July 12th， Beijing – The Gaokao， China’s national college entrance examination， remains a crucial and widely perceived as fair method for educational selection. However， parental reactions to their children’s exam results can vary drastically， as highlighted by a recent widely discussed case.
A student， referred to as Xiao Kai， attending Changjun Middle School in Hunan province， reportedly indulged in late-night mobile phone use and frequently skipped evening study sessions. This led to a decline in his academic performance， culminating in a Gaokao score of 575， a result significantly below his previous standing as a top student.
Following the exam， because Xiao Kai failed to uphold his promise to improve his studies after receiving a new phone， his parents reportedly expelled him from home， changed the locks， and cut off his living expenses. They had evidently set clear expectations tied to academic performance and perhaps the conditional support provided.
The incident sparked a significant online debate， with netizens divided on who was at fault. Supporters of the parents’ actions argued that the parents’ “heartbreak stemmed from attitude， not just the score，” emphasizing the importance of discipline and adherence to rules. They viewed Xiao Kai’s behavior as a waste of talent and his parents’ actions as a necessary， albeit extreme， response to his poor choices. Conversely， critics condemned the parents’ behavior， labeling it as emotional abuse and asserting that they placed excessive pressure on Xiao Kai， driven by an overemphasis on exam scores.
This representative case quickly gained traction and became a trending topic. In response， Xiong Bingqi， President of the 21st Century Education Research Institute， commented that while the child’s behavior was indeed problematic， parents should be the primary ones to reflect on their own actions and approaches to upbringing.
“For parents， it’s natural to feel disappointed when their child becomes addicted to the internet and doesn’t achieve their expected Gaokao scores. Taking such measures might be an attempt to teach the child a lesson and help them recognize their mistakes. However， in reality， these simplistic and harsh methods may not yield positive outcomes. In everyday life， many parents deal with ‘problematic children’ like Xiao Kai’s parents. This is a common and widespread issue that urgently requires our attention，” Xiong Bingqi stated.
The education expert further emphasized that when students become addicted to the internet， it’s essential to examine the role parents play in cultivating good habits within the family and whether they provide sufficient emotional warmth and support. He suggested that fostering a sound personality and a sense of responsibility is more crucial than simply securing admission to prestigious universities.
As of the time of this report， media outlets have indicated that Xiao Kai (a pseudonym) posted several short videos on the evening of July 10th， attempting to clarify information circulating online. In the early hours of July 11th， Xiao Kai informed reporters that he had returned home and expressed his intention to retake the Gaokao. Furthermore， sources close to the situation revealed that his high school had offered him free dormitory accommodation， suggesting ongoing support from the educational institution.
