School expands all-boy classes

There's only one high school on the Chinese mainland with classes just for boys. It began interviewing prospective students for the special classes over the weekend. This year, the school in Shanghai wants to double the number of students in the boys-only classes to 120.

Students were interviewed in groups of four, and asked to talk about current affairs and anwser some specific questions. For example: "Should high school students use cellphones?" and "What do you think of puppy love?" Many of the students say they are eager to get into the all-male classes.

"The classes focus more on outdoor activities, and I would love to go to gyms and swimming pools. In order to be a true man, I should have a stronger body, as well as a strong will."

"I heard from the first-year students that the classes have specified curriculum for boys, and that's why I'm interested. Now I hesitate too much when making decisions. I'm not independent enough."

Parents are interested because last year's class performed well academically. 14 of the students in the all-male classes were in the top 20 grade 9 students at the school.

After all he'll face the college entrance exam in the future, and we hope that an all-male class will help him concentrate more on studies.

When the first two classes were filled last year, the school set tough academic barriers to get in. But those rules have been dropped this year.

Our goal is to first raise the students' comprehensive quality, such as the ability to manage time, the ability to control, and naturally enough, they can achieve better scores. They will not only be able to pass the college entrance exams, but also be able to pass "exams" given by society as well.

Lu says it's still too early to say there's a direct link between the first all-male classes and the students' better academic performances this year, but he says they're tracking on some of the key factors for further study. He says being a true man doesn't only mean having a strong body or being able to deal with mechanical problems. The students will also be focusing on things like responsibility and self-control.