You Won’t Believe What China Has Implemented In Some Schools And No It Isn’t A Child Torture Device
The Chinese sure are a clever and inventive bunch. However, they have been quite notorious in coming-up with a range of solutions that range from truly amazing to the shockingly strange. One particular invention, being used in few of the schools falls somewhere between this range.
The photo that is driving people crazy around the world is truly confusing. The children appear to have their heads held up using metal bars connected to the desks. It is not immediately clear if the bars force the children to read or does it help them take a short nap by resting their heads. Incidentally, the Chinese are quite strict about their children’s education, but at the same time, they promote healthy living and allow the children to nap for short duration to help promote relaxed learning.
However, the contraption does nothing of the sorts. Instead, the device is meant to address nearsightedness in children. Apparently, nearsightedness in children is a growing concern in China and the Chinese Government is keen to address the same while the kids are at school.
How can a metal bar help nearsightedness? The bar remains in the upward position while students are writing. This helps to keep their faces from being too close to the paper. While they are reading, the bar moves down, to keep the book at a proper distance. This ensures that children don’t strain their eyes by holding the book too close, reported Chinasmack.
In a way, the contraption is quite clever. It has a dual purpose. While writing the children’s eyes are kept at the optimum distance by forcing them keep their head from being buried inside the book. Children across the world routinely lower their heads or even rest them on top of the desks while they write. On the other hand, the child is taught the correct distance that a book should be kept while reading, by lowering the bar at appropriate angle.
This new device is being tested out in 19 elementary schools in Wuhan, a province of Hubei in China. It has been observed that Chinese children traditionally spend much of their time, quite literally, with their noses buried inside books. This invention has been designed to cure nearsightedness, which happens as a result. As per a recent census, 41 percent of primary school children in China now need glasses, and by the time they leave school, up to 90 percent will be short-sighted, reported Daily Mail.
Chinese inventions may look radical, but if it cures these young minds from annoying needs that come with being nearsighted, then at the least, they warrant a trial-run.
[Image Credit | HAP / Quirky China News / REX, Totally Cool Pix]
