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according to the paper, on september 1, some parents reported that xiangzhou no. 9 middle school required seventh-grade freshmen to buy school uniforms, milk, and insurance. although it was not mandatory, they would not be admitted if they did not have a purchase record. in response, the school said that it was all voluntary, but they had to wear school uniforms during activities, and parents who had bought insurance and milk said it was beneficial.

voluntary is voluntary. if voluntary is added with various preconditions, it may involve disguised coercion. in this case, although the school said that the purchase of school uniforms, milk, and insurance depends on the parents' wishes, the "school uniforms must be worn during activities" makes the "voluntary" meaning somewhat distorted; buying insurance and milk is good for the health and safety of children, and most parents will not refuse.

but we must ask, in the face of the school's requirements, can parents and students really "volunteer"? if they don't buy school uniforms, will some students appear to be unsociable? will it be misinterpreted as parents not cooperating with the school? due to various concerns, parents generally comply with the school's regulations and requirements; they will also accept all the fees. obviously, the school cannot always use "voluntary" as a shield. instead, it should respond positively in a timely manner when questioned, and at the same time reflect deeply on whether it has truly given the right to choose to parents and students, and whether it can have a clear conscience.

in any case, "voluntary" must not be reduced to a verbal principle, but should be a trust and support that is deeply rooted in the hearts of parents; what should prompt parents to pay out of their own pockets should be a high-quality campus service system, rather than a helpless compromise after exhaustion.

in recent years, schools have frequently imposed mandatory and random fees in disguise, such as milk fees, school uniform fees, air conditioning fees, and facial recognition fees. these fees not only violate the regulations of education management, but also increase the financial burden on parents and infringe on their right to make their own choices.

in fact, the chaos behind "bundling" is related to the word "interest". now, many schools cooperate with external institutions to provide services. although it is worth encouraging, we still need to be vigilant. this requires that, on the one hand, when formulating and subscribing to paid service items, schools should be cautious, strictly abide by the principles of necessity and rationality, and try to reduce some unnecessary charging items; on the other hand, ensure the openness and transparency of all aspects of charging, ensure that there is no interest transfer relationship between the school and the third party cooperation, and guard against the breeding of corruption. education is pure, and "voluntary" must also remain pure and stand the test.

education should not be tied to interests. public welfare is the primary attribute of school education. schools should take positive actions, adhere to the principle of voluntariness to expand service coverage, and fully respect the wishes and choices of students and parents. relevant departments should also fulfill their duties, strengthen the supervision and regulation of education fees, eliminate hidden dangers, hold people accountable, and eliminate the gray area of ​​"forced voluntary". parents can also actively complain and report to safeguard their legitimate rights and interests.

"parental voluntariness" is not something that can be said with words, but it depends on how the school does it and whether it can implement the principle and put it into practice. (zhengguan commentator han jing)

(yellow river commentary mailbox: [email protected])

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