BEIJING, Feb. 26 -- Students in Beijing's schools found their grandfathers' favorite Peking Opera pieces in their music class repertoire as the new semester began on Monday.

Pupils learn Peking Opera on the first day of the new term at Hongqiao District Experimental Primary School in Tianjin, north China, Feb. 25, 2008. Peking Opera was added to the music courses in 20 schools as the new term began in Tianjin. (Xinhua photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    "I am expecting my first music class to learn Peking Opera and I expect to wear the fancy facial makeup," said Zhang Yaoyin, a third grade student in Beijing No.2 Experimental Primary School on her way to the school.

    Peking Opera was added into music courses in 20 Beijing primary and secondary schools in order to promote traditional Chinese culture.

    "Peking Opera is very vivid and I like the melody best," she said, wondering whether her school has been chosen as a pilot.

    Zhang Suhan, her father, called the action a "must" in the preservation and revitalization of Chinese culture.

    Some parents voiced concern about the new content of the music classes and the impact on students' chances for university admission.

    "The action, which seems well-intentioned, will backfire and impose more burdens on children, because it is the exam scores that count when you apply for a good university in China," said a parent surnamed Zhang, who was waiting outside a school to pick up his son.

    His son already takes several "interest classes", including piano, art and English. "I do not want Peking Opera to take up his time," he added.

    Peking Opera, known as China's national opera, is facing the danger of extinction as the younger generation prefers pop culture to its slow pace and abstruse lyrics.

    The Ministry of Education decided this month to start a pilot project in the new semester in 200 schools in 10 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions.

    The project added 15 pieces of Peking Opera, both classical and modern, into music courses.

    Music teachers in Beijing schools were required to learn how to perform Peking Opera before introducing it to their students.

    "Teachers play a critical role in introducing Peking Opera to students and making them like it," said Wu Jiang, an official with the Education Ministry.

    "Most teachers themselves do not know how to perform the almost forgotten art form," said a principal in Beijing's Dongcheng District.

    "It is the basic requirement that every music teacher in Beijing should be able to sing Peking Opera," said Wang Jun, a local education official.

    The news, however, has aroused great controversy. In a survey by Netease, a news portal in China, nearly 70 percent of respondents were against the project.

    "It is good to introduce traditional culture to students, but specific situations in different parts of China should be taken into consideration," said Yuan Li, a professional researcher with the China Institute of Art.

    "It may be good for Beijing kids to learn Peking Opera, but is it fit for a Tong nationality kid in the remote Guizhou province?" said Yuan.

    The opera, with a history of more than 200 years, is a synthesis of music, dance, art and acrobatics and is widely regarded as a symbolic expression of Chinese culture.

    Many historical events have been adapted into the plays, which in the past were an important primer on history and ethical principles.

    Students across China were embracing the beginning of the new semester in different ways.

    In central Hunan Province, students in six schools in Chenzhou have had their new semester postponed because power has not been restored after the winter's severe snow destroyed the city's power grid.

    In southwestern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, students in 13 village schools had to stay home while their classrooms were being repaired after being brought down by the snow.

    The southwestern Yunnan Province has seen more than two million new text books delivered to 100,000 students in areas affected by the severe weather.

    (Source: CRIENGLISH.com)

Ministry: Peking opera class not compulsory but promotional

    BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Education said the country's new Peking Opera curriculum for schools is not compulsory, but a promotional course to help students better appreciate Chinese culture.

    "The opera classes are by no means a nationwide compulsory class, but pilot programs implemented in certain schools from March to July next year," said ministry spokesman Wang Xuming at a press conference on Monday. Full story