[oldenuff2no]

My wife and I teach Chinese exchange students during the summer. They are great kids who all tell us they would much rather have our schooling standards than their own. The reason for that is simple. In their country they either go to school or are involved in a structured study program 13.5 hours a day 5 or 6 days every week. On Saturdays they are in music classes or structured sports with very little time for alone or family time.

They are far ahead of most of our students academically.

While teaching these teens/preteens, and in discussion with them and their accompanying teachers, we spend hours talking about how our countries and cultures are alike and different. China places much importance on education, the schools/classrooms are extremely strict, and the educational standards are very high. When I say that the classrooms are strict that is an understatement. Parents would come unglued if the teachers in our country enforced those standards on their little Johnny or Jannie. PC and religion will not be found in their schools. In China the kids go to school to learn it is not a social event as it is in our public schools.

Politics are not even in the top twenty topics of preferred conversations with the students or teachers. I do not get political indoctrination from these teens or adults. Educational standards do come up repeatedly. The majority of these students express a desire to return and attend a university here. They are proud of their advanced knowledge but like any teenager think they would much rather have our easier standards.

Like it or not there is one true and clear fact in this. The Chinese students I have dealt with and taught are in a much better position to excel in our college/university system than the vast majority of our own students. The knowledge, learning, and educational standards that the Chinese students are held accountable to are far above any official standards I have seen in our public, private, or home school curriculum.

These Chinese students are coming here to our nation to take advantage of a fantastic opportunity to learn. They are well prepared to excel and will thrive in American colleges. For those of us who have worked with these students there is no surprise at all.

[dfwgator]

My hope is that this is the future leadership of China and will at least adopt the good things about this country (well at least the good things that used to be about this country).

[Golden Eagle]

My wife and I teach Chinese exchange students during the summer.

Any reason why you'd rather teach these Chinese students who are already quote "far ahead" of American children, than help our American children who supposedly need to catch up? My guess is you don't want to deal with their whining, but wouldn't that be the lesson they most need to learn, in order to catch up with the Chinese who are quote "much better position to excel" and "proud of their advanced knowledge" not to mention "are far above any official standards" plus "well prepared to excel and will thrive". Or are you not actually an American yourself? Just wonderin'.

[Will88]

The Chinese students I have dealt with and taught are in a much better position to excel in our college/university system than the vast majority of our own students.

You are dealing with a very select group, not a typical cross-section of Chinese students. They aren't all geniuses.