What is wrong with the USA Educational System?
What is wrong with the USA education?
We had our pot luck party and one of the topics that interested most Chinese Parents in US is the question – what is wrong with the USA educational system? What do they need to do to ensure that their children get the best out of life?
Tseung: ‘A number of you bought the Electronic Snap Kits for your children? What happened? Did any one finish the projects?”
Parent A: “My kid spent three days on it. He did about 30 projects. Then he complained that he did not understand what is going on behind the building. I could not help him as I know nothing about physics and electronics. May be he will pick it up again after he learned more physics and electronics.”
Parent B: “My kid had some friends over. They were happy for a whole afternoon. When his friends left, some parts are missing. They are probably mixed with other toys.”
Parent C: “I used the tiger mom method. I forced my 11 year old son to do the projects one by one. He must explain to me after finishing one before he can work on another. I encouraged him to show some of the exciting results to his friends. I can see that he could benefit greatly from it. However, some of the concepts are far too difficult – even for me! I had to learn what are NPN and PNP, Diodes and ICs, Capacitors and Inductors etc. I do not have that much time.”
Parent D: “My 16 year son had a look and said it was far too boring. It is now my toy. I play with it from time to time. The Kit does not provide enough technical information. I have to hunt for additional information on the Internet. I wanted to do a Steven Mark type generator. However, there is a long way to go.”
Parent A: “In USA, there is too much emphasis on sports. In School, the heroes and idols are the athletes. Working on science projects will be labeled as a nerd. Kids are easily influenced by peer pressure.”
Parent B: “I prefer to send my kids to an environment such as summer camps. Some examples are music and tennis camps. My kids listen to coaches more. The coaches are professionals. They can teach my kids better tennis than I ever can. Will you run any electronics camps?”
Parent C: “I believe that one must excel in any field before one can truly enjoy it. In order to be better than others, one must exert more effort. I did not get to my present position in life through family fortune or connections. Every achievement was via hard work. I want my children to value hard work and dedication.”
Tseung: “Education is like politics. Different people can have different opinions. What matters are the end results! Unfortunately, the end results depend on many factors – school, family, friends, churches, TV and now Internet. I shall just sow seeds.”
What is wrong with the USA education?
We had our pot luck party and one of the topics that interested most Chinese Parents in US is the question – what is wrong with the USA educational system? What do they need to do to ensure that their children get the best out of life?
Tseung: ‘A number of you bought the Electronic Snap Kits for your children? What happened? Did any one finish the projects?”
Parent A: “My kid spent three days on it. He did about 30 projects. Then he complained that he did not understand what is going on behind the building. I could not help him as I know nothing about physics and electronics. May be he will pick it up again after he learned more physics and electronics.”
Parent B: “My kid had some friends over. They were happy for a whole afternoon. When his friends left, some parts are missing. They are probably mixed with other toys.”
Parent C: “I used the tiger mom method. I forced my 11 year old son to do the projects one by one. He must explain to me after finishing one before he can work on another. I encouraged him to show some of the exciting results to his friends. I can see that he could benefit greatly from it. However, some of the concepts are far too difficult – even for me! I had to learn what are NPN and PNP, Diodes and ICs, Capacitors and Inductors etc. I do not have that much time.”
Parent D: “My 16 year son had a look and said it was far too boring. It is now my toy. I play with it from time to time. The Kit does not provide enough technical information. I have to hunt for additional information on the Internet. I wanted to do a Steven Mark type generator. However, there is a long way to go.”
Parent A: “In USA, there is too much emphasis on sports. In School, the heroes and idols are the athletes. Working on science projects will be labeled as a nerd. Kids are easily influenced by peer pressure.”
Parent B: “I prefer to send my kids to an environment such as summer camps. Some examples are music and tennis camps. My kids listen to coaches more. The coaches are professionals. They can teach my kids better tennis than I ever can. Will you run any electronics camps?”
Parent C: “I believe that one must excel in any field before one can truly enjoy it. In order to be better than others, one must exert more effort. I did not get to my present position in life through family fortune or connections. Every achievement was via hard work. I want my children to value hard work and dedication.”
Tseung: “Education is like politics. Different people can have different opinions. What matters are the end results! Unfortunately, the end results depend on many factors – school, family, friends, churches, TV and now Internet. I shall just sow seeds.”
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