As the first day of the new fall semester kicks off, parents in China are taking time out to make sure their kids get to school safely. The streets have become packed in several areas outside of school gates, as moms and dads escort their children to their first classes.
Some parents of young children say its a matter of safety, since primary schools in China rarely provide shuttle buses. Other Chinese parents say they simply enjoy the time to and from school with their children each day. But some education staff, as well as various Western cultures, believe that allowing kids to take the route to and from school by themselves gives them an opportunity to build independence and maturity.