Father Protests Pesky Parent-Teacher WeChat Groups

A father in Jiangsu Province sparked debate over parent-teacher WeChat groups after he criticized his son’s teacher for delegating parents to check their child’s homework. According to posted screenshots, the father argued that checking homework was the teacher’s job and quit the group in protest. The father’s story resonated with other parents who complain that schools are abusing parent WeChat groups, the default tool of communication between teachers and students’ families in China, as ways to push extra responsibilities onto parents and even shame them when their children misbehave. Many parents said the groups are not only work distractions but encourage parents to fawn on teachers. Experts said that schools cooperating with families in their child’s education, something the government openly encourages, does not mean passing the buck, and they appealed for clearer regulations on the specific duties of schools and families.