WHILE Huang Zhihao, a local civil servant, was still hesitating over whether to pay 1,600 yuan (US$200) to send his 3-year-old son to the four-month program offered by"Tongxueguan,"a preschool teaching basic Chinese literary and art classics as well as etiquette, a dozen other parents had paid up.

The formal opening of the school, originally planned for Saturday, was postponed until after Oct. 1 as many parents have travel plans for the family during the National Day holidays.

The first of its kind in Shenzhen, the preschool is located on the fourth floor of a high-rise on Xinzhou Road, with rooms for games, video watching and text teaching.

"The core course is designed by a research group from the Central China Normal University (CCNU) led by professor Zhou Zongkui, who specializes in child psychology,"said Zhang Chengyu, headmaster of Tongxueguan (translated Children's School).

"Chinese classics are reorganized into simple four-character sentences and taught to children, aged 3 to 8, with lively interaction with the teacher, so they can learn Chinese characters easily, while learning about Chinese culture and history."

Unlike traditional Chinese preschools where students recited texts taught by an elderly teacher, usually male, Tongxueguan hires young women with university degrees in childhood education.

Zhang said their four teachers also received special training in Chinese culture and history from CCNU.

During the three packed classroom hours, video watching, games and traditional art sessions were scheduled.

"Children will learn in a progressive way leading from easy texts to difficult ones. They will also learn etiquette, calligraphy, music, painting, martial arts, and the game of go," Zhang said. Art teachers come from other schools and from children's cultural centers in the city on a part-time basis.

"Apart from literacy, it's important to teach the children traditional culture and history as well as virtues," Zhang said.

Children completing the nine levels of the program¡ªlasting three years and costing 14,400 yuan - will be able to read and write 2,000 characters, know the basic facts of 5,000 years of Chinese history, appreciate Beijing opera, calligraphy and ink painting. They are also expected to be friendly, patient, and modest in language and behavior.

Huang Zhihao, the father who watched his son learn 16 characters in a 30-minute trial session Saturday, said he was only worried that the three-hour course would be too long for the boy, aged 3 years and 8 months, though he was reassured there will be breaks as well as video and game sessions.

A critical voice, Zhao Wei, professor of education with Shenzhen University, thinks it unnecessary for children to don ancient outfits during the course, calling it superficial.

However, Zhang, the schoolmaster, explained that the preschoolers need a uniform, like the outfit for tae kwon do, to let them experience Chinese culture and feel proud of it.

Not just concerned about dress, professor Zhao emphasized the importance of making wise choices and exploiting the good side of Chinese culture.

"There are things modern people can borrow from tradition, like honoring one's parents and having sympathy for the disadvantaged. But there is also preaching about 'virtues' like obedience to authority and being overly cautious to act," he said.

"It is important to filter and redesign traditional culture and teach them in a way that's easy to understand and suits their age," Zhao said.

Tongxueguan already has two branches in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province. Another will open soon in Shenyang, Liaoning Province in the northeast.

Editor: Wing