Picture
<<This post is also published in the On Education blog>>


Dear friends,

I am currently in Beijing and just had an interesting conversation with a local family regarding the education system and parenting practices in China.

The family I spoke to has one daughter who is currently 3 years and 8 months old. They told me that as parents in China, they are pulled in two different directions regarding what is best for the education of their child. In one direction, they are pressured by the test- oriented society to place their child in cram schools, or "buxiban." These cram schools, or intense after-school programs where students study one subject intensely for at least three hours, give students the opportunity to get ahead in society by learning the material (arithmetic, algebra, biology, English, etc.) earlier. Unfortunately, so much time spent studying hardly gives the child time to explore, create, and play on their own accord--skills crucial, I argue, in developing their motor control and social skills. Playing and being able to have good hand-eye coordination is not only important in learning how to throw a ball, but also in being able to hold a pencil comfortably to write, using scissors to cut, coloring pencils and markers to draw, etc. Being able to use and manipulate these tools require control of the mechanics of your body that are developed in child's play where they are uninhibited and free to explore their abilities and push their limitations. Eliminating play from a youngster's childhood not only severely limits their potential to grow and understand their body, but it also stunts their growth as social beings who need to learn how to negotiate, play fair, and peacefully resolve conflicts. Additionally, isolated in a room to study hour after hour, day after day, is not conducive to a happy childhood.

The family I spoke to was well aware of these issues. On the one hand, they wanted to preserve the happiness of their child and allow her to naturally develop an understanding of her abilities. However, in an ever mounting competition amongst Chinese families to let their child be number one and improve the family's social standing, it is hard for a family to go against the norm and not give their child the opportunity to "get ahead" by going to the cram schools. The pressure to succeed is so great that parents are willing to sacrifice the happiness of their child just so they can get into a top elementary school.

The top elementary schools in China are feeder schools into top middle and high schools. It is quite sad that a student who has a lower entrance exam score at eleven years old cannot go to a good school down the road. Their  life trajectory is mapped out just by how well they score on their exams. Furthermore, without money you cannot have access to the cram schools, which cost a tremendous amount and without "guanxi" or connections, it is very hard to get ahead politically and socially. To climb the social ladder is to step upon the shoulder's of another.The pool, then, to obtaining a good education is already sharply downsized.

As parents who have their daughter's happiness in mind, they tried to give her time to do what she wishes, to explore her own interests to maintain an inner drive and motivation. But in the end, they had to succumb to the pressures of society and family to give their child opportunities to succeed.

The family said that China is facing a shortage of school facilities to house their already bulging population. Attempts to control the population like with the One-Child Policy have only caused more of these families to spoil the one child. As the only child in the family, they also face overwhelming pressure to do well. Such pressure undoubtedly is not good on the psychology of the child.

So, as a working parent, what do you do? You know the benefits of a happy childhood, but the entire society is participating in a race to get ahead . Do you pay additional fees to give your child the rote memorization and practices he/she needs to quickly learn the material before others? Or, do you let them play, daydream, imagine, create, and come to their own independent thinking free of at least some pressure from you and wider society?

What would you choose?
Add Comment
 
 

Dear friends,
I visited an international school in Hong Kong last Thursday and Friday. I shadowed a 2nd grade and third grade teacher and was able to speak with them about challenges in teaching, differences in American and international schools, and different types of students they encounter.

One of the most difficult challenges I face as a teacher is closing the large skill level gaps in my classroom. In Taiwan, there are many "cram schools" (buxiban) where students study a subject intensively for two or three hours after school. Those that are wealthy, who can afford these cram schools, advance at a faster rate than those who cannot and thus creates a classroom situation where some students already know the subject matter so well and others have never seen the subject matter before. Disparities in skill level are challenges every teacher faces, but they are much more prominent in Taiwan and China where they have these cram schools.

The two teachers I shadowed told me that the challenges they face as teachers are, for the most part, not really relevant to just international school teaching, but teaching in general. They could relate to the different skill level, classroom management, and politics that happens in schools. One of the teachers noted that the politics that happens in international schools are felt more  by teachers, though because as private schools, international schools determine what to include in the curriculum. As such, the jockeying for input is felt to a larger degree in international schools because it happens at their level of authority. In American public school systems, much of what is decided to be taught and guidelines for teaching are set by a higher authority (such as the District's Board of Education) for uniformity among schools. Politics still exists, but at a higher level of authority when it comes to setting the curriculum.

There are many more differences between international and American schools, though, besides just the politics that we discussed. Students at international school mostly come from affluent families and come with different sets of social problems. On one extreme, some of the kids may face neglect in the form of being raised by a "helper," or a Phillippino cleaner/nanny who speaks minimal English. With their parents working such long hours, the children are neglected at home. On the other extreme, some kids have been given everything to them on a golden plate and they do not know their own boundaries, their own limits. Other times, these kids may also not know how to tie their own shoe because they've always had a "helper" tie it for them! By the second and third grade, students should be able to understand and take responsibility for themselves, turning in homework, picking up their own trash, etc. While these cases of child neglect and over-indulgence can be emotionally and developmentally damaging, it is different and not as severe or traumatizing as inner-city youths trying to survive street gangs, abusive households, poverty, and unsupportive families.

Students are always in need of nurturing, attention, and guidance. One thing that I agree with one of the teachers I spoke with is that students, wherever you go, are the same. Students are still curious, creative, vulnerable, and sensitive beings. They may have grown up in a completely different culture and social context, but as children, they all want to be loved, to be in a nurturing atmosphere where they can learn. As teachers, we have to remember that all children have the potential to learn. Each child learns differently (e.g. via kinesthetic learning, visual learning, or auditory learning)  so different teaching styles and techniques must be used. We must be flexible and adaptable to understand our students.

I want to thank the school and the teachers I shadowed last Thursday and Friday in Hong Kong. It was a pleasure meeting them and their cute students!

Add Comment