[skeeter]

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.

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.

[myrabach]

oh gosh, I’m not Chinese but I do have some serious issues with American parenting. But to say you are a better parent because your child gets good grades and can play the piano certainly isn’t a serious gauge of exceptional parenting. To me the kind of parenting this woman describes nurtures the kind of adult that fits perfectly into the restrictive and oppressive society the Chinese enjoy. Now I see more how it’s done... control right from the cradle.

[mojito]

I don't want anyone to think that I don't believe good grades are important: they are. But maybe they're not the most important thing about an education.

Case in point: When I was an undergraduate, I took a course in modern Chinese history. I was interested in the subject and read the required reading and beyond. However, the professor was an admirer of Mao and made that known; I decidedly was not, and my essays reflected that.

I received a B- in the class for my open political disagreement with the professor. However, I was unwilling to compromise my belief that Mao was a monster just to obtain a good grade.

[papertyger]

I think they're far too likely to produce kids too insular & regimented to live up to their full potential in american society.

Sounds like another nebulous variation on the non-disprovable "socially stunted homeschool" complaint....