In a surprising turn of events, international schools in Beijing have announced a groundbreaking new policy aimed at ensuring the well-being of their students: mandatory bedtime phone calls from homeroom teachers for all students from Grades K-12. Starting today, Apr 1, teachers will be required to call each student every night to confirm that they have gone to bed on time.
Students in Grades K-5 will be required to go to bed at 7pm. Students in Grades 6-8 will be allowed one extra hour to complete school work, making their bedtime 8pm. Students in Grades 9-12 will be allowed the bedtime to extend their bedtime to 11pm.
The decision, which has caught many parents and students off guard, comes as part of the schools’ commitment to promoting healthy sleep habits among students. According to school officials, ensuring that students get enough rest is essential for their academic success and overall well-being.
“We believe that a good night’s sleep is crucial for our students’ ability to focus and learn during the day,” says Principal Zhang from Beijing International School for Gifted and Talented Students. “We’ve been seeing too many students fall asleep during class, so by implementing this new policy, we hope to instill healthy bedtime routines and promote better sleep hygiene among our students.”
Under the new policy, teachers will be responsible for calling each student every night to check that they are in bed and ready for sleep. Students who fail to answer their teacher’s call or are found to be awake past their designated bedtime may face disciplinary action.
While some parents have expressed concern about the intrusion into their children’s privacy, others see the policy as a positive step toward promoting healthier sleep habits.
“I think it’s a great idea,” says parent Li Wei. “With so many distractions like smartphones and social media, it’s easy for kids to stay up late. Having the teachers call them to remind them to go to bed is a helpful way to reinforce good habits. Besides, I never pass up on a chance for teachers to take on more parental duties. They really don’t have enough to do during the day anyway.”
However, not everyone is convinced of the policy’s effectiveness. “It seems a bit excessive to me,” says another parent, Wang Ming. “I trust my child to manage their own bedtime without needing a phone call from their teacher every night. And on the days when I have doubts, I turn on the camera that I’ve hidden in their room to check.”
As the realization that today is Apr 1 dawns on you, students and parents alike are left wondering whether the new bedtime policy is a genuine attempt to promote healthy sleep habits or simply an elaborate April Fools’ joke. Only time will tell.
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