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.
Fee,
You make a good point on behalf of classical education. However, Ms. Chua seems to repeat to some degree the actions of her own mother. As a person of Chinese descent, I would say learning a musical instrument was part of my “classical education.” Although I eventually got to district semi-finals, my parents saw music lessons as a way of keeping my mind and hands busy with no expectation of me becoming a concert pianist.
My parents thought a lot of my elementary education was not challenging enough so they sent me to a college prep school, where getting into trouble was difficult since I had athletic and academic education added to music. They could see the strain on me and allowed me to quit piano and relax with mystery novels.
I really appreciate the discipline and moral values that my parents instilled in me. They have made me a better person, who appreciates and expects real achievement in others.