China’s Yundong Secondary School faces criticism over its punishment for using the toilet after curfew. Photo: SCMP composite/ShutterstockContent provided by British Council
[1] A boarding school in northern China was called in by local education authorities for punishing a student for using the toilet after curfew. The Form Three student at Yundong Secondary School in Shanxi province went to the bathroom at 11pm, 15 minutes past curfew. He was caught by staff members.
[2] As reported by Beijing News, administrators forced the boy to write a “deep self-reflection” letter. He was made to hand out 1,000 photocopies of the essay to his schoolmates as punishment. Five points were also cut from his class’s monthly discipline score.
[3] An anonymous teacher informed the news outlet that, before the authorities were called, students were not allowed to walk around the dormitory after 10.45pm. They were also not allowed to use the toilet after hours. Students who needed to use the bathroom after curfew had to get permission from the dorm administrators.
[4] In his self-reflection essay, the student wrote: “I have seriously breached the school rules, and going to the toilet in the evening not only disturbed other students’ sleep but also brought shame to my class.” He apologised to his classmates and the school. He also promised not to “repeat this behaviour in the future.”
[5] The boy’s punishment went viral online. The school received a lot of criticism for it. “I don’t understand why going to the toilet after 11pm breaks the school’s rules. Who can control when they need to go?” one user commented on Douyin. Another said: “This school resembles a prison with such strict regulations.”
[6] As news of the school’s punishment spread on social media, the Education Department of Huairen quickly responded. “We instructed the school to learn from this incident and reflect on its errors. We told them to revise their discipline policies,” it stated.
[7] The department advised the school to treat the boy “in a caring manner”. The school was also asked to give him 100 yuan (HK$111) to cover the costs of copying the self-reflection essay. Officials stated they have asked all schools to have “reasonable and humane” discipline policies in place to prevent a similar incident.
Source: South China Morning Post, September 25
Questions
1. According to paragraph 1, what time did the student go to the bathroom?
___________________________________________________
2. How were the students’ classmates affected according to paragraph 2?
A. Their monthly discipline score was deducted.
B. They had to help give out 1,000 copies of his essay.
C. All of them had to write an essay.
D. all of the above
3. Based on paragraph 3, what do students have to do if they want to use the bathroom after 10.45pm?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. What does “this behaviour” in paragraph 4 refer to?
___________________________________________________
5. Which sentence from paragraph 7 is grammatically correct?
A. The Education Department asked all schools to treat they’re students fairly and
kindly.
B. The Education Department asked all schools to treat their students fairly and kindly.
C. The Education Department asked all school to treat their students fairly and kindly.
D. The Education Department asked all school to treated their students fairly and
kindly.
6. Circle the correct answers for each sentence below. (3 marks)
(i) The school (do not / does not) allow students to walk around the dormitory late at night.
(ii) Students (do not / does not) have permission to go to the toilet after 10.45pm.
(iii) The Education Department (do not / does not) approve of the school’s punishment.
Answers
1. 11pm
2. A
3. They had to get permission from the dorm administrators.
4. going to the toilet after curfew/after 10.45pm
5. B
6. (i) does not; (ii) do not; (iii) does not