Lantian Beiguan Primary School Sees ‘Double Reduction’ Success with 153 Specialty Courses Students Love

The 'double reduction' policy lifts the heavy shell off children, freeing them from heavy homework and off-campus tutoring burdens. Parents should breathe a sigh of relief. However, according to various surveys, after the 'double reduction' policy, many parents haven't felt less anxious; they're even more anxious. On one hand, they can't send their children for tutoring. On the other, they have too much time to spend with their mischievous kids.

To comprehensively implement the 'double reduction' policy and satisfy students, parents, and society, let's see how Lantian Beiguan Primary School is doing it. Principal Ge Xiaocha believes that the core of 'double reduction' is the question of 'what kind of people to cultivate' and 'how to cultivate them.' It represents a transformation in the country's approach to talent development.

Lantian County Beiguan Primary School has been carrying out the 'Three Classrooms' activity, deeply integrating the fundamental task of fostering virtue through education with every aspect of classroom teaching, diverse extracurricular resources, and all areas of social education. This provides an effective pathway for advancing comprehensive education reform under the 'double reduction' framework and for implementing the 'five educations simultaneously' approach.

Lantian County Beiguan Primary School's philosophy is 'Let everyone be a shining star.' It adheres to the school motto 'Shine with light and warmth, be your best self' and the educational purpose of 'all-round development with individual strengths.' It promotes three educational perspectives among teachers: that all activities teachers engage in at school are teaching; that all activities students engage in at school are learning; and that all activities conducive to student development are homework. Deeply cultivating 'five educations simultaneously,' focusing on the 'Three Classrooms' reform, and driving transformation in how people are cultivated, the school continuously enhances its educational service capacity and promotes high-quality development.

On November 12, Lantian County Beiguan Primary School held the 'Seeing the Results of 'Double Reduction'—Web Influencers Visit Lantian Beiguan Primary School' event. Cui Mingkun, head of the Political Work and Personnel Section of the Lantian County Education and Science Bureau, and Hu Lifeng, deputy head of the section, were invited to attend. The event specially invited 24 web influencers, including Shaanxi-based internet celebrity Yan Jianshe, all members of the Xi'an Ge Xiaocha 'Famous Principal+' Navigation Research Community, and more than 60 school leaders and teacher representatives from Beiguan Primary School. The event was hosted by Yang Rui, director of instruction at Beiguan Primary School.

Leaders from the Lantian County Education and Science Bureau and Principal Ge Xiaocha presented letters of appointment as 'web supervisors' to Yan Jianshe and the other 24 web influencers. Each letter symbolizes a bridge between the school and society, a silent declaration of the school's willingness to accept oversight from all walks of life, and reinforces Beiguan Primary School's determination to shoulder its educational responsibilities and continuously improve its service quality.

Principal Ge Xiaocha delivered a short report titled 'Discussing 100 Days of 'Double Reduction' Together, Collaborating for a New Chapter.' She first shared the school's unique characteristics, from the 'Seven Stars culture' guiding distinctive development, the 'Seven Stars evaluation' invigorating educational vitality, and the 'Starry Sky' curriculum construction supporting 'double reduction.' She then passionately shared Beiguan Primary School's '12368' project and the 'four revolutions'—the homework revolution, classroom revolution, after-school service, and family revolution—that the school has been vigorously promoting to implement 'double reduction,' allowing attendees to fully understand the school's thinking and practices in helping 'double reduction' take hold, reducing burdens, increasing efficiency, and improving quality. Finally, Principal Ge said, 'The 'double reduction' reform is both an opportunity and a challenge. The school will further plan scientifically, design meticulously, fully tap excellent educational resources, optimize after-school services, and comprehensively enhance the appeal of after-school services to support students' healthy growth.'

Art teacher Cui Hongying gave a short report titled 'Heart and Love Walk Together,' sharing her thoughts and practices in implementing 'double reduction' and curriculum development. First, she carefully designs the form and content of after-school courses. For grades 1 to 4, aesthetic education is implemented through picture books, storytelling, and themed drawing, integrating moral education. For grades 5 and 6, the approach includes watching thematic documentaries and drawing related pictures, drawing from poetry, and sketching natural landscapes—multiple ways to integrate subjects and enhance aesthetic education. Second, she organizes artwork displays meticulously. The 'creative drawing' specialty course presents artworks in both dynamic and static ways. Music catwalks of different styles evoke diverse experiences and perceptions in students, opening a window to truth, beauty, and goodness, enriching students' spiritual world. She builds courses with heart and love, and supports development with passion and intent.

Leaders and guests toured the campus to observe 153 specialty courses spanning six major fields, including martial arts, basketball, football, pop art, stone painting, paper-cutting, clay sculpture, dance, choir, 'Tales of Lantian,' Super Brain Math, cross-stitch, and happy planting, which captivated everyone. The web influencers observed from unique angles, recording the children's two-hour after-school service activities. The details of campus culture and the rich, colorful after-school programs like the 'Starry Sky' system were frozen in the shutter's click, perfectly commemorating the 100th day of 'double reduction' at Beiguan Primary School.

A beautiful educational vision requires the joint efforts of schools, families, and society, as well as the supervision, support, and guidance of web supervisors. The road ahead is long and fraught with obstacles, but we will reach our destination if we keep walking. Let us work together to support and cheer for 'double reduction,' so that it makes a resounding impact.

As Principal Ge said: 'The effective implementation of the 'Three Classrooms' has promoted a genuine, all-round transformation in the school's educational philosophy and methods. 'Let everyone be a shining star' has become our educational pursuit. Our greatest wish is for every child to develop healthily and comprehensively, for everyone to shine and stand out. We will continue to base ourselves on reducing burdens and increasing efficiency, focus on the 'Three Classrooms,' pay attention to holistic development and quality improvement, and press onward toward higher-quality and even better education.'