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atwood
Joined: 26 Dec 2009
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 Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 8:23 pm Post subject: Very Unhappy Children |
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The resident negative nabobs haven't posted this yet, so I thought I'd lend a hand.
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South Korean children are the least happy in study among developed countries, the government said on Tuesday, citing the stress of the country's educational pressure cooker.
South Korea ranked at the bottom among 30 countries in terms of children's satisfaction with their lives, the country's health ministry said, followed by Romania and Poland. |
http://news.yahoo.com/south-korean-children-finish-last-happiness-survey-094028245.html
This is not what Jesus meant when he said to suffer the little children. |
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Smithington
Joined: 14 Dec 2011
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| Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 9:14 pm Post subject: |
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I keep hearing about such assertions but, to be honest, I don't see it. I've taught in six or seven elementary schools here and the kids seem happy enough. They're full of energy, laughing and seemingly enjoying their childhood. There's a morose kid here and there, but most of them seem happy. Am I alone in not seeing this horde of unhappy children?
Perhaps it's more apparent in older kids, but I'm not seeing it in elementary school. |
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Cave Dweller
Joined: 17 Aug 2014
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 9:21 pm Post subject: |
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A lot of them don't know any different.
| Smithington wrote: |
I keep hearing about such assertions but, to be honest, I don't see it. I've taught in six or seven elementary schools here and the kids seem happy enough. They're full of energy, laughing and seemingly enjoying their childhood. There's a morose kid here and there, but most of them seem happy. Am I alone in not seeing this horde of unhappy children?
Perhaps it's more apparent in older kids, but I'm not seeing it in elementary school. |
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le-paul
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
Location: dans la chambre
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| Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 9:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Cave Dweller wrote: |
A lot of them don't know any different.
| Smithington wrote: |
I keep hearing about such assertions but, to be honest, I don't see it. I've taught in six or seven elementary schools here and the kids seem happy enough. They're full of energy, laughing and seemingly enjoying their childhood. There's a morose kid here and there, but most of them seem happy. Am I alone in not seeing this horde of unhappy children?
Perhaps it's more apparent in older kids, but I'm not seeing it in elementary school. |
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Thats what I put it down to, too.
Anyway, younger kids dont have it that hard - no test pressure. Its when they start hitting the teens and being 'the shame of generations of ancestors' that the problems start. |
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Lucas
Joined: 11 Sep 2012
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| Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 9:48 pm Post subject: |
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I keep hearing about such assertions but, to be honest, I don't see it. I've taught in six or seven elementary schools here and the kids seem happy enough. They're full of energy, laughing and seemingly enjoying their childhood. There's a morose kid here and there, but most of them seem happy. Am I alone in not seeing this horde of unhappy children?
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Good to see that their energy and and enthusiasm for life is rubbing off on you.  |
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atwood
Joined: 26 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 9:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Lucas wrote: |
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I keep hearing about such assertions but, to be honest, I don't see it. I've taught in six or seven elementary schools here and the kids seem happy enough. They're full of energy, laughing and seemingly enjoying their childhood. There's a morose kid here and there, but most of them seem happy. Am I alone in not seeing this horde of unhappy children?
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Good to see that their energy and and enthusiasm for life is rubbing off on you. |
Kids don't spit so they're A-OK in his book.  |
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Lucas
Joined: 11 Sep 2012
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| Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 10:00 pm Post subject: |
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Quote:
I keep hearing about such assertions but, to be honest, I don't see it. I've taught in six or seven elementary schools here and the kids seem happy enough. They're full of energy, laughing and seemingly enjoying their childhood. There's a morose kid here and there, but most of them seem happy. Am I alone in not seeing this horde of unhappy children?
Good to see that their energy and and enthusiasm for life is rubbing off on you. Cool
Kids don't spit so they're A-OK in his book. Very Happy |
You're right, they never spit in his company. He makes them swallow. |
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Smithington
Joined: 14 Dec 2011
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| Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 10:07 pm Post subject: |
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| Lucas wrote: |
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Quote:
I keep hearing about such assertions but, to be honest, I don't see it. I've taught in six or seven elementary schools here and the kids seem happy enough. They're full of energy, laughing and seemingly enjoying their childhood. There's a morose kid here and there, but most of them seem happy. Am I alone in not seeing this horde of unhappy children?
