More pathos, less logos

By Ceginna Shi

‘Chinese mothers believe that: 1) schoolwork always comes first; 2) an A-minus is a bad grade; 3) your children must be two years ahead of their classmates in math; 4) you must never compliment your children in public; 5) if your child ever disagrees with a teacher or coach, always take the side of the teacher or coach; 6) the only activities your children should be permitted to do are those in which they can eventually won a medal; and 7) that medal must be gold.’

This quote is from a book written by a Chinese American professor at Yale University, which trigged a discussion over Chinese education all over the Western world at the beginning of year 2011. <Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother> tells the story of a so-called typical Chinese mom raising her two daughters in a morbidly strict way. This book made western educators start to reconsider the way they are teaching their children. But what the westerners don’t know is ironically this kind of education happens to be what Chinese education is trying to break free from.

In some way this book exaggerates the fact, nevertheless, it is not all simply being dramatic. The unspoken war going among students in China has been going on for decades and is only getting worse. Because of the large amount of students in China, the only way admitting students into different universities seems to be a nationwide exam. Think about it, one exam determine your whole life. But that is not the only war field. Throughout the time being a student, a typical Chinese student has to fight for the best primary school when he can barely write, then attending every extra class so he can get into one of the best middle schools, after three years one exam called high school entrance exam takes place and determines which high school, which matters a lot in the next exam, he goes to. Finally, when he is 18, he overcome the scary university entrance exam, but is it all over? Afraid not, there are still struggles between graduate degrees and careers.

The thing is, those battles determine the content of the course taught at school. Instead of learning to feel, to enjoy, we learn how to play piano in a way that can win a talent contest; instead of hearing bird sing and feel the touch of the wind, we learn how to get a 95 in a P.E exam. The lack of humanity in lesson has put Chinese education into an awkward situation.

It is obvious that every parent expects the best for his or her child. Putting their kids in piano class, math competition, English spelling bee, and painting class are sure to make their kids genius. However, where does that leave us? Heavy school work is leaving students less time to think, or moreover, to feel.

There is a well-know story that perfectly describes the issue—a group of psychologist decided to do a research on imagination. They first went to a big company. One of the psychologists drew a circle on the black board and asked the employees what it was. Surprisingly, no one gave an answer. One of the employees looked at the secretary; the secretary looked at the boss. The big boss cleared his throat and said it is a circle. With disappointment, they went to a high school and did the same thing. The class monitor raised her hand and said it is a circle. The psychologist then asked if there was another answer. One of the students raised his hand hesitantly and said it was the number zero. The psychologist was happy to hear that but the teacher soon stopped the student and apologized to the psychologists. Thirdly, they went to a primary school. This time they got more answers such as letter O but they weren’t satisfied. Finally, they went to a kindergarten, where kids unleashed their natural imagination and gave out all kinds of answers. Some said it was an egg, some said it was the mouth of a singing girl, some said it was the moon on August 15^th. And those answered were what the psychologists were looking for all this time.

In the story, there isn’t a right answer to that simple question. Then why only could kindergarten kids gave out the most different answers? Are kindergarten kids smarter than high school students? No. it is the failure of Chinese education to bond student’s free thoughts subliminally. Everyday, students sit in the class listening to teachers telling them what to do. Imagination, which I personally believe matters greatly in ones’ life, is being taken away from those children because of the inappropriate education. The heavy and forced homework is taking up all the time they have to actually think by themselves.

Some parents may say differently. How can we make our kids the best of the best if we don’t make them take every course and do all homework? That’s what everyone else does! It is not just parents. Teachers, peers, even the whole society is pressuring the students to work work and work to become something others are jealous of. But not everyone can be on the top. There is a definition for top, because there are people at the bottom. True, everyone has potential to be on the top. But trying to make your kids be the best at everything is not the way to release their potential.

Instead, the high expectations coming from parents, teachers, and the whole society backfired and are not only crushing students physically, but also mentally.

This year in May, a tragedy took place in a Chinese middle school very close to mine. A grade 9 girl jumped off from the top of her dormitory building and killed herself weeks before the high school entrance exam. There was not a formal reason on why she chose to end her life but according to her roommate, it was because of the stress.

The whole year in grade 9 every student felt stressed and pressured including me. Some of us are able to cope with the burden on our shoulders; some simply can’t take it anymore.

I am fortunate to have parents that understand me and appreciate my thoughts. They encouraged me to do outdoor activities and volunteer work, or even go to a school tour in Europe. However, not everyone is so lucky. One of my best friends is forced to drop out of her favorite piano lesson for the reason that it took up too much study time.

Some bright parents like mine see through it. They figure out that the Chinese study environment is neither doing good to their kids’ mental health nor helping building of personalities. As a result, the number of Chinese students aboard is increasing faster and faster.

Is that alarm bell still not loud enough to knock some senses into the Chinese Education Department?

If not, let’s take a look at those headlines: ‘University student microwaved a puppy’; ’University student spent all his dad’s money on computer games then started robbing freshman for cash’; ’University student poured acid toward a brown bear in zoo’.

I didn’t make any of this up. Those were all headlines on China’s major newspapers that set off a storm all over china.

What is the purpose of education? To get a high score which you can show off to others? To get into one of the best universities so you can be admired?

There is a hit video on the internet this year right after the university national-wide entry exam. It filmed a bunch of grade 12 student smashed all of their textbooks in pieces throw the pieces up into the air and were celebrating the freedom they just got.

It is pathetic. None of those kids were learning willingly. They won’t pick up the book as long as they are not demanded. The Chinese education has murdered their interest in study, turning them into a group of answering machines.

Without the humanity class teaching students how to be a better person, they grew up knowing nothing except useless exam papers. From primary to high school, the 12 years that really built a person’s personality, Chinese school has failed on the task. All those cruel things those university students, who obviously can get good marks, had done was not because of the sick criminal darkness in their hearts, but because they didn’t have a appropriate view of value. That leaves us a question: Who is to blame?

We cannot blame this all on the Chinese education. I believe the government already is doing the best. But as we all can see, those problems now exist and can’t be erased with one call. Everyone, including parents, teachers, and students shall realize the importance of humanity class. There is a saying in china, as the water goes up, the boat floating goes up. When everyone is trying to be better than others, the bottom line keeps going up. Only when we all stop this ridiculous war, the student can finally be released.

In the area of humanity teaching and personality building, western education made an excellent model. Thereupon, we probably should learn the shining parts from them and combine it with our own. With a little effort on adding more pathos in the place of logos, we can create a better environment for our students who shall bring a brighter future to China.

   这个是英语课第一单元的第二个assignment。Editorial词典里的翻译是社论。在我看来就是书面版的rant。我这次是吐槽中国教育。实在是没有灵感了才挑了这么个题目。凑活看吧。