Asian Model for education

Is it a better model than the U.S.? It is not totally better, but it has good points that we should copy.

       Rote memorization.

Rote memorization (also known as Bejing duck stuffing in Asia) has more benefits than most would admit. I and my classmates in early education are the living proofs.

My theory. Rote memorization teaches us discipline and working hard. Creativity comes later in life.  Most grade 6 students in Hong Kong knew how to solve the following mathematical problem and its variations: when the two trains meet driving at opposite directions from different speeds and distances. We did not know the theory behind then. After high school, most of us understood as they’re the basics of algebra and it can solve some real-life problems. Similar to reciting Chinese poems and remembering the long list of important events in Chinese history.

By very rough estimate, we need less than 1% geniuses and about 25% professionals for all workers. The professionals are doctors, lawyers (some are good and some are parasites), accountants, computer programmers, teachers, managers, etc. The rest are jobs for farmers, salesmen, technicians, office workers, factory workers, service workers, etc. that do not require a college education more than two years. As long as everyone works or has a desire to work instead of making quick money (via lotteries and the TV reality shows that give you free stuffs and money), we should have a harmonious society. Our family and high schools should teach them to be good citizens first.

The geniuses are researchers and entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs, Gates and many others. They create jobs. Steve Jobs may have created more than a million jobs. Most Tier I cities in China do have schools to accommodate geniuses.

Rote memorization teaches us how to do a task. It is good for our professionals and workers. It also emphasizes on discipline and working hard, so it would help us to be good citizens instead of burdens to the society. 

Education starts at home.

It has been described in my blog.

Our next generation will have a tough time to compete with China if you understand how hard the Chinese children study. We still have resources and inheritance from our ancestors, so the next generation should still have a good time. However, the next, next generation will not maintain the same kind of living standard if they do not work hard.

It is no surprise to me that some Shanghai students beat all countries in a unified test.

One advantage is China’s one-child policy. Now, the whole family (two parents and four grandparents) concentrate their effort in educating the only child.  There are bad side effects like producing many so-called ‘little emperors’ who are spoiled, fat and lazy. However, these ‘little emperors’ are a small percent and the parents are realizing the problem.

The Chinese high school dropouts will not be a big burden to society.

The Chinese high school dropouts are different from the U.S. counterparts. They drop out for many reasons and many are not related to academics. Chinese compulsory education is 9 years. If the families do not have money, they will drop out after the 9 years.

 
Very few Chinese dropouts are a burden to the society. It could be the quality of the dropouts and the fierce punishment in China. The U.S. has about 25% high school dropout and about 40% for black / Hispanics. When you count how many prisoners are dropouts, it will show the dropout has an effect to the burden of the society.

Other Myths.

The U.S. education system is good to educate a citizen all-around. If you do not have a job, you cannot survive for being all-around.

Leave no one behind. In the classroom, these losers will disrupt learning for others.

No homework. The average kid will spend their extra time in playing video games.