When the bell rings at 9 o’clock, He Yue, 18, and a group of other students from Jiangsu Xishan Senior High School, crowd into the student community. They quickly put on their work uniforms and act as different kinds of workers. They could be a banker, a postman, a radio host or even a leader.

This is part of a project to create a simulated (模拟的) city run by students. Since last year, He Yue has been serving as an office worker for the students’ bank named K-bank. Unlike other students, she has a busy “job” during the 40-minute break: help prepare for change, fill in forms and record every deal. Sometimes, when a great deal of cash such as class funds and money from the supermarket is “stored”, she needs to count it and report the result in time.

Besides that, they also offer students interest-free funds and provide safe money-stored boxes. If students want to start a business like designing bookmarks but have no money to buy materials they can come here to loan. “With so much money, I’ve gradually learned to be more careful and thoughtful,” said He.

He is not the only one serving the school. Also, some students serve the food test center and other parts of the project including cultural and creative product community, radio stations, roasts. All of these are real life experiences. “Educators must realize that the top goal of education is not just about scoring good grades, but improving useful skills that will allow students to lead a good life,” said Tang Jiangpeng, headmaster of Jiangsu Xishan High.

In China, most students have busy weekends. They often go to after-school classes to learn math, English and so on. So, some of them can’t have a good sleep on weekends. But from July 26th, 2021, things aren’t like this because of some policies. For after-school classes, they may be good to help students with sports, music or art.

●Teachers can’t leave students too much homework. Students can have more time to go out to play sports.

●The after-school classes can’t teach students on weekends or holidays.

●Students can’t go home at 4:00 p.m. after school. Teachers at school must help students with their homework for about 2 hours every day.

●Parents must pay for school when students do their homework with teachers’ help after school.

Knowing these things, many students feel happy because they don’t have to do much homework. Parents are also happy because they don’t have to take students home when they are at work at 4:00 p.m..