4 ms·

I agree 100% but what can be done if the schools don't agree? I live in a small city in China and the middle school starts at 7:15am, has a 1 hour lunch break a

by reedlaw 11y ago

I agree 100% but what can be done if the schools don't agree? I live in a small city in China and the middle school starts at 7:15am, has a 1 hour lunch break at noon, and ends at 6:30pm. The kids are expected to finish a big pile of homework every night. Often that means finishing after midnight and getting up the next day at 6:00am. And this is just middle school! High school students live on campus and get 20 minutes for meals. They can't leave campus except for once a month to visit home. Basically the entire high school experience is one big cram session. And what does this achieve? Upon entering college, students experience freedom for the first time and many end up addicted to computer games at night and sleeping through class during the day. They may possess more academic information but in many ways are less equipped than those who took a more laid-back approach. Not all Chinese schools are like this and I'm sure they've improved things in the larger cities but it will take years for better ways to trickle down.

argonaut 11y ago
To be fair, I think the article is targeted more towards a western audience, where things are less extreme. Also, the trend in America has been towards more homework over time. Many American parents remember not having much homework in elementary school (I don't think this is true for families in China, where my impression is parents worked just as hard, if not harder, than their kids)
- reedlaw 11y ago
  I think the results apply to any culture. Excessive studying doesn't produce the intended results. The trend has also been towards increased homework but it's beginning to wane in more developed areas. I wish I knew how to accelerate the trend because it's continuing to do harm to a generation of kids.
  - argonaut 11y ago
    I was not commenting on the results. I was commenting on the person from China's concern that Chinese schools would never agree. This is true. American schools do not have to any degree whatsoever the same kind of homework-driven culture as most Chinese schools.

by reedlaw 11y ago

argonaut 11y ago

To be fair, I think the article is targeted more towards a western audience, where things are less extreme. Also, the trend in America has been towards more homework over time. Many American parents remember not having much homework in elementary school (I don't think this is true for families in China, where my impression is parents worked just as hard, if not harder, than their kids)

reedlaw 11y ago
I think the results apply to any culture. Excessive studying doesn't produce the intended results. The trend has also been towards increased homework but it's beginning to wane in more developed areas. I wish I knew how to accelerate the trend because it's continuing to do harm to a generation of kids.
- argonaut 11y ago
  I was not commenting on the results. I was commenting on the person from China's concern that Chinese schools would never agree. This is true. American schools do not have to any degree whatsoever the same kind of homework-driven culture as most Chinese schools.