Preschool teachers in Beijing who push primary school-level coursework on their students will face punishment for violating professional ethics, according to new regulations from the Beijing Municipal Education Commission on June 11.
Commentator Hu Jianbing for The Beijing News applauded the move, saying that parents and teachers who rush to skip preschool curriculum for advanced coursework do more harm than good and hinder children’s development.
The regulations are partly aimed at private-owned kindergartens seeking to give children a leg-up in subjects before they start primary school such as reading, math and foreign languages.
Hu said pushing advanced coursework on preschoolers ignores their developmental needs, making such efforts counter-productive.
Kindergarten is a time to cultivate children’s intelligence and interests through play. Forcing academic subjects on children too early can result in a fear and loathing of learning, Hu wrote.
Parents must also educate themselves about the benefits of early education and give up the idea that children should begin studying academic subjects as early as possible.
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