Banish the day, train the tyrants

From age 1 to age 13 years and 364 days, the children of the world have been pulling a fast one over their parents since 1949, when Children's Day was officially introduced. For 62 years, they have managed to persuade adults, with their huge eyes and cute scruffy haircuts, that they actually need another day off school to smash footballs against their neighbors' walls, or play World of Warcraft and eat pizza paid for by us.

Sorry kids, but it is time for this tyranny to stop. Apart from anything else, the day has already become outdated, even in China, where it has traditionally served as an occasion to engage in activities celebrating the motherland.

According to one of the Chinese guest's on today's edition of Culture Matters, on Shanghai TV station ICS, Children's Day was a big deal in the 1970s, when China was considerably poorer than it is today. Not because it meant special family time, but because it was the only day they served pork ribs in the school cafeteria. Nowadays, all kids have to do is walk next door to Kungfu or Kentucky Fried Chicken.