Raise kids the Asian way

UCLAri
Mon, 24 Oct 2005 11:23:39 +0000

there are plenty of other subjects in which Asian people (Taiwanese, Hong Kongers, Japanese, and various SE Asian nationalities) are much more knowledgeable, matched for levels of schooling completion,



No argument here. However, the problem (again) that I find in Japan is that they have great factual stores in their heads, but actually extrapolating concepts and seeing trends is something that is sorely lacking. I have met many many Japanese college students at top Japanese universities, and the one thing that strikes me is how little they do in college, when I would argue that the faculties of critical thinking should be best developed.

And really, you don’t need to know much to be financially successful in Japan. Once you get into Todai, Kyodai, Waseda, or Keio, you’re bound for a good job where you’ll never really have to do much but toe the company line. Hell, we all know the Japanese platitude: The nail that sticks up gets hammered down. They don’t want people to think outside the box, they want people to fit in. Critical thinkers don’t always fit in, and so teaching people to criticize their environment is dangerous, especially in a society that cares more about the “wa” (serenity) than the individual mind.

Keep in mind, this only applies to Japan. My observations of Chinese thought and education are far different.