Living in a foreign country inevitably leads to making comparisons between certain aspects of society in the new country with those in the country of origin. One such comparison that intrigued me was education. From my reading and observations, here are some characteristics of the American educational system.
1. America values self- confidence. The schools cultivate the growth of the individual and independence is encouraged. This is not the case in China. The following incident demonstrates the difference. The daughter of my former supervisor in China was a mediocre student in China. Her parents were quite disappointed and this brought on severe depression. She was convinced she was not smart. She became an English major at the university and then came to America to continue her studies in Information Technology. She proved to be one of the top students. She participated in many of the extra-curricular activities at the university, won professional competitions and gave lectures about Chinese culture. This example is not unique. Education in America encourages students to explore their own potential whereas in China this is totally ignored.
2. The education system in America emphasizes developing the students’ social skills. American students have strong communication abilities. In China, during my generation, only academic ability determined one’s intelligence and as a result, the opportunity to be accepted into the university and get a good job. I was surprised when I came to America and met graduate students who had studied how to write a good resume and how to prepare for an interview. American schools recognize the need to learn how to effectively communicate with others. Once I read a report about a Chinese man living in America who asked his sixth-grade son to write an essay comparing American and Chinese schools. The boy wrote an excellent essay because of the preparation he had received here in self- expression. I have had the opportunity to read some of the written statements of applicants to medical school here and I find them very impressive. The emphasis on writing throughout the educational system is of critical importance.
3. Self-directed learning is another characteristic of the American educational system. Students in China are spoon fed. When I taught graduate students in medical school in China, I noticed that the students preferred those teachers who told them everything, even on what page in the text they could find what the teacher was teaching. This method promotes a lazy attitude on the part of the student. They expected the teacher to write everything down on the board. In America I have attended several lectures for graduate school. The professors have much more autonomy in choosing those aspects of the text that interest them. In their PowerPoint presentations, they summarize the main ideas and the real learning occurs when the students leave the classroom and read the text and papers suggested by the professor on their own. This is self- directed learning. The essence of education here is to teach the students the method by which they can obtain the knowledge they need, instead of having them memorize what the teacher wants.
4. Creativity accompanies self- directed learning. The fact that up to recently this was discouraged was our fatal educational flaw. Grades have been the primary concern. This produces students who have high scores but low motivation. In my school years, Chinese students were afraid to challenge authority and believed what they were told. I believe that now Chinese educators realize this problem and are trying to correct it. I am not clear how creativity is fostered here in American schools. Creativity seems to me to be a product of knowledge. Many of my Chinese friends express concern about how much their children are really learning here in America. Since I do not have children in the school system, I can not answer that question. Perhaps they are right when they fear that their kids play too much at school. Good learning habits must be instilled in children at an early age. China has stricter discipline than here.
In the larger picture, it must be noted that education does not exist in a vacuum. It is part of the cultural, political, and economic and belief system of the society in which it exists. The Chinese and American educational systems have their plus side and their minus. I have great optimism for both systems because they are open to change and willing to accommodate new educational theories and methods. Also they are willing to learn from each other. I think that Chinese people living in America can be a bridge to facilitate this exchange. This will be of great benefit to the next generation. Ultimately, how a child succeeds is a product of the home. Parents in China and America must be enthusiastic and supportive of learning. This is the most valuable gift that any culture can provide for their children.
