A Chinese school is running special courses to teach students how to walk. Children who pass written and practical tests receive a walking licence. Yanghe Garden Elementary School, in Chongqing city, has also issued a Walking Declaration, which is displayed in classrooms and corridors. The declaration states: 

“Learn to walk in a good way and do your best to be a polite person; the school should be quiet even during class breaks, and so walking should also be very quiet.” 

The school says 240 students out of the total student body of 1,300 have already received a walking license.

• My view:

Will this turn into an Olympic sport? Maybe the Chinese want to get a head start for London 2012 (seriously, if you can barely outrun the smog in Beijing [as Olympics athletes will have to do], who would want to walk in it). But does this seem appropriate to teach children how to WALK! Something that we have been doing since we were about a year old! Though, this is what really strikes me: “…the school should be quiet even during class breaks, and so walking should also be very quiet…”. Are these kids not allowed to express themselves? It’s funny… you never here about kids achieving their hopes and dreams in China! Is there a secret “declaration” that says kids in Chinese school should act as one, rather than have developed personalities? I wouldn’t be surprised. Hell, if they want to teach their kids to creep around like Ninjas, then go ahead. One last thing: what happens if your walking license gets revoked? Feel free to comment!

•  Source.