Good to see that their energy and and enthusiasm for life is rubbing off on you. Cool
Kids don't spit so they're A-OK in his book. Very Happy |
You're right, they never spit in his company. He makes them swallow. |
That's two vile posts you've made today. The sooner you are banned the better. |
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Lucas
Joined: 11 Sep 2012
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| Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 10:22 pm Post subject: |
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| That's two vile posts you've made today. The sooner you are banned the better. |
http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/vile
Expand your horizons (and your vocab) Smithee ^ 
I'm happy to meet and tutor you, you can even pay me with candy. |
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Mr. BlackCat
Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Location: Insert witty remark HERE
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| Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 11:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Smithington wrote: |
I keep hearing about such assertions but, to be honest, I don't see it. I've taught in six or seven elementary schools here and the kids seem happy enough. They're full of energy, laughing and seemingly enjoying their childhood. There's a morose kid here and there, but most of them seem happy. Am I alone in not seeing this horde of unhappy children?
Perhaps it's more apparent in older kids, but I'm not seeing it in elementary school. |
I think it's just a cultural thing. It's rude to express contentness openly here, so even if you're clearly having a good time you have to say you are suffering in some way. My students will be laughing, joking around, playing, but if I ask them how they're doing they'll respond, "terrible!" "so tired!" "not good!", even through giggles. Same with seeing any food. They'll cry out about how hungry they are even after stuffing themselves all lunch. They get it from the adults in their lives who only know how to complain. Like I said, it's a cultural thing here. If you answer that you are happy with your life it would mean you're not suffering enough which is inexcusable. In our countries complaining like that is rude because seriously no one wants to hear about your problems. We're taught to grin and bear it, Koreans are taught to complain even if you have nothing to complain about.
So, in my opinions, when Koreans say they are unhappy I understand it like when they say they are busy. That is to say, they have no idea what those words actually mean. |
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Steelrails
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System
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| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 12:48 am Post subject: |
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| Mr. BlackCat wrote: |
| Smithington wrote: |
I keep hearing about such assertions but, to be honest, I don't see it. I've taught in six or seven elementary schools here and the kids seem happy enough. They're full of energy, laughing and seemingly enjoying their childhood. There's a morose kid here and there, but most of them seem happy. Am I alone in not seeing this horde of unhappy children?
Perhaps it's more apparent in older kids, but I'm not seeing it in elementary school. |
I think it's just a cultural thing. It's rude to express contentness openly here, so even if you're clearly having a good time you have to say you are suffering in some way. My students will be laughing, joking around, playing, but if I ask them how they're doing they'll respond, "terrible!" "so tired!" "not good!", even through giggles. Same with seeing any food. They'll cry out about how hungry they are even after stuffing themselves all lunch. They get it from the adults in their lives who only know how to complain. Like I said, it's a cultural thing here. If you answer that you are happy with your life it would mean you're not suffering enough which is inexcusable. In our countries complaining like that is rude because seriously no one wants to hear about your problems. We're taught to grin and bear it, Koreans are taught to complain even if you have nothing to complain about.
So, in my opinions, when Koreans say they are unhappy I understand it like when they say they are busy. That is to say, they have no idea what those words actually mean. |
If that were true, then how do you explain the complainers crowd on Dave's? Guess that means they're all rude and the apologists are the polite ones.
While I agree with your assessment, I disagree with some of your conclusions.
In some sense, saying "I'm happy" can be seen as bragging. It means you don't have to work or take care of chores or worry about finances, etc. Sort of a "Let them eat cake" attitude towards others. Also, in our countries people are expected to say they are happy even when they are not because then people might think they are "failing" or "need help". As for it being rude to mention problems, not necessarily. It is rude to endlessly gripe about things, but if you have a problem and you're talking with friends its okay to share your problems. Lastly, saying that people here don't know the meaning of the word "busy" is really a stretch. Also, you are being told this in ENGLISH, not Korean, for which there might be different cues between types of "busy". And how many people back home say "happy" when what they are doing is living in the moment or living a life of hedonism or flat out just pretending to be happy when deep down inside they are living lives of quiet desperation?
