RE: The Difference Between Teachers in China and the West
But is it okay for students to basically give up their childhood in exchange for studying so much? If a student is on school from 8am to 10pm, we'll, that's basically the entire day! Every student is learning more or less the same things, they don't have much time to do hobbies and such other than maybe weekends (I assume karaoke happens on weekends) which is something but not as much.
I guess an alternative way to think of it is that kids are wasting time doing stupid things anyway, they should always be improving themselves and China is still a developing, competitive country, for example the gaokao is ridiculous competitive and China has a lot of people... But i still can't help but think China is cutting some of its own potential because too much studying,I think, also has diminishing returns.
And while kids bond with their teachers more; might they also weaken their bonds with their parents?
That's how it is. To each student, they are expected to attend the most famous universities in China which means they need a high score on the Gao Kao. The most common way for students to try and escape reality is by playing computer games. Sports and art aren't encouraged that much (but basketball is really popular here) so in any chance they have to not study, they will play computer games instead.
The students know their education system is flawed, but there isn't any other choice for them right now. They all are expected to go to university, which is super competitive because of how many people are in China and there aren't enough universities for all of them. So to them, studying 24/7 and constantly doing homework is how they think they can become smarter and more capable.
I'm not sure about the bond with their parents, but Asian parents don't really show much affection to their children in general.
Its still quite shocking to me how cold hearted some Chinese parents can be, call it tough love I guess.
Its no wonder that there is a lack of creativity.
Most of these students never have a chance to find out who they really are.
They don't know any better. They are doing what their parents did to them. If you can't get into a good university, then you should pretty much give up on life.
That's how they see it. Once they realize that it isn't insanely hard to be successful without a university education, then the parents will relax. For the time being, it's a dog eat dog world to them.
I deal with the aftermath in corporate culture, lots of highly educated individuals, who haven't really experienced life.
Earn $, buy a car, property, get married, have a kid, take care of parents, and continue to repeat the cycle with their own children.
Once and awhile I do come across someone who can think for themselves and charts a different course in life, they often don't stay in China for long though.