Here is a summary of forum activity for the week of September 8th to September 15th, 2025.
Key Statistics
- Date Range: 2025-09-08 – 2025-09-15
- New Topics: 36
- New Posts: 477
- Top Users: @cnboy, @suen, @Michael-MiaoX, @nocatnozzz, @RuletheWaves
Overview
This week’s discussions were dominated by a significant escalation in the school’s new policies regarding personal electronic devices, sparking widespread student discontent and organized pushback. Conversations revolved around the implementation of a restrictive tablet management system, new enforcement measures by administrative staff, and the perceived erosion of student autonomy. In parallel, alumni shared candid and often critical reflections on their new university lives, providing a stark contrast to the ongoing struggles within the high school. Amidst the conflict, the community also came together for moments of appreciation and lighthearted sharing, celebrating Teacher’s Day and continuing long-running threads on daily life and creative expression.
School-Wide Tablet Policy Sparks Major Controversy
The forum became a central hub for organizing and expressing dissatisfaction as the controversial “intelligent learning companion” system, previously trialed in the preparatory department, was extended to the high school. The initial rollout immediately prompted frustration, with students in the Gewu Academy voicing their concerns in group chats. This led to a student-led initiative to compile feedback into a collaborative document to be presented to the school administration. The sentiment was aptly summarized by @chw, who remarked, “making everyone satisfied is difficult, but making everyone dissatisfied seems even harder… yet the school managed to do the latter.” This organized effort quickly gained traction, with nearly 300 people contributing to the feedback document as students grappled with the new restrictions. The debate even saw the return of a user who had previously argued with @suen over network restrictions, highlighting how past conflicts over school policy are resurfacing.
Aggressive Enforcement and Student Pushback
Tensions heightened as the administration began aggressively enforcing its new electronic device policies. A major flashpoint occurred when teachers were dispatched to patrol the cafeteria and classrooms, specifically to identify and discipline students using personal devices. Users shared photos and firsthand accounts of teachers actively searching for offenders, with @ShaoQing noting that one teacher even had a student help her take photos of others violating the rules. One particularly zealous administrator, nicknamed “Umbridge” by students, was reported to have entered a classroom to confiscate a student’s personal tablet and later confronted another student she mistakenly believed was filming her. This intense crackdown led to speculation and dark humor about the teachers’ motivations, with one topic asking if there were bonuses for confiscating devices. The general atmosphere of surveillance was captured in various memes and images shared by users, reflecting a student body feeling increasingly policed.
The “Mysterious Tablet Symposium”
In response to the growing unrest, the school convened a “mysterious tablet symposium” to address student concerns. However, the meeting did little to quell anxieties. According to user @likeapearrrrrr, an information management teacher claimed the system was deemed successful after being used by seniors, a statement met with scorn from students familiar with its flaws. While some, like @chw, viewed the meeting as a potentially positive first step in an ongoing dialogue, others were far more cynical. @without_name dismissed the effort as toothless, comparing the anonymous feedback document to a massive, ineffective comment section and pointing out that some signatories had already withdrawn their names. The discussion highlighted a core conflict: the school’s whitelist-based system was seen as inherently flawed due to its unavoidable lag in approving necessary apps. The fear remained that the policy would ultimately punish dedicated students while failing to curb those determined to misuse their devices, as noted by @Adler, who suggested the administration should focus on actual offenders rather than disrupting serious academic work.
Erosion of Student Autonomy
The tablet conflict is being interpreted by many students as part of a broader trend of diminishing student autonomy and participation in school governance. This sentiment was explored in detail by @CoBr in a thread about a dispute over changing seating arrangements in the Gewu Academy. He lamented that after a lengthy democratic process last year, a new teacher attempted to unilaterally impose a different system. While older students resisted, the newer 28th-grade students were largely overruled by a top-down decision. @CoBr observed a worrying pattern: “In the academy, the smallest unit where students can best act for themselves, the things students can do, and the power to do them, are constantly being eroded.” This discussion also touched upon the decline of the “保民官” (Tribune) system, with @RuletheWaves noting that students lost faith in its effectiveness due to a lack of real power. The conversation showcased a variety of seating systems in different classes, from weekly scrambles to random draws, but the underlying theme was a concern for the loss of student voice.
Alumni Reflect on University Life
While current students battled school policies, recent graduates shared their experiences of transitioning to university life, often highlighting a newfound appreciation for their high school days despite its flaws. In a long and detailed thread, @Michael-MiaoX documented the grueling and oppressive nature of his university’s three-week military training, which included everything from mandatory 3mm haircuts to obsessive dorm inspections. He urged current students to “cherish your life at Beizhuan… at least Beizhuan still treats you like human beings.” His posts detailed the absurdities of the university’s administration, such as a dean scolding students for not greeting him properly and a ridiculous opening ceremony. In another thread, @nocatnozzz provided daily updates from her own university experience in the popular 离了我北就觉得我北哪哪哪都更好了 topic, sharing the highs and lows, from feeling homesick during training to the joy of finishing her duties and enjoying her first weekend. Other alumni chimed in with their own updates, like @Xuqisi, who reported a positive start with friendly roommates.
Insights and Trends
A clear trend this week is the intensification of school-student conflict over administrative control. The tablet policy served as the primary catalyst, but discussions reveal a deeper frustration with what students see as authoritarian and illogical decision-making. Posts describe teachers engaging in surveillance in the cafeteria, leading to widespread student paranoia. This aligns with a comment from @CoBr about administrative staff who seem to be motivated by a “petty person who has achieved sudden success” mentality, prioritizing enforcement over educational impact. The situation has reached a point where even a speech by a prominent school figure in the cafeteria is met with sarcastic documentation on the forum, reflecting a significant trust deficit between students and certain parts of the administration.
Despite the tense atmosphere, community bonding and mutual support remain a cornerstone of the forum. The most heartwarming example was the annual thread wishing @suen a happy Teacher’s Day, which saw an outpouring of affection from dozens of members. The thread has become an annual tradition, with @nocatnozzz marking her one-year check-in. In a rare and poignant moment, @suen responded with a reflection on the forum’s future, musing about a cryptographic method to preserve its data after his passing, a testament to the community’s importance. This sense of camaraderie is also evident in lighter threads, where users share memes, AI-generated art, and personal photos.
Another key trend is the use of the forum as a living archive of student life and thought. Members use the platform not just for major debates but also to document their personal journeys. @gggggg continues their 一些些上高三的感想 thread, sharing academic achievements like a great math score and heartwarming moments of friendship and fun in P.E. class. @ShaoQing shared a short, evocative poem titled “Bridge” from a school assignment, while other members provided useful tips in long-running guides, such as @cnboy’s workaround for an iOS issue in the preparatory department. From discussions on the effectiveness of VPN protocols to mourning the loss of a beloved internet-famous cat, the forum captures the multifaceted experience of its members.
Finally, the forum continues to serve as a space for critical analysis of technology and its role in education and life. @Alkaid provided a detailed, multi-post review of the new Harmony OS 5, exploring its performance and support for Google Mobile Services. This technical discussion provides a counterpoint to the school’s technologically flawed management system. Meanwhile, @suen looked to the future, sharing a link about advancements in real-time translation technology from Apple and Google, ominously titling the thread “Goodbye, Translation”. These conversations show a community that is not just reacting to technology imposed upon them but is actively engaging with and critiquing its broader trajectory.
Last edited by @suen 2025-09-15T00:19:27Z