"Kindergarten Makes Parents Take Group Oath 'No Anger Even If Child Gets Hurt,' Stirring Controversy in China"

"Anachronistic" Online Backlash Floods
Education Authorities Suspend Kindergarten Principal

"Parents do not get angry even if their child bumps into something or gets hurt while playing."

A kindergarten in China is facing controversy for forcing new students' parents to take an inappropriate collective oath. The oath included a pledge not to become so-called 'gapjil parents,' but it was criticized for containing excessively harsh content.

A scene of Chinese kindergarten parents taking a collective oath
[Photo by Hong Kong Sing Tao Daily]

On the 5th, Yonhap News, citing Hong Kong's Sing Tao Daily, reported that at a parent meeting held on the opening day of a kindergarten in Yuanqing City, Shanxi Province, China, on the 2nd, dozens of parents were made to take a collective oath. On that day, the parents took an oath titled "If you don't want to become a 'Gom Parent (熊父母),' start with yourself," with their right hands placed over their chests.

In China, 'Gom Parent' is a term derived from 'Gom Children (熊孩子),' an internet slang referring to troublemakers, and it denotes parents who cause trouble by abusing teachers or making unreasonable demands. Due to the long-standing one-child policy, many parents who raise their only child as a so-called 'Little Emperor' are known to be particularly attentive, causing significant stress for teachers.

The oath taken by the parents included content pledging to strictly follow the kindergarten teachers' guidance and not to make unreasonable demands or engage in gapjil behavior. Specifically, the media reported that the oath contained excessive and inappropriate statements such as "We must never embarrass teachers who have more experience and expertise than us," and "We will not get angry even if our child bumps into something or gets hurt while playing."

The scene of the oath was rapidly spread online under the title "Parents refuse to become monster parents." The video was reportedly recorded by one of the attendees and posted on social networking services (SNS). Subsequently, criticism against the kindergarten grew online for forcing an outdated and inappropriate oath.

As the controversy escalated, the education authorities in Yuanqing City formed an investigation team to look into the incident. After confirming that the kindergarten's actions were inappropriate, the education authorities reportedly suspended the principal, according to Sing Tao Daily.