American journalist Peter Hessler recently detailed his experience with his twin daughters, Ariel and Natasha, becoming Young Pioneers of China at Chengdu Experimental primary school. The Young Pioneers is an organisation under the Chinese Communist party for children aged six to 14, requiring members to wear red scarves and pins featuring a gold star and red torch. Hessler’s daughters, who were the only Americans at the school, joined without speaking Mandarin, but quickly caught up with their classmates through studying over 1,600 characters and immersing themselves in the language. The twins’ progress was notable, with Natasha even being applauded in class for reading aloud. Hessler and his wife, Leslie, navigated the school’s political environment, where the curriculum lacked heavy politicised lessons but included nationalistic sentiments about the Spratly Islands. The family maintained a balance of respecting the school’s teachings while encouraging the girls to form their own opinions. Through perseverance and dedication, the twins successfully integrated into their new school environment and embraced their roles as Young Pioneers. The family’s journey highlights the challenges and rewards of adapting to a new education system and culture, ultimately showing the importance of open-mindedness and resilience in facing unfamiliar situations.
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Lessons in Morality and Rules: What My Daughters Gained from Attending a Chinese Communist School
