Insulting nicknames are a no-no in Guangdong schools

Parents and teachers in Guangdong province are welcoming new school guidelines that deem insulting nicknames to be a form of bullying.

The guidelines were released on Tuesday by the provincial Department of Education and 12 other government departments and organizations, and will take effect on Dec 1.

Insulting nicknames will be considered a form of school violence, and punishment can include expulsion.

The rules require each school in the province to establish a special committee to handle cases, with rulings required within 10 days. Committees at high schools may include student representatives.

It is the first regulation of its kind in the province.

Xiong Bingqi, deputy director of the 21st Century Education Research Institute in Shanghai, said insulting nicknames constitute campus bullying and can hurt the victims. He urged the authorities to define exactly what constitutes an insulting nickname.

"Teachers should also be given detailed rules on how to punish students who use insulting nicknames against others," Xiong told China Daily.

Many parents and teachers are in favor of the new rules. Chen Junliang, a white-collar worker in Guangzhou, said the rules help ensure a positive study environment and atmosphere for students.

"Giving students insulting nicknames is very bad behavior and can affect normal studies," said Chen, whose son is a fifth-grader.

Wang Chenfang, a housewife in Guangzhou's Tianhe district, said the new rules would play a role in fighting campus bullying.

"Giving students insulting nicknames hurts the victim and affects performance," she said.

Wang also hoped more details would soon be introduced to guide teachers and students in handling such cases.

Tan Yulan contributed to this story.