The television programmes of the vacation period are always more entertaining, and nearly all other entertainment activities are open to students at discounted prices.

However, if asked when the vacation will start, the answer may differ even though there is an official date.

To Qian Siyuan, a fourth-grader from No. 3 Central Primary School in Zhabei District,Shanghai this vacation is a busy one. Children practice calligraphy at Huangpu District Children's Palace during the summer vacation.

When asked about her schedule for the summer vacation, the 10-year-old girl said: "My time has been divided into three parts by my mother, time for homework, for violin and for English."

"I almost have no time to play, mom doesn't allow it." But when she caught her mother's warning glance, she made a face and ran away.

Her mother, surnamed Yang, said with pride that her daughter had already reached the seventh level of violin certification and was now busy preparing for the eighth level test in September.

Part of Tradition

"I don't think I give too much work to her, you know the old Chinese saying 'Practice makes perfect'? How can she succeed without making hard efforts?" she said.

She went on: "I give her 10 minutes after dinner and I think that is enough. More spare time means more distraction to her. So she will totally waste her time."

The mother said that about 20 percent of the pupils in her daughter's class had enrolled or would enroll in such kinds of vacation classes.

This is a quite common phenomenon nowadays in Shanghai.

Parents have the right to decide whether or not to give their child a vacation. And their children should obey.

At the gate of the Children's Palace of Zhabei District one sultry Sunday morning, there were nearly 40 or more middle-aged women waiting eagerly for their children, who were practising musical instruments inside.

This "summer art training school" offers parents a broad choice of classes: calligraphy, painting, piano and many others.

Many parents here are of the same mind as Yang, they all believe that attending such classes will help children attain a brighter future. Most of them denied that acquiring the certification was their only goal, although more and more children have been taking such tests in recent years.

At a Price

"To get a certificate is great, but not everyone can accomplish that goal.. We just want our children to be elegant and resourceful, and that'll be enough," said Li Hua, whose son was among those children.

This is quite a contrast to Yang, who said she didn't want her son wasting all his time sitting in front of a TV screen. "I'd rather he immersed himself in studying these charming melodies than watching those crude television shows," she said, adding "My son only has a third level certificate, but it is still a comfort to me."

Though the tuition for such training is not small, it seems that none of the parents mind. In this school, the tuition is as high as 500 yuan (US$60) for only two months - a sum of money which could support a local family living under the poverty line for a month.

"The 500 yuan fee is not expensive at all. Yu Lina, a famous violinist, offers a one-hour class for 200 yuan (US$24). If I had the opportunity, I would send my daughter," Ms Yang said.

Surely, nothing can stop these enthusiastic parents.

Wang Aichen, the marketing manager of Only College sponsored by Shanghai Jiaotong University, said that more than 200 children have enrolled in their "Children's English Class", paying 320 yuan (US$40) each in tuition for the summer session.

"Due to the relocation of our school, we saw some decrease in enrollment this year. We had more than 400 pupils last year," he said. Wang also added that their branch in Pudong District - Kid's Castle, co-sponsored by a Taiwan-based educational institution - had reached full enrollment, although they charged three times more in fees - 960 yuan (US$120) for three months.

"I think most parents have realized the fact that English learning should begin at an early age," he said. "With China's accession to the WTO, English is gradually becoming a basic skill. Everyone clearly sees the fierce competition in the future, no one wants their child to be left behind."

On contacting other schools, which offered similar classes for young children, it was discovered that most classes are full. The typical answer from many well-known training schools was: "Sorry, our present class is full, would you mind waiting till August."

Expert Advice

Du Yiling, a psychology specialist, pointed out that the boom being experienced by training schools was mainly caused by the employment pressures in today's society.

"All parents want their children to be winners in the future, so they set an earlier starting point for them," she said.

But she reiterated that the main function for the vacation is for rest, so parents should arrange classes on the basis that the children do not suffer depression. "Such vacation classes can be looked on as a double-edged sword. So the parents should be cautious when registering their children."

Relaxation or recharge remains a controversial question. But there should be a balance between them. "Of course no one wants to see a replay of a tragedy that happened a few years ago, when a child couldn't bear his mother's high expectations and broke down," she added.

(Shanghai Star July 23, 2002)