Fangcaodi Reported in NY Times

Posted 4:03pm Mon May 23rd, 2011 by Zhen
  • 580 reads

If you’re a parent in Beijing, no doubt you’ve heard about the car accident that happened last year inside the grounds of Fangcaodi. On November 15, 2010, a young boy named Julien was run over by a school driver while on the school’s sports ground and dragged under the car for over 8 meters, sustaining terrible injuries. After an assessment by a doctor from SOS International, Julien was evacuated by plane to Switzerland for medical treatment.

The full details, as recounted by Julien’s father, are available on Sina.com in both English and Chinese. News of the Julien’s ordeal also hit the beijingkids blog.

After months of campaigning for increased safety precautions and training at Fangcaodi and Beijing schools in general, Julien’s parents have had their story picked up by the NY Times. Some choice quotes are included below:

“As a lawyer, we see so many of these kinds of incidents,” said Mr. Ge [the family’s lawyer]. “The only thing that is different about this one is that a foreign child is involved.”

"Until a final decision is made, we hope the media will not report this event.” [said the school's spokesman Mr. Zhang]

Speaking at a meeting with parents in March,Ms. Li [Julien’s mother] said: “I’m fighting for school safety not just for my son, but for all children in China.”

[School principal Liu Fei] defended the school’s policy of allowing cars on campus. “Please understand the problems teachers have finding places to park their cars,” he said, according to several parents who attended [a meeting between the parents and the school].

Mr. Zhang, the school spokesman, said: “The school all along has taken the issue of safety very seriously.”

Are you happy with the safety precautions at your child’s school? Have you witnessed or heard of any other serious safety breaches in Beijing schools?

Re: Fangcaodi Reported in NY Times

waitaitai
waitaitai's picture
At 5:24pm Mon May 23rd, 2011 waitaitai said:

No, I am most definitely not satisfied with the safety at my daughter's primary school. It is also a Chinese school and cars also drive on the children's sports field/lot.
Same explanation is given about how difficult it is for teachers to find parking spots.
This is a contributing factor to this year being her last year in Chinese school.

Julien's parents are brave and doing a good thing. I just don't feel there is much hope as far as making any significant change. The "car bestows superiority over all non-enclosed-in -car beings" attitude sadly extends even to vulnerable school children.

Any issue I raise on any topic will always be met with "tsk, tsk, foreinger just can't understand China, Chinese culture and education."

Most parents will continue to choke down concern for fear of putting their child at some disadvantage in the classroom pecking order.

It really is a tragic situation. I feel for the parents and families that don't have the options that I do and Julien's parents do: i.e. leaving.


Re: Fangcaodi Reported in NY Times

admin
admin's picture
At 5:38pm Mon May 23rd, 2011 admin said:

The other day a motorbike courier zoomed up onto the sidewalk and directly towards my daughter. When I stood directly front of him to stop him from terrorizing other pedestrians he gave me a shocked look and exclaimed "I wasn't even close to hitting her."

Reminds me of what the Chinese supreme court just had to say about drunk driving : it's ok if nobody gets hurt

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