Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Steelrails]

Here's another question- Can creativity be taught? A kid that is creative can be stuck in a Korean system and still be creative as their mind will be creative in varying ways. I think its more about providing outlets for creativity than "teaching" creativity. Is it even the purpose of the public schools to do such things? Isn't that more of the responsibility of the parent to nurture?

Critical thinking I believe is more linked to education, but even then critical thinking is only as good as the individual behind it. Most people who have received critical thinking training still can't think critically. Human foibles are a drag. That being said, I think in the area of science especially, it is necessary to teach and train it, and it can make a difference. Still, I'd say this is something that is much more imparted onto a child through parents and not the schools.

[DIsbell]

[Steelrails]

[DIsbell]

I'm getting the feeling that your parents are a bit older than mine, which might explain some of the discrepancy beyond just individual differences. But still, with private lessons involved, it would also seem that your parents came from at least an upper-middle class background (the demographic who are still quite commonly internationally competitive today) Still, you talk about rote memorization of some historical facts and some biology taxonomy, but was it really so emphasized? If we're talking about a Korean or Chinese setting, rote seems to be very prevalent- word lists and dialogues in foreign languages, L1-explained grammatical rules for foreign languages, formula lists, memorizing 4 character idioms, and including the historical facts and science stuff you mentioned in your parents' experience.

Standards in America remain high, especially as we continue comparing ourselves to other countries. The difference is that more and more people are failing to meet the standards. You cite the lack of competitiveness. Yet, Harvard and Yale and Princeton didn't disappear. There's still certainly reason to compete, and in fact, lots of kids do work hard to get into university, especially to get into good ones for the programs they hope to study. But the lack of competition you observe comes from the masses who don't have the support necessary to compete. You mention that your parents were sent to private lessons by their parents. You mention that your parents are quite wealthy, sending you to a private school, and also supported you personally in your studies. It sounds like you had a very stable upbringing.

Imagine not having that support. Imagine growing up in a broken home in a bad neighborhood. Imagine the economy growing, but your family's little boat, for some reason, isn't rising with the tide (Thanks, Gipper!). Imagine that your only shot at an education is the public school in your neighborhood where the class size has increased to 35+ students due to budget cuts and you're still using textbooks from 1990. Oh, there's also a healthy gang presence in the area, which managed to get its tentacles wrapped around some of your middle school peers.

Yeah, if only we had more lists to memorize and were tested more rigorously....




Real quick, in regards to Chua- didn't she also emphasize not letting her kids go to sleepovers and stop them from doing 'frivolous' activities like art or drama? Doesn't sound like the kid gets to choose what to do, and as you said, they get to choose when to stop.

[ghostrider]

I read the book by Amy Chua about her personal experience with Tiger Education. It seems to me that this Korean professor is bringing up certain problems with education in Korea and pretending that such problems are a refutation of what Amy Chua wrote in her book. I wonder if this professor actually bothered to read the book that Chua wrote.