She is actually a child of Filipino-Chinese, immigrants in two stages. Read her first book, its very interesting.
I know where she comes from, I come from the same place. Most of my classmates through university were also Filipino-Chinese. I have been in their homes, at their weddings, their funerals, their workplaces and boudoirs, I have dated their sisters. I know her people. They are tough, hard.
Child abuse ? Many of my friends grew up picking through garbage to salvage scrap. Their families grew wealthy that way, and sent these hard-working sons to university. But they still remembered the garbage. Is that child abuse ?
What is “discipline” ? What is “commitment” ? Can we train any random high school girl to be that ? Can we make her assert that she is “disciplined” ? No.
I do believe that it does boil down to “tradition and cultural influence”, but unless that is analyzed into something specific and replicable it is of no value to anyone else.
“...but unless that is analyzed into something specific and replicable it is of no value to anyone else.”
We know it can be replicated because the results of these studies are as a result of repeated accomplishments amongst Asian students.
“Child abuse ? Many of my friends grew up picking through garbage to salvage scrap. Their families grew wealthy that way, and sent these hard-working sons....”
This is an apples to oranges comparison. One example deals with a mother punishing her child by means of withholding food while your example reveals the level of poverty, thus resulting in the need to pick through garage in order to eat.
One example involves a form a discipline which can only be described as criminal while the other example deals with human survival and the need to eat.
“What is “discipline” ?”
Depends on the the application. In this instance concerning a student, this can be described as:
To instruct or educate; to inform the mind; to prepare by instructing in correct principles and habits; as,to discipline youth for a profession, or for future usefulness.
“What is “commitment” ? “
In this circumstance, it can be described as:
To engage; to pledge; or to pledge by implication.
“Can we train any random high school girl to be that ?”
The answer would depend on the high school girl.
“Can we make her assert that she is “disciplined” ? No”
This question/answer is irrelevant to the discussion.