I picked up this book on a friend’s recommendation. If I were to come across this book just browsing titles, I would most likely think that I have an opinion about the Chinese educational system, and nothing could possibly change it. Based on my friend’s review, the situation seemed more complex, so I decided to give this book a try.
Many aspects of the Chinese educational system remind me of the Soviet schools, and some scenes from the book sounded painfully familiar. Still, there are many differences, stemming from cultural differences and the role of education and formal exams in society, dating back hundreds of years.
To be completely honest, I think that, at least at the time of writing this book, Leonora Chu could not fully foresee the long-term effects of the Chinese educational system on a person’s development, even though she spoke in depth with high schoolers from different backgrounds, with different life goals and aptitudes.
For me, there is no question that fostering the desire to learn, encouraging curiosity, and independent thinking are the most important educational goals, and I feel like the Chinese educational system does the opposite. I do not think that the quality of education is defined by the complexity of math classes (I held this belief for the first couple of years of my children being in American schools, but fortunately realized my mistake early enough).
A side note: I do not understand why, in the twenty-first century, people still consider a “well-behaved child” to be the most desired educational outcome. And by “well-behaved,” I mean a three-year-old who can sit still for the whole duration of the class. Why it is so admirable, is beyond me 🙂
Hettie's Reflections 