Chinese parents seek sympathy on Weibo over kids’ crazy homework assignments

Just days into the new school semester, and parents across China are complaining about some of the bizarre homework assignments given to their young kids.

According to a post making the rounds, a fourth grade teacher surnamed Su in Foshan, Guangdong Province asked students to count 100 million grains of rice as part of a lesson on extremely large numbers.

Social media users calculated it would take roughly one year to count 100 million grains.

“Is it a parent-garten or kindergarten,” wrote Sina Weibo user “jiushiyaonibaobaowoma.”

Another parent in Zhejiang Province said the stress of helping her pre-schooler record the shape of the moon at midnight for 30 consecutive days has resulted in her losing weight.

While the mother claimed she lost “four kilograms” staying up and taking photos of the moon for him to copy, she didn’t find too much sympathy on Sina Weibo, where some said the assignments are most likely designed to encourage creative thinking and parent-child interaction.

“The moon assignment isn’t bizarre at all. Why didn’t the parent just tell her kid to pick a different time to record the moon instead of doing the homework herself?” wrote “yangjinxiaofen.”

“Drawing the moon is at least better than counting 100 million rice grains,” commented “heshudezahuopu.”