Before I relate my high school experiences, I would like to draw attention to the very important distinction between education and schooling. Mark Twain wrote, “I have never let my schooling interfere with my education,” and that is an adage by which I have always conducted myself. Asian parents have a reputation for a very heavy emphasis on education, a reputation that is simply not deserved. In my experience, and in the experience of other Asian children I knew, most Asian parents are actually against education. They are in favour of schooling — which is an entirely different thing — and oftentimes actually at the expense of education.
This is not necessarily a bad thing, at least not for everyone. In fact, it probably benefits most of the children of Asian parents… » [Expand post] [Permalink]