Also, there is the question of which is more important- duty vs. happiness. I think at one point back in time in our own culture, duty (faith?) was regarded as being more important than "happiness" and that people who cared that much about happiness were seen as frivolous or degenerate. |
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joeteacher
Joined: 11 Jul 2007
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| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 12:53 am Post subject: |
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I agree that most kids seem happy enough to me. However, most of my students have come from middle or lower income families which don't have the money to send their kids to hagwons until 11pm. The rich kids I've taught have been the ones that seem unhappy and quite cunty, perhaps for good reason because they are overworked and exhausted.
I also agree that it doesn't get bad until middle school or high school. Those kids are straight up miserable. |
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nicwr2002
Joined: 17 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 1:54 am Post subject: |
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What age of "children" are we talking about here? A child could be anyone under the age of 19 in Korea. I'm going to assume that they are talking about children in high school since they mention the SAT and the posted picture. These kids are worked to death here in preparation for that 수능 test. One of my good students doesn't even have time to sleep because of the amount of homework that they have to complete. I know for a fact that this student has to get up by 6am and be at school until 10:00pm, then have private tutoring lessons until 12:30 or 1:00am. They then have to finish any homework remaining and then wake back up at 6am to do it all over again.
Also, if the student earns good scores on practice tests, they get "rewarded" by being allowed to enter the dormitory. However, being there is like being in he military. They can't even have their cellphones while staying in the dorms. I really couldn't imagine being a high school student here.
I forgot to add that it's really sad when a student says they got a bad score on their test when the "bad" score was a 97... |
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jvalmer
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 1:57 am Post subject: |
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| joeteacher wrote: |
I agree that most kids seem happy enough to me. However, most of my students have come from middle or lower income families which don't have the money to send their kids to hagwons until 11pm. The rich kids I've taught have been the ones that seem unhappy and quite cunty, perhaps for good reason because they are overworked and exhausted.
I also agree that it doesn't get bad until middle school or high school. Those kids are straight up miserable. |
And to think, most Korean-Americans parents put at least as much pressure, if not more, on their kids. So much of emigrating to give your kid an "easier" life... cough.. cough... One major difference, is that Korean-American kids are more likely to rebel, and live a life dealing cards in Vegas. |
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le-paul
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
Location: dans la chambre
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| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 2:49 am Post subject: |
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| jvalmer wrote: |
| joeteacher wrote: |
I agree that most kids seem happy enough to me. However, most of my students have come from middle or lower income families which don't have the money to send their kids to hagwons until 11pm. The rich kids I've taught have been the ones that seem unhappy and quite cunty, perhaps for good reason because they are overworked and exhausted.
I also agree that it doesn't get bad until middle school or high school. Those kids are straight up miserable. |
And to think, most Korean-Americans parents put at least as much pressure, if not more, on their kids. So much of emigrating to give your kid an "easier" life... cough.. cough... One major difference, is that Korean-American kids are more likely to rebel, and live a life dealing cards in Vegas. |
I would argue (only from personal observations mind you) the end result of the american and korean schooling systems, be from parents or teachers I cant say, are very similar.
Both seem to churn out some extremely ignorant people who know nothing about the world other than what they can see at the end of their noses.
Both seem to create socially very awkward people who are are quite aggressive and attention seeking, but have next to no people skills other than how to bully and intimidate/react to being intimidated or bullied.
Americans and Koreans have very bizzare ways of letting off steam - some might say debauched. I can only assume they learn this behaviour at university? (ive dated a couple of american girls, some of the stuff they said they did at uni was quite frankly disgusting).
The biggest difference is that americans seem to love arguing (often very unnecessarily) - and seem to be especially talented at starting fights over subjects that are so objective, there can be no true outcome. think they learn this in 'debate class' or something? i cant be sure.
Oh, and americans (again only from my personal observations) seem to spend a lot of effort learning subjects at university that are utterly fucking useless in the real world, but seem to take great pride in having done this. |
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