4 ms·

As a long time Hacker News reader and a native chinese student here under chinese education system, I have to point out that the education system (especially hi

by btw0 18y ago

As a long time Hacker News reader and a native chinese student here under chinese education system, I have to point out that the education system (especially higher education system) in China has big problems compared with that in western countries, this definitely will affect the future of China. 1. Decisions in universities should be made by professors, not by government officials. 2. Many professors simply are not qualified. I see this a most critical problem. The top students prefer to go to industries rather than to be a teacher in schools. 3. Students should not be forced to take a course on Marxism, a course on Thoughts of Mao, a course on Theories of Deng. From my experience, nobody listens to teachers on these classes, nobody will take these courses seriously, they just try to remember them a few days before the exams. This is really a waste of students' time, students should learn serious economics and philosophies instead. It's not that we are not smart, or not diligent, it's just the current system that hinders our advancement.

eugenejen 18y ago
It is not the problem for smartness. But a system that encourages innovators receive potential huge payoffs. As long as the system is out there, then just like old chinese saying "With money, you can hire ghosts to push mill wheel" Of course there will be wealth inequality in such a system. So it is up to people to choose "everyone lives better but allow some huge wealthy guys" or "let every one poorer but more equal". As long as the existing wealth creators understand if they intervene the system in order to keep their power to control, then the payoff for new innovators disappears immediately and the system is screwed.So they will come to understand instead of abusing their power, they should just help fostering new innovators and keep the system working.
yummyfajitas 18y ago
>1. Decisions in universities should be made by professors, not by government officials. I think this is seriously a bad idea. In principle, government officials should make decisions that better the country. In principle, professors will teach as well as they can, and do research on whatever they find interesting. That's a good thing, but it needs to be constrained a bit, and professors will not be the ones to constrain it. Read the following article, which illustrates why profs should not be running universities: http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2008/02/11/ferrall http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2008/02/11/ferrall
bokonist 18y ago
Except that China the Chinese economy is growing at a far greater clip than the US. Perhaps top students going into industry is the reason the Chinese economy is doing so well. Remember, the during the strongest period of growth and technological advancement in the US ( 1870 to 1930 ) the research university was practically non-existent.
- poutine 18y ago
  China is undergoing incredible growth mainly due to urbanization. It is moving towards 60-70% of the people living in cities from around 40-50% now. It's about half way along the process right now and will complete in ~15 years bringing it to the level of developed nations. Exact figures vary based on who you believe. Interestingly this growth stops around the time they run in to the demographic brick wall with more older people than younger due to the single child policy. Not going to be pretty in the late 2020's for China I think.

by btw0 18y ago

eugenejen 18y ago

It is not the problem for smartness. But a system that encourages innovators receive potential huge payoffs. As long as the system is out there, then just like old chinese saying "With money, you can hire ghosts to push mill wheel" Of course there will be wealth inequality in such a system. So it is up to people to choose "everyone lives better but allow some huge wealthy guys" or "let every one poorer but more equal". As long as the existing wealth creators understand if they intervene the system in order to keep their power to control, then the payoff for new innovators disappears immediately and the system is screwed.So they will come to understand instead of abusing their power, they should just help fostering new innovators and keep the system working.

yummyfajitas 18y ago

>1. Decisions in universities should be made by professors, not by government officials. I think this is seriously a bad idea. In principle, government officials should make decisions that better the country. In principle, professors will teach as well as they can, and do research on whatever they find interesting. That's a good thing, but it needs to be constrained a bit, and professors will not be the ones to constrain it. Read the following article, which illustrates why profs should not be running universities: http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2008/02/11/ferrall http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2008/02/11/ferrall

bokonist 18y ago

Except that China the Chinese economy is growing at a far greater clip than the US. Perhaps top students going into industry is the reason the Chinese economy is doing so well. Remember, the during the strongest period of growth and technological advancement in the US ( 1870 to 1930 ) the research university was practically non-existent.

poutine 18y ago
China is undergoing incredible growth mainly due to urbanization. It is moving towards 60-70% of the people living in cities from around 40-50% now. It's about half way along the process right now and will complete in ~15 years bringing it to the level of developed nations. Exact figures vary based on who you believe. Interestingly this growth stops around the time they run in to the demographic brick wall with more older people than younger due to the single child policy. Not going to be pretty in the late 2020's for China I think.