Have you ever wondered why Asian students, although a small percentage in our education system, are often near or at the top academically in New Zealand schools and universities? If that is the case, does that mean they are more intelligent than us or are we not utilising the potential of our intelligence as they appear to be doing? To put it more simply, are they smarter than us?
Not so according to Dr. Soo Kim Abboud and Jane Kim, authors of the book: 'Top of the Class' in which they give reasons as to why Asian students become top of the class. "They are no more intellectually gifted than non-Asian students." They point out that it has nothing to do with how they are born but everything to do with how they are raised. Put very simply, Asian parenting raises high achievers who often become top of the class students. So what is it that they do differently with their children?
Parents define their children's role as one where the children must focus on school work during the day and continue that role after school and into the evening. "The teachers are the educators during the day and the parents carry on the role as educators at night," according to Abboud and Kim. As a result, Asian students know exactly what their goal is and embrace the role of being a student at a very early age; very rarely do they waver from their pursuit of academic excellence or as we put it: 'they become top of the class'. More simply, the single most important goal is their school work.
While Kiwi children may see the school bell at the end of the day as an excape from learning and education and chase a thousand other non curricular activities; viewing their roles as students as over. The Asian students, on the other hand, will focus on homework after school and into the evening; their role as students is for life and it does not switch off whether they are at school or home -theirs is a very single minded approach. So does that mean Kiwi families are raising their children wrongly? Certainly not! Our aims are exactly the same, but the difference is in our methods and the reasons behind them. In other words, we have the same intentions for our children, but we arrive there through different pathways. We have a more broader approach toward our children's education, perhaps more holistic where the goal is academic, emotional, physical and social education with a wider world view-and as well as, success at all levels at the end.
Is our way academically deficient and theirs superior? Or is their way emotionally deficient and ours superior? Far from it! In my opinion, both styles showcase a stunning array of parenting toward successful education. No one style is the complete answer, every child is different and what suits one may not suit another. However, the strengths of both philosohies could be taken on board and employed in improving education for students of all races.
My students are a product of their upbringing: results orientated, driven to succeed and are single minded in their pursuit of achieving their goals. They study in class after school, and in the library when the school closes and when they return to their flats and homes they continue their work after dinner. A rigid and driven regime, perhaps by our standards, but a normal educational life for them. They are incredibly disciplined, motivated, and make marvellous progress on their journey of learning English as a second language. They bring to us a model that has been successful for them. Perhaps as Kiwi's we can learn a thing or two from our Asian counter part and add more tools to our already successful parenting philosophies. Conversely, I have noticed that my students are benefitting from a more balanced approach to learning and studying while they are here - not just hard study, but time out for relaxation and socialising; something they are learning from our more holistic approach.
In my view, education is not about who is the smartest, it's about how can we raise our children to be successful in education, to reach their potential and to succeed. The highlighted differences between the two philosophies is that one is a single minded focus and the other a more broader, holistic view; these do not conflict, but can go hand in hand in enhancing and improving education results for all students.
Read my blogs:
- Unforgettable Asians
- Asian View
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