Due+April+28

[|China's Early Education] We have been comparing Chinese education to American education in class, but have mainly focused on high school and college prep. In other classes we talk about how early childhood experiences affect student's learning abilities/possibilities. So I found an article on Chinese Early education system. I find it interesting on how they culture values and ours greatly effect how our early childhood programs are shaped.

NYU to Establish a Degree-Granting Campus in Shanghai NYU is in the process of establishing a campus in Shanghai. I think this is awesome because it will allow US students to become more culturally diverse and have more experience outside of the country. One question that comes to mind is are students automatically able to study in Shanghai if they are already admitted to the university or is there some special entrance exam that they will have to take. It almost seems fair to make them take an exam because the standards are held so high in Shanghai, I think the US should expect those same standards from our students.

China’s higher education transformation and its global implications This is an article about upgrading China's higher education. They have added more resources and upgraded the quality of their education and teachers. Because of this more students are graduation from high school. Other countries are looking at China's education system to see what they can do to be more like China.

China's Ambivalent Tiger Moms: When in Rome.... This article explores a few aspects of Chinese culture outside of education and how they are heavily influenced by education and vice versa. The main focus of the article is the role of parents in the society. It discusses how Chinese parents, specifically moms, live with a struggle between pushing their children to be successful and wanting them to be happy. It is an incredibly difficult position for parents. They realize that if their children are going to be successful in life, it is important for them to be pushed and to be high achieving. But at the same time, no parent wants to see their child incredibly stressed and overloaded with work. Is it possible to find a balance in the Chinese system?

I'm reminded of what one of the Chinese students that came to our class said. (Unfortunately I cannot remember his name - not Wilson or Elena, but the third student). He was telling us that he discussed with his parents that he desired not to take the Gao Kao but to study in the United States instead. I don't really know, but from the way he described the situation, it seemed as though his parents were totally accepting of the situation. Just from what I've heard from my international friends and the readings we have done, I have a feeling that that is not the normal reaction among Chinese parents.

I think that every parent everywhere has a lot of struggles when it comes to their children. They want their children to be successful, but they want their children to enjoy life also. But this struggle is just intensified ten fold in the China where education and competition are so ingrained in the society. Completely devoting oneself to studies at a young age is the only way to be successful - so parents have to push their children. And then the pressure is so great that many children commit suicide - I cannot imagine the guilt that parents must deal with after that. It is just a really hard situation.

-Beth