeman came over and tried to stop the car. The driver said we were in trouble because I was taking pictures, and we must try to get away. We were followed by a police car for about a mile, until the driver managed to lose it. The Chinese are very protective about their military establishments and soldiers being photographed. Myself and others had been through similar experiences before, with a few cameras being confiscated. Most times they were returned, with the photographs deleted, or the film removed.
If what the driver and the teachers told me is true, and I have no reason to doubt them, then every person in China has trained to be a soldier. All 1.4 billion of them.
And that seems to me to be something to keep in mind.
Other related stories by this author about China
01 "China: Streets Of China" posted on Street Beat
02 "Huai'an, China: Bad Times" posted on World Travel
More stories by this author after the following important information
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Comment by Dianna G
I Wish This Was 42
Fictional Worlds
~Dianna
Comment by Damo
The rise of China.
Comment by KC Hill
World Art
Gear Lover
Daily History
The HOT Report
World Travel
Street Beat
Damo. Yep. It blew me away. I knew of these sorts of things, and accepted it as reality. But to actually see the same kids that I taught every day, and thought I knew reasonably well, drove it home with quite a start.
I'll put some links to a couple of other China stories I have written recently, in case you're interested.
Comment by Dianna G
I Wish This Was 42
Fictional Worlds
That said, many many Asian parents are harsh on their children; there are huge academic expectations. She was an overachiever, she played violin, piano, sang, got top marks, played trumpet (if I remember right), was in an orchestra, band, choir, and yearbook.
I suppose I might as well state that I despise the Chinese government. And an army of 1.4 billion people-whoever said that China is a bigger threat than the USA was absolutely right.
~Dianna
Comment by KC Hill
World Art
Gear Lover
Daily History
The HOT Report
World Travel
Street Beat
Napoleon once said "China is a sleeping giant. But when she awakes, the world will tremble." China is awake
Comment by Dianna G
I Wish This Was 42
Fictional Worlds
~Dianna
Comment by Anonymous