If they're so good, how'd they get so far behind? Oh, I know, the evil white man repressed them, or maybe they "inherited the problem". lol@obongites
Math and science have an extremely high bearing on a future of a country. Have you forgotten how China fell behind the West? Precisely because it got behind in math, science, and technology. Are you suggesting the US do the same and rely on "talk" to keep ahead? ... thanks for the advice Mr. PHD.
We need a well-balanced system. Math/science, communication/people skills and reading/writing are all important. One ingredient alone cannot create the success. We are all traders here. Stop loss is important, but stop loss cannot make you a great trader. Does it mean that you don't have to master cutting loss.
As the US fools the Chinese to buy the worthless treasury, these chinese Ph.D.s are trying to fool the Americans not to invest in math/science.
That's why thinking out of the box is so important for a country's future... while the Chinese students are getting really good in calculating 1+1 = 2, the Americans were busy working on new rules of the game.... like 1+1 = 3, extra credit for printing money and enjoy the labor of the Chinese. You tell me who is the winner, who is the loser in this game. The one with the superior maths skill, or the one with imagination? Granted that the Chinese had great inventions in the past, but there is nothing much to write home about as of late. They counterfeit merchandise of every name brand, pirate copy every hollywood production. Every successful website is a clone of the US counterpart. Where is the innovation? there is none, because this generation has no imagination. Again, this generation is the victum of the ruthless education system... and unless the system changes, the next generation will again be the losers, because when their American counterparts grow up, they will be the one that set the new rules of the next big game. This is not prejudice.. this is the fact.
On the side topic of imagination - it does NOT come overnight. Looking at my own kids growing up, thru pre-school and elementary, every spark of creativity is encouraged by their teachers. At home, they have all the free time, to make a BIG MESS, while at the same time they touch/smell/experience things, they let their imagination fly! and once in a while, they present these surprises - artworks, little poems, imaginary stories. I have been invited to read to their classes... when I ask a question, they all raise their little hands to express an opinion.. and they are all awesome answers. This is the type of environment that future leaders are cultivated. I am happy for them because I know their Chinese counterparts are doing 1+1 = 2 till 8pm everyday, plus weekend end class just to make sure they get really good at 1+1 = 2. By the time they finish elementary school, it will be game over. The imaginary seeds would have been forever smothered.
I am glad that your kids are learning 1+1 = 3 at school. When someone thinks 1+1 = 3 is innovative math, any answers to your questions are awesome. You spent everyday to learn 1+1 = 2 in the past doesn't mean 1+1= 2 should not be taught at school. You just need to use your innovation to create a new way of teaching 1+1=2 so that it only takes the kids to learn the concept in 5 min. It was not the math material that failed you in the past. It was the way that your teachers taught you that failed you. The problem was not the education system. The problem was the mainland (note not chinese) culture. [edit] It is the mainland culture that you are superior if you manage others. You are inferior if you serve others. Since you were raised in that culture, you now think that a manager is superior and so you want to raise your kids to become a manager. Poor kids. A free mind with the right foundation creates innovative and useful ideas. Set your mind free now so your kids will be free.
stop writing these replies with crayons and you may stand a chance to worth the debate... until then, ignore is served.