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Zoey Zhang

A shockingly bizarre so-called guilt education activity has played out in China during which parents knelt down to form a “bridge” while students stepped on their backs.
A video of the strange activity, during which some of the students are blindfolded, was filmed in Henan province, central China.
The clip has gone viral and stirred controversy online.
Emotional music played as a host encouraged the students, saying: “Go ahead.”

The activity is part of the school’s “guilt education”, which aims to make students feel responsible and grateful by instilling guilt.
Public records reveal that the secondary school is a county-level institution, known locally for its “international education”.
The people involved were around 16 years old, all of them first-year students who had just enrolled.
A netizen claiming to be a current student said that the students did not know who would be part of the so-called human bridge.
“After removing her blindfold, one young woman realised she was stepping on her parents and immediately burst into tears,” the netizen wrote.

An anonymous graduate of the school said they had also taken part in a guilt education activity, where male students were made to lie on the ground.
Exposure of the activity has sparked a heated debate on mainland social media.
One supporter said: “The intent behind this method is good. The tears of the girl show it has a powerful emotional impact on the kids.”
“Children will better understand their parents’ sacrifices and show more respect by studying hard,” said another.
However, one netizen said: “This ‘human bridge’ ceremony not only damages family bonds but also plants harmful guilt in the minds of students.”
“Education should not be about emotional manipulation. Stepping on others should not be used to morally pressure kids,” said another.
On October 7, the school issued an apology.
“This activity was spontaneously organised by two classes with parental consent, but its improper execution led to misunderstandings from many netizens, for which we apologise,” a school statement read.
The school added that it would improve its educational methods with a focus on the mental well-being of students.

The local Education Bureau also confirmed it had received complaints from students and was investigating.
Unusual parenting styles often attract attention in China.
In a video with nearly 40,000 likes, a teacher from southwestern China, taking part in another “human bridge” activity, told students: “The way you step on your parents is like how they repeatedly bear the consequences of your mistakes in learning and life.”
Also, the terms “tiger mum” and “wolf dad” are commonly used in China to describe extremely strict parents who demand high academic achievement and prioritise success and hard work.


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People & Culture

Viral video captures strange activity in which students, some of them blindfolded, clamber over backs of kneeling mums and dads


Viral video captures strange activity in which students, some of them blindfolded, clamber over backs of kneeling mums and dads.


China education

Parenting: teens