High School Education in America and China - Research Paper Example

?Mogen Cheng English 101 Jun. 6, High School Education in America and China The purpose of education is perceived differently by different people. Some people treat education as a necessity to obtain good profession whereas others perceive education as a strategy to improve personality and construct good citizens. In any case, the utility of education in a person’s life cannot be questioned. Even though education at all ages is important to the betterment of human life, high school education seems to be the most important one since it prepares students for the college education. When I was studying in in high school classes, one of my teachers compared high school education as a hinge. When a hinge swings, it either opens or closes the door or window. Same way, high school education either opens or closes the opportunities for higher education in a student’s life. In other words, high school education can make or break a person’s future life. It can opens or closes the door towards college education. If a student fails to get opportunity to get admission in colleges, his future could be disastrous. My parents had not much faith in Chinese educational system and they sent me to United Sates in order to achieve better high school education. American and Chinese high school education system has lot of differences than similarities. This paper analyses the differences between American and Chinese high school education systems. American education system emphasize on students’ ability more than score whereas Chinese education system focus on student’s own knowledge more than his capabilities. In other words, American high school education system is more flexible than the Chinese educational system. It can give more individual care to the students since it focuses more on individual abilities. Although both China and America learn from other’s strong points to offset their weakness, differences still exist such as time schedule, educational style, and extracurricular activities. Heavy workloads are the major problems in Chinese education. High schools in China expect that there are twenty-five hours a day so that the students can have one more hour to study. Moreover, even Saturdays are working day in Chinese schools. In other words, Chinese students are not getting any opportunity for leisure activities. The over emphasize given to education is actually demotivating Chinese students. During my high school years in China, I could not travel around during school holidays because the school does not give long break time even on holidays. The schools believe that the long time study can help students to improve the skill. However, students need time to take a break. For example, I asked my younger cousin who finished his college entrance examination last month that what was his plan for vacation. He told me that he wants to stay home and seep in order to retrieve those sleep which he lost in the past three years. On the other hand, American high school educational system is giving more freedom to the students. American students are getting enough leisure time for playing, watching television or movies, surfing internet etc. Some American parents are of the view that American school system should follow the Chinese system in order to generate a sense of urgency about education in the minds of students. However, they are forgetting the fact that an external observer cannot judge Chinese education properly. American students have four classes per day and each class is of two hours. Students always do the voluntary labor on Saturdays after the class. Also, school will never construct barriers in front of students during vacation time. Many of the American students do volunteer jobs in order to get college admission without any hassles. Volunteer job is very important for getting admissions in American colleges. Not only the time schedule, but the education style also is different in China and America. Entwistle (1986) has classified learning into three major categories; deep, surface, and strategic (Entwistle). Chinese education system focuses on students’ surface knowledge. It never penetrates deep into the roots. Homework is mandatory; however, the questions are extremely hard which forces students to copy others’ work. Thus the students are completing their educational tasks or assignments without getting any deep knowledge about the topic. Moreover, the classes are monotonous in China. There are two kinds of high school diplomas in China; science and arts. After the completion of high school diploma, Chinese students will take the College Entrance Examination. If students fail to get the required grades in this examination, they have to wait for a year to take another test. Most of the failed students may stop their education there or choose to study in some other countries. The rules of this entrance examination are very strict. Nobody allowed going to even bathrooms during the examination time. In short, lack of flexibility is the major problem associated with Chinese education. On the other hand, American high school education system offers lot of freedom and choices to the students. Homework is challenging and interesting which helps students to acquire deep knowledge about a particular topic. For example, lot of assignments including term papers, research papers and essays are given to America students which help students to research about a particular topic using internet or other available resources. Thus students are getting deep knowledge about a particular topic unknowingly and that also without many efforts. Moreover, lots of interesting subjects are also incorporated in high school studies in America. For instance, the schools offer driving class, cooking class, wood class, etc in order to build students’ extracurricular abilities and social skills. I have a friend who finished his college studies in United States. One day he visited my apartment and we played hand wrestling on my desk. The desk was weak and it got broken because of the immense pressure we applied on it. I tried to dispose it; however, my friend prevented me from doing so and repaired it easily. He was able to do so because of the training he received during his school days. Moreover, unlike Chinese educational system, American education system offers more than one chances to students in proficiency test such as ACT and SAT. “Understanding of problem solving, reasoning and numeracy (PSRN) are the major objectives of any educational system”(Areas of Learning and Development). The activity based American educational system enhances students’ motivation and reduces their stress. Chinese education system gives more attention to classroom activities and it ignores the importance of activities outside the outside the classrooms. The major goal of education should be “to develop in the student a sense of right in relation to the surrounding world. This involves helping him to be aware of the world and its ways that affect him, without developing a craving for becoming a part of its system”(Goals for education). Chinese high schools do not allow students to use school assets beyond certain limits. For example, when I was at high school in China, I could not go to computer lab or library by myself. We were allowed to enter computer labs and libraries only in the company of the teachers. Furthermore, even the sports activities at schools in China are limited to some particular students alone. America is a secular democratic country in which all religions, cultures and political ideologies are respected with dignity. In fact many of the people all over the world like to immigrate to America because of the higher quality of life in America compared to that in their domestic countries. China is a communist country in which freedom is not a reality, but a dream. The totalitarian approach is visible everywhere in Chinese social life and educational system is also not an exception. On the other hand, students in American high schools can enter the computer labs and libraries independently and they have the freedom use the computers or library books even without the supervision from the teachers. Moreover, sports activities are not limited to some students alone in America. Anybody who has some proficiency in sports can utilize the sports facilities without many barriers in America. Most of the American high schools have enough infrastructure facilities which help students to grow in a positive manner. Computer labs and libraries are always open during school hours and there are enough computers and books for the students for independent use. “Self-awareness, managing feelings, motivation, empathy and social skills are some other major objectives of education”(The national strategies). American schools hold prom (prom is the short form of promenade, which is a formal gathering of high school students) so that student can know more about each other. During the prom, students can have free food, drinks, dance etc which may attract more people to join. Such occasions are good for enhancing the socializing skills and reducing the stress levels of the students. In conclusion, American high school education seems to be better than Chinese high school education system. Education should enhance creativity, critical thinking and problem solving skills of the students. It should assist students in enhancing their learning styles, academic skills, intellectual skills and social skills. American system provides more flexibility, freedom and liberties to the students and it works on the capabilities of the students. On the other hand, Chinese education system is extremely dull, mechanic in nature and overloaded. It works only at the surface level it fails to penetrate deep into the roots. Works Cited 1. Areas of Learning and Development”. 2010. Web. 04 June 2011. 2. Goals for education, (n. d.), Web. 04 June 2011. 3. Entwistle, Noel. “Approaches to Learning in Higher Education: Effects of Motivation and Perceptions of the Learning Environment”. 1986. Web. 04 June 2011. Read More