(CRI)
Updated: 2007-11-20 10:52

Mr. Liang, father of a grade-four pupil in city Changsha, central China, is worried about his son recently. A few days ago, he and his wife were shocked to discover a small "beating others license" in the boy's schoolbag, Changsha Evening News reported.

The imitation "certificates" and "licenses" can be easily bought at stationeries and grocery stores nearby primary schools in city Changsha, central China. [CRI]

A reporter from the newspaper carried out an investigation and found that similar imitation "certificates" and "licenses" can be easily bought at stationeries and grocery stores nearby primary schools around the city. The card or plastic tokens, such as "singles' certification", "picking-up-girls license" and "online love affair license", attract many young customers.

A grade-3 pupil told the reporter that he followed his classmates in buying them because "it's just a lot of fun."

Parents are worried that the unhealthy content of the licenses, such as violence and pornography, may have a negative influence on children.

"The licenses rationalise is a bad social phenomenon. To some extent, they may lead children to reach an incorrect philosophy. The sellers are irresponsible in targeting school children as their customers," a school teacher expressed.

However, the teachers also said that they can not stop their students from buying such junks, as they do not have the right to interfere in a students' life outside school.

A lawyer told Changsha Evening News that the licenses, which abuse the Chinese national emblem and such characters as "issued by the United Nations" or "Chinese Ministry of Public Security", have violated the law.

Psychologists suggest that children are buying the licenses as a way to seek self-expression and new experiences. Parents should provide better guidance to their children instead of blaming them for their actions.