Chinese school criticised for making pupils salute teachers’ cars

A viral video showed Chinese primary pupils saluting teachers in the cold, sparking backlash.

A video showing primary school pupils in eastern China saluting teachers on cold winter mornings has drawn widespread backlash and sparked intense debate across mainland social media.

(Also read: Chinese school faces backlash over ‘human bridge’ exercise where parents knelt for students )

The incident, reported by South China Morning Post, took place at Jianqiao Primary School in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, a century-old institution recognised for its long standing reputation as a model of civility.

In the viral clip, four young pupils wearing patrol armbands stand stiffly at the school gate. Each time a teacher’s car enters, the children salute and shout “good morning”. Within less than