BEIJING (SCMP): A father in China nearly died of a heart attack while helping his teenage son with homework, reigniting discussions about the intense academic pressure faced by Chinese students and their parents.
The father, surnamed Zhang and in his 40s, experienced sudden breathing difficulties and chest pain while tutoring his son, a junior secondary school graduate preparing for senior secondary school entrance exams, in eastern China’s Zhejiang province.
Zhang was promptly rushed to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction, as reported by the Zhejiang media outlet City Express on December 12.
A doctor at the Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital affiliated with the Medical School of Zhejiang University performed emergency artery bypass surgery on Zhang, successfully saving his life.
The heart attack was attributed to premature coronary artery disease, often exacerbated by emotional stress.
Zhang frequently supervised his son’s schoolwork and arranged additional practice sessions every evening. Their relationship was strained, as the teenager felt overwhelmed by the academic pressure his father imposed.
Zhang also enrolled his son in several cram schools and personally handled drop-offs and pickups.
He is among many Chinese parents who have faced hospitalisation due to health issues arising from the stress of tutoring their children.
In February, another father in Zhejiang was diagnosed with central serous chorioretinopathy, an eye condition that causes blurred or distorted vision, after becoming too excited while urging his Primary Three son to complete his homework.
In 2018, a 33-year-old mother in eastern Jiangsu province suffered a stroke after losing her temper at her daughter for taking too long to finish her homework before bedtime.
As many teachers delegate the responsibility of supervising homework to parents, Chinese parents often view their children’s academic performance as a reflection of their own success.
They push their children to excel, perceiving the national college entrance exam, known as gaokao, as the sole pathway to future success.
Competition for admission to China’s top universities intensifies each year, with more than 13 million students sitting for the exam nationwide this year.
Chinese education expert Ling Zongwei advised parents to manage their emotions to foster a healthier study environment for their children and to encourage them to take responsibility for their own homework and academic performance.
“The competitive educational environment is exhausting for both the children and their parents,” commented one user on Douyin. - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
