The Iron Cube and the Wooden Ball
Trip Start
Jun 17, 2005
1
11
21
Trip End
May 15, 2006
Dalian,
China
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
China's educational system, metaphorically speaking, is like an iron cube. Like the edges of a cube, their education is straightforward and unbending. The teachers teach, students listen. In the classroom, a teacher's instruction is cold and heavy. Cold because teachers do not spend time nurturing their students but rather streamline information to them. Heavy because the instruction that is being taught is overloaded with an excessive amount of information.
Left alone, an iron cube is stagnant and unable to move freely. The educational system here is the same. Rich with tradition and uniformity, this system is tied to a five thousand year old school of thought where students were held to examinations that would last for days. These students would be required to recite doctrines on politics, history, poetry, and more. Over the span of five thousand years, China's education system has barely moved at all. And just as their educational system is solid and unchanging, the minds of their students are the same, inflexible and unable to think freely.
In contrast, America's educational system is like a wooden ball. Like the surface of a ball, the education is smooth and well rounded. Students are taught with a variety of teaching methods and learning tends to flow smoothly. And like wood, the instruction is light and natural. Light because the information is not as heavily stressed as the skill that is being learned. Natural in the sense that teachers take time to nurture and look after their students' well being. As well, students are taught in a style that promotes and stimulates active learning, which tends to be much more natural.
Given the right direction, a wooden ball has the ability to move freely on its own. Compared to the ancient school of thought, America's teaching strategy is fresh, innovative, alive, and free from any constrictive tradition of thought. Since the last half of the century, America's school system has made great gains in education. And just as their educational system has been free flowing and able to adapt, the minds of their students have continued to think creatively and freely.
**Please take note that when I talk about America's educational system I am primarily talking about teaching strategies and how teachers interact with their students. Having spent the last three years as a schoolteacher in the United States, I have realized that we still have many problems to resolve amidst all the bureaucracy and politics. But that is a topic that I would prefer not to get into right now.
One Child Policy => One Spoiled Child => One Stressed Out Adolescent
Imagine for a moment that you were born as an only child. Life is grand, right? Your parents and grandparents spoil you with the luxuries that were really meant for more than just one child. You get the latest and greatest. From stuffed teddy bears to Happy Meals at McDonald's, you are their "Little Emperor." When you turn six years old you start going to kindergarten class. Naturally you start to make friends. After all it does get lonely as an only child. The demands of school are quite light in comparison to what lays ahead.
Suddenly, you hit a road bump. Nah, let's change that to a brick wall.
This brick wall occurs as you make the jump from primary school to middle school. All the ice cream cones and Happy Meals must be repaid somehow, right? The pressure begins to sink in when you realize that you are the sole person responsible for passing along your family's existence. A mother, father, and two sets of grandparents, adds up to six people that have invested their time and money solely for you to become successful and make them proud. But there is very little time to think, let alone breath. You take classes from 7:00am in the morning and don't get out until 6:00pm in the evening. On top of that, your parents have enrolled you in extra classes of math or English so that you can stay ahead of the pack. You don't get out until 8:00 or 9:00 in the evening now. And when you finally get home, you still have hours of homework to complete. Yes, you still get the latest and greatest. From a fresh new pair of Nike's to the latest MP4 player, you still are their "Little Emperor." However, you have taken on an additional role as their "work horse." And for the rest of your life, you will be responsible for the care of your parents. There are no brothers or sisters that can help you. It is you who must carry this burden. Now that's what you call stress!
