A group of kindergarten students from China went viral this week for their impressive performance of a dribbling game that sought flawless synchronization.
The game, aptly called “Cooperation,” required the students to bounce two balls four times before they can jump to their right and dribble the next pair.
As seen in a TikTok video reposted on Twitter, the balls are kept in place as the students moved around a large circle in a rhythmic pattern.
“China’s kindergarten game: Cooperation,” user @thinking_panda captioned the video, which has now received more than 36 million views.
China’s kindergarten game: Cooperation. pic.twitter.com/2vxAsEetHm
— ShanghaiPanda (@thinking_panda) August 23, 2020
The video easily won praises from many users, but some were also quick to slam the game as a form of “indoctrination” from the Chinese government.
“Doesn’t look like a game to me. Seems more like training in automatism and obedience,” one Twitter user wrote. “Just the kind of attributes the Chinese Communist Party likes in their citizens.”
Doesn’t look like a game to me. Seems more like training in automatism and obedience.
Just the kind of attributes the Chinese Communist Party likes in their citizens.
— Liberal Furibundo (@topeLiberal) August 24, 2020
How to make humans robot by Chinesse Comunist party.
— EgorValue (@AncapEgor) August 23, 2020
Are these gvmnt propaganda vdos?
— AstroDK 🇭🇺🇯🇲✨🔮 (@DKAstrology) August 24, 2020
While the comment has received more than 3,000 likes, many pointed out the hypocrisy in its assumption, noting how children elsewhere are made to perform similar activities.
“So according to the replies, children playing a game together is indoctrination. Wait until they hear about how kids have to stand up every day and pledge their undying allegiance to their country,” one user commented. “These children are playing a game, chill tf out guys.”
So according to the replies, children playing a game together is indoctrination. Wait until they hear about how kids have to stand up every day and pledge their undying allegiance to their country. That’s ok the US. These children are playing a game chill tf out guys
— bad with names (@mediocrebitch47) August 24, 2020
I can’t believe the Chinese would indoctrinate their kids like this. Good thing I live the US. Anyways, excuse me while I pledge allegiance to the flag like I’ve had to do for every day of my education.
— R00d3 (@RudyCooliani) August 24, 2020
I see the CCP is schooling its children well and teaching them that co-operation is better than capitalist competition!
— Ian Parsons (@icp456) August 23, 2020
This is impressive. In America we are taught to be individualist from the get go. Always taught to compete against each other, which isn’t a bad thing but it’s important to teach kids about cooperation. A skill that comes handy later in life in the workforce and in the community.
— Cándido Josué Rodríguez Zelaya (@cjrodriguez503_) August 24, 2020
Americans are absolutely indoctrinated into competition as being a necessity for… everything.
— Chrisi (@chrisiousity) August 24, 2020
Soon after posting the video, @thinking_panda posted follow-up tweets to provide more context on the importance of cooperation in China.
“If you are born in a country with 1.4 billion people and thousands of years of history, you will know how important cooperation is. We need order more than freedom. We need collectivism more than individualism. Many Westerners don’t understand it,” @thinking_panda wrote.
China’s primary school game: Cooperation v2.0 pic.twitter.com/LAu6jgGCCc
— ShanghaiPanda (@thinking_panda) August 24, 2020
China’s university game: Cooperation v3.0. pic.twitter.com/CmDmWyI2GK
— ShanghaiPanda (@thinking_panda) August 24, 2020
The user stressed that China’s unique economic and social conditions leave it with no choice but to employ collectivism or socialism. It also shared videos of other games that highlight cooperation at the primary and university levels.
It added: “For resource-rich countries, individualism or capitalism is a good choice. For resource-deficient countries, it is necessary to allocate the limited resources through a strong government to ensure that every citizen has a better life. This is what China has done, and it is doing well.”
For resource rich countries, individualism or capitalism is a good choice.
For resource deficient countries, it is necessary to allocate the limited resources through a strong govt to ensure that every citizen has a better life.
This is what China has done, and it is doing well. pic.twitter.com/QcgaaFMLxw— ShanghaiPanda (@thinking_panda) August 25, 2020
This is not the first time a Chinese kindergarten performed a basketball routine that required impeccable focus, balance and gross motor skills. In 2015, participants of a talent show called “Amazing Chinese” floored judges when they performed something similar in a choreographed number.
Watch it below:
Feature Image Screenshots via @thinking_panda
