I'm not sure why the results of two surveys on the question of whether Peking Opera should be taught in primary and middle schools appear to contradict each other.

A survey the previous week of some 1,000 residents in several cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, suggests that more than 60 percent do not believe that teaching students how to sing selected Peking Opera arias as part of the curriculum will contribute to the promotion of traditional culture among students.

But another survey, of more than 4,000 people, suggests that most people support the inclusion of Peking Opera in the curriculum for primary and middle school students and believe it will be good for them to develop an interest in traditional culture.