Alex Lew (writer or article) went to China to find out why Chinese schools have
such high scores on tests what he found out was shocking. Alex was put with a
host family to live with while he was in China. Edward, Alex’s host brother,
showed Alex how much work they had to do. Edward explained that he spent hours
a day on problems and compared to his classmates he was a slacker! At the
school, Alex noticed that all the students were very engaged into what the
teacher was saying and how much knowledge the teacher had. One day Edward came
to Alex about how to analyze his family tree for genetic disease. Come to find
out, in the biology book was a brief conceptual overview and a list. The reason
why the book was this way was because there were just problems in the book about
what might be on the exam at the end of the year. It was easy to understand,
but there is a lot of work to study because you have to memorize so many
systems. Alex found out that the purpose of the Chinese high school is to
prepare for the gaokao (test offered once a year but very important) the score
determines if you go to college or not. The test scores also determine the teachers’
salaries! Teachers also study past exams and come up with the teachings that
might be on the test. The classes they have are mainly about knowing how to
take the test and pass it. This test puts so much stress on the students that
they work through summer and weekends. Their free time is used preparing for
this test.
I think this is a global social problem because many Chinese
students are suffering under the work load! Most students are very smart, but
they don’t have a life! This can result in poor communication skills and basic
skills people need to survive. Also, the fact that teachers salaries and jobs
relies on the students’ scores is completely immoral. A teacher should be able to
keep her job regardless of how the student does. The students also don’t seem to mind the hard work;
however, in the long run it is hurting them because their whole life is
studying for this one test.
Rebekah Malizia; 8/30/12 3:12 pm
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