On May 30, in the early morning, Wang Wenqing, a male teacher at a kindergarten in Xuhui, Shanghai, chose to end his life by jumping into a river after experiencing disputes with parents in a WeChat group and failing to get help from the deputy director of the kindergarten. The incident was exposed on June 11, sparking an outcry on social media.
It has been over ten days since Wang Wenqing passed away. His mother, Ms. Bao, revealed to “Cover News” that they had already reported the situation to the police, and the kindergarten promised to inform them about what happened on the evening of May 29.
Ms. Bao shared that her son, aged 31, graduated with a degree in early childhood education from Gannan Normal University. On the evening of the 11th, she posted a Weibo message under the account “Teacher Xiaowang has left,” summarizing the information gathered from her son’s roommates, colleagues, and parents. This timeline of events attracted widespread attention after its publication.
The timeline revealed that from May 27 to the early hours of May 30, Wang Wenqing endured pressure from both parents and the kindergarten, staying awake for 43 hours straight, unable to rest.
On May 27, due to the retirement of the caregiver for special needs children in the class, Wang Wenqing was left to manage all responsibilities alone, leading to high levels of stress as he described it as “living in fear every day.”
The situation escalated on May 28 when a child in the class displayed risky behavior, and Wang Wenqing intervened. Later that afternoon, two parents got into an argument in the group chat unrelated to bullying, yet he was caught in the middle, handling parental issues until late at night. When he sought the help of the deputy director, he was rejected twice and instructed not to respond to the parents but to keep them waiting. After a phone call, he collapsed on the sofa, expressing thoughts of suicide. He even went up to the 14th-floor rooftop but was stopped by his roommate. Later, he considered using a knife in the kitchen but ultimately refrained, citing fear of pain.
On May 29, Wang Wenqing stayed up all night without sleep. The next morning, he expressed his belief in the kindergarten’s fair judgment, but that night, during a conversation with the principal, lasting until midnight, he was told he was in the wrong in front of the parents. Feeling unjustly accused, he doubted his ability to continue as a teacher.
At 1 a.m. on May 30, Wang Wenqing left his home, captured by surveillance cameras clenching his fists as he walked swiftly towards the riverside path, disappearing into the darkness.
According to reports, Wang Wenqing went without sleep for a continuous 43 hours from May 28 to May 30. He was found in the muddy river, his nasal cavity filled with silt, and his body swollen.
Ms. Bao appeals to the public for help, seeking the truth about what the principal and parents said to her son on that fateful evening.
The incident has sparked widespread attention online, with hashtags like “Kindergarten teacher suspected of succumbing to dual pressures from parents and the school before passing,” “Deceased kindergarten teacher sought help from the school twice and was rejected,” “Deceased kindergarten teacher went 48 hours without rest” trending on Weibo.
Netizens expressed empathy, highlighting the immense pressure teachers face and the need for better support systems within the education sector. They criticized the lack of intervention from school management and the burden placed on teachers, especially those in early education roles.
Messages from those who knew Wang Wenqing personally reflected on his gentle and kind nature, reminiscing about his positive impact on their lives. They emphasized the need for the truth to be revealed and mourned his loss.
As the community mourns the loss of a dedicated teacher, the tragic incident has shed light on the challenges faced by educators and the importance of providing them with adequate support and resources in demanding environments.