A primary school in Eastern China has found itself at the centre of a heated social media storm after a video depicting its unique form of 'etiquette education' went viral online. The footage, which has sparked intense debate, shows young students standing in the winter chill to welcome their teachers with formal salutes.
Viral Video Details
The incident took place at the Jianqiao Primary School in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, an institution with a century-old history and recognised as a key local school. The viral video captures four children wearing patrol armbands, lined up at the school entrance like a miniature honour guard.
As each teacher's car arrived, the students offered a sharp salute—a known symbol of the Young Pioneers, a children's organisation led by the Chinese Communist Youth League—accompanied by a cheerful chorus of 'good morning!'. The scene showed nearly ten cars being greeted with the same crisp enthusiasm within a single minute. While some teachers waved back at the pupils, others reportedly drove past with their windows up, seemingly ignoring the gesture.
Public and Parental Backlash
The video quickly amassed over 10,000 likes and ignited a fierce debate in the comments section. Supporters defended the practice, labelling it a valuable lesson in respect. However, critics raised significant concerns.
One major point of contention was the safety risk posed by heavy traffic at the gate where children were present. A prominent online comment questioned, "Why do the teachers not acknowledge the children's greetings? With so many kids walking to school, the heavy traffic at the gate is also dangerous."
Parents expressed their unhappiness, with one revealing they had filed a formal complaint with the local Education Bureau. A key grievance was the disruption to their children's sleep, as pupils had to wake up 30 minutes earlier to arrive by 7:40 am for the duty. "It is a struggle just to stand in the cold and salute the teachers' cars. It would be better to let the kids sleep an extra ten minutes," one parent lamented. Another parent provided evidence from a class group chat, showing that the school had officially instructed pupils to perform the greetings.
Official Response and Corrective Measures
In response to the criticism, a school representative initially stated that the saluting was 'voluntary' and that the online backlash was affecting the children's enthusiasm. The school also clarified that the pupils on patrol duty have other responsibilities, including checking campus safety and monitoring etiquette.
However, the local education authorities took a firm stance. On November 6, the Education Bureau released a statement that sharply criticised the headmaster and ordered the school to take immediate corrective actions. As a result, reports indicate that the school plans to install speed bumps and barriers at the entrance to enhance safety and will also update its campus etiquette programme.
