I too, believe that many parents are too indulgent towards the whims of their children. However, my belief, that I try to instill in my own children, is that the building of strong moral character, good habits, and thinking for oneself are more important than the relentless pusuit of top grades.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704111504576059713528698754.html
I admire the (first generation american) chinese tendency to drive their children academically, but conversely I think they're far too likely to produce kids too insular & regimented to live up to their full potential in american society.
It is refreshing to read an article by someone that does not assume that they might be wrong, but are convinced that they are right.
Someone who is equally convinced that their style is right would have a good discussion with her. That is what the “arena of ideas” is all about, and it is refreshing to see someone willing to go to intellectual battle.
I believe a lot of Western parents can learn a lot from her understanding of child rearing. And like most things in the western world, many will take the good and dispose of the rest.
That is the strength of the Aristotelian Western Culture and why it is superior to Chinese Culture.
bflr
It is funny. I know many Chinese American or Chinese immigrant families who force their kids to learn piano or violin because they believe it forces/exercises their kids brains, thus the kids will be smarter especially in math. Net effect is $ 15000 piano followed by $ 5000 lessons per child. By the time they graduate from college, few of their kids can even play the piano, but are great soccer and basketball players. Knew one parent who skimped and saved, gave best tutoring so their son can go to Princeton. Guess what, the child did what the Chinese call a Chinese parents’ nightmare, send child to prestiges expensive college and he decides to join the military via ROTC!!!! Bragging rights just evaporated!!!! IMHO children should be exposed to a disciplined classical education where the child is exposed to all academic endeavors so he/she is familiar with it and appreciative of its existence and explore which talent they possess and focus on the ones that are practical and to their liking.
The Chua article is a caricature of “Chinese” parenting, and the responses to the article are absurd because they take Chua at face value. Chua is American, and it would help if the commentators had ever had serious engagement in China with real Chinese. Instead they simply react credulously to this affirmative action yuppie hypenated American professorette.
We’ll have nun of that
Unless you are in the elite ruling class of China you have no more than $100 a month and a homne the size of one of our closets to live in.
These articles are pure BS because what ever point of views might claimed, the fact is the vast majority of the country live as slave labor.
The world in the article doesn’t even exist to begin with.
What I found interesting is that postings by those who mentioned they had Chinese mothers similar to Chua were the most critical of her.
they are only allowed one child. Of course they are going to be better. they are a suppressed economy that is now booming and they are taking OUR PLACE.
they are only allowed one child. Of course they are going to be better. they were a suppressed economy that is now booming and they are taking OUR PLACE. They are equal to the US during the 40’s into the 50’s probably stay at home moms.
If China parent su good, why China farl into decrine for five hunred year?
Round eye peeprl from aal over worl, kick China aroun for make China a fool.
Haha, then we make Mao. Mao kill many bad China peeprl and make China grate agin.
See! China peeprl are more smart thand round eyes.
Watch out Untied Stats of America!!
“If China parent su good, why China farl into decrine for five hunred year?”
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I know answer!!! China chilrun get tire if burl$hit from clazy China mothers!