Holiday Travel

Happy Children's Day

(China Daily)
Updated: 2007-06-01 07:06

This year, on June 1, International Children's Day, Chinese children will receive a unique gift: the new edition of the Law on the Protection of Minors.

While not many of them may clearly understand the legal terms, our children dearly wish to get what the law promises: respect and self-esteem.

It is not that many of them have not been given respect.

Children are the hope of the nation and their families. They should enjoy love from their parents, teachers and society.

While adults may have tried their best to provide a good life for them, they sometimes neglect the non-material side of life.

For some children, their greatest hope, often not fulfilled, is to spend more time with their parents.

For others, having time free from school work or extracurricular training would be the best gift for Children's Day.

Many parents, often out of love, have completely pre-planned their children's lives. The children in return have only the right to follow.

These parents may have neglected to realize that their children, though young, have their own thoughts. They need respect and communication.

The newly revised law on protection of minors has begun to deal with these issues in a more thorough way, which is progress.

Certainly, our children's material needs should be provided for and they must be protected from physical harm. But they also deserve understanding and respect.

Taking effect today, the law stipulates that teachers should respect students' self-esteem. The law prohibits teachers from verbally insulting students.

The law aims to ensure enough time for our children to sleep, do exercises and have fun.

And it forbids parents from reading their children's personal journals or letters without their approval.

If the law can be translated into action in the adult-controlled world, children will be much happier.

It will be the best gift they can receive.

(China Daily 06/01/2007 page10)