In large Chinese elementary schools, there is an easy way to identify those who perform well and are favored by teachers: a white armband bearing one, two or three red strokes. One stroke means a small team leader, two strokes represent the head of a class, and three strokes, which are the most senior and impressive, mean the student is the head of a school-level student organization.

I was a good student, and got almost full marks in every exam and never irritated my teachers. Although it was almost 20 years ago, sometimes I still can't help wondering why I didn't manage to get three strokes.

In China's public primary schools, students are recruited as "young pioneers." The strokes on the white armband are a sign of a young pioneer leader. During my years in primary school, I belonged to the two-stroke rank, which indicated that the wearer was in charge of a particular subject. For example, he or she could be the representative of the math class and served as a channel of communication between the students and the teacher.

These strokes, standing for honor and pride, certainly encourage students to perform better in school. However, I have to admit that sometimes they result in an obsession with gaining authority among primary school students. I clearly remember that back in my school days, some students without strokes teased students with strokes for practicing bureaucracy and enjoying privileges. 

Last year, an 11-year-old boy became a public sensation after he blogged about his habit of watching prime time news on CCTV. More notably, his "excellence" was shown by his wearing a white armband bearing five red strokes, which is rarely seen in China's primary schools. People criticized the boy's enthusiasm for politics and high position, blaming society for distorting children's innocence.

Recently, a primary school in Wuhan, Hubei Province abolished the practice of "armbanding" pupils. The headmaster reportedly said that this move was aimed at preventing pupils from having an official-oriented mentality.

Frankly, I don't see the problem being as serious as some have put it. The white armband left me fun memories of school life and helped foster a sense of responsibility. As I was the representative of the math class, I felt I had the obligation to be the best student in the subject so that I would be deserving of the title. My interest in math was also fostered at that time, which facilitated my study of other science subjects. Years later, I still cherish the sense of responsibility that I now hold in my current work.

Like others, I also believe that a school should never become a vanity fair for students. Children haven't even built their view of life and the world, let alone an understanding of politics. If they should be pursuing anything, it must be trust from their teachers, parents, classmates and self-confidence.

The sense of superiority reflected in armbands with strokes, as some adults believe, comes from their years of pursuing material gain. It is a reality that kids can be contaminated by the bad habits seen in the adult world. In school, there are indeed student leaders who appear rather arrogant and abuse their "armband rights." But that's more about the social reality, rather than the "sin" of the strokes themselves.

And such a reality is hard to change in a short time. But this is where teachers and parents play a role. If students can be taught to use their "armband rights" properly and hold these rights in awe, what's wrong with wearing them with a sense of pride?

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. wangwenwen@globaltimes.com.cn