Illustration: Peter C. Espina/GT

 Schools in China traditionally organize outings for students in spring and fall. For Chinese students, outings mean an opportunity to break away from their heavy school workload and close in on nature. However, such valuable chances for outdoor fun risk being taken away this spring because local education authorities strengthened regulations on outings after a recent fatal crash during an outing in South China's Hainan Province. The principle that those who organize the outings are responsible for the safety of the students has been underlined by many local authorities. As responsibility is shirked by schools, many headmasters told media they'd rather call off spring outings than take the plunge. Safety should undoubtedly be given priority. However, the students shouldn't be deprived of their rights to enjoy outings. Local education authorities need to bear common responsibilities with schools to make sure students are safe in outings, rather than merely issuing strict regulations.