[NB] Americans debate whether the Asian education system is more superior

[Mccuish]

 

Article: American vs Asian education styles... American media argues over which system is superior

 

Source: Korea Ilbo via Nate

Debate on WP and WJP over whether Asia's rote memorization style of education is better than America's creativity-oriented education system.

1. [+127, -8] How can Americans be envious of a rote memorization oriented education system that does nothing but create study robots. You need to promote creativity to foster talents in a variety of areas.

2. [+120, -11] I apologize to America for our country spreading the wrong idea

3. [+85, -2] It wouldn't work in America because even holding their students back till 5 pm would be controversial over there when students in Korea are held at school for longer than that. I can't believe some Americans actually want to copy our system when Koreans are scared of even having kids because of the excessive cost of private education ã…‹ã…‹

4. [+13, -1] Korea's education system: Samsung, America's education system: Apple

5. [+13, -2] I graduated high school in Korea and graduated college in America and while both systems have their pros and cons, I found Korea's private education system to better. However, it's true that it gets rid of any sense of creativity in the student. America, on the other hand, has an enriched culture of debate and discussion and the opinions of students and professors are treated equally as important, allowing for them to discuss their ideas more freely. Korea, however, has such a strong society of hierarchy and rank that this is impossible. Whatever the professor says, the student has to say "yes, yes, you're completely right".

6. [+10, -3] You know what the Korean teachers always say. "You can research new ideas all you want when you become a professor, your first job right now is to just memorize everything."

7. [+9, -2] Why does America have more Nobel awards if our system is more superior?

8. [+8, -1] ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹ I don't get why a country who is living just fine sitting at a comfortable #1 spot is trying to implement a system from a country that has the lowest happiness levels in the world

9. [+8, -1] Korea's stats are merely numbers that reflect how many students achieve their educational goals. Ask them if they're happy and you'll get a different picture.

10. [+8, -1] If they implement our education system, their suicide rates are going to go up.

11. [+7, -1] The world seriously has to be crazy to think that copying Korea in anything is a good idea

12. [+6, -0] If Obama thinks this is a good idea... he's obviously trying to be remembered as the worst president in history.

13. [+4, -3] I feel like Americans think Asian education is superior because most of the Asian students who go to America to study are seen as more advanced in math and sciences so Americans automatically consider them smarter... the error in their judgment is that for an Asian student to even be able to afford studying abroad means that they come from a well off family that has already invested a lot of money in their education more than the average Asian student so of course they seem more advanced..

14. [+3, -0] For fostering laborers: Korean education, for fostering creators: Western education

[Reckoner]

an education system that sends students off of the top of buildings is far from efficient

[김민주]

I think we need to find a middle ground. Americans are too lazy and Koreans work too much.

[luhangege]

Both education systems are a mess it would be interesting to see them flip flopped

 

 

and i love it when outside nations try to get involved with our politic like yall must have forgotten gwb

[Gloupipoo]

an education system that sends students off of the top of buildings is far from efficient

 

both do in a sense

 

I wouldn't be able to deal with 100K+ of debts after graduating

 

Scandinavian countries is what ppl should aim for

[footballfina]

As an Westerner, I don't know if our education system necessarily produces more intelligent students (I definitely think Asian models produce harder working kids) but I know that if I had the option, I'd 100% rather have a western education than the type practiced in Korea... I've read too many horror stories man...

 

I want to a pretty rigorous Catholic prep school in NYC, but that doesn't even come CLOSE to what these poor children have to go through on the daily... I honestly can't imagine having to endure it :(

[BetweenYourThighs]

Let's all go live in Finland. 

[OAO]

In America, you have the option of a really shitty education or a great education. 

It depends on where you live and who is willing to put time into the children. 

 

Your social class mostly (not all the time) determines the quality of education.

[camelliabloom]

8. [+8, -1] ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹ I don't get why a country who is living just fine sitting at a comfortable #1 spot is trying to implement a system from a country that has the lowest happiness levels in the world

 

Well said, we're perfectly fine except for the grading system which encourages cheating

[myreflections]

I think we need to find a middle ground. Americans are too lazy and Koreans work too much.

I agree with the middle ground.

The middle ground between them might actually be the most appropriate system. Each should take good points from the other and implement. 

 

lol at knetz tho. I will agree that Asians seem amazingly good at math tho. how they do it, that's something to learn and implement.

[M O L A]

Well I'm already in college so...

[sickwithsin]

Americans schools would never keep students in classes until 5 P.M. for two reasons:

1. We're too lazy.

2. The teachers would need fair compensation - we barely pay them for the work they already do.

[icedcoffee]

The model most countries should try and implement are those similar to the education systems used in Scandinavian countries.

 

 

Americans schools would never keep students in classes until 5 P.M. for two reasons:

1. We're too lazy.

2. The teachers would need fair compensation - we barely pay them for the work they already do.

 

Actually, most Western teachers do work till five (or later). And they still don't get paid for that work.

[North and South]

Students are more than just numbers on a test. There are a variety of talents and skills that rote memorization does not allow to grow. And many of these talents are also advantageous or even necessary in a student's future career.

 

The issues facing the American/ North American educational system is more complex than just not enough memorizing. The system is underfunded and severely so. There is not enough of a priority placed on education by students as well as their families. There is not enough respect given to teachers and not enough resources either and the curriculum is a bit of a mess.

 

The no child left behind initiative is good in standardizing education all around, and while it makes sure that those students who are struggling don't feel too pressured, it also means that students who do well don't get rewarded. IMO that means there is a lack of motivation and challenge for these students as well.

 

I think that more competition should be introduced into the North American school system. But trying to emulate the Asian standard is going too far. Doing well in school is important, but making kids who are 5 years old study enormous amounts or putting crazy amounts of pressure on children is not in their best interests. That's what we should be looking for as a society, not measuring how well kids do on tests necessarily.

[loves]

 [+85, -2] It wouldn't work in America because even holding their students back till 5 pm would be controversial over there when students in Korea are held at school for longer than that. I can't believe some Americans actually want to copy our system when Koreans are scared of even having kids because of the excessive cost of private education ã…‹ã…‹

 

ln my country we only stay until 1 pm and mybe 3 times a week until 3-4 pm in school. We would never stay until the night tbh

[TaengTaengoo]

As a student in the States I can say it did nothing along the lines of pushing creativity. It wasn't rigid as the Korean system but it wasn't skip along meadows like they try to portray

[ot12]

asia = korea?

[Athena]

I think we need to find a middle ground. Americans are too lazy and Koreans work too much.

I think the middle ground is Finland.

[SlaveMaster]

thats great

[TheVirginThotty]

an education system that sends students off of the top of buildings is far from efficient

 

 

I think we need to find a middle ground. Americans are too lazy and Koreans work too much.

 

These 2 comments sum it up nicely

[Salty Pretzel]

the korean education system legitimately trains their students to be robots since they focus so heavily on memorization. it stifles the children's creativity plus the competition there is lethal, teachers and other faculty aren't protected hence all the bullying issues, and education is already expensive but then you have to pay for hagwons and other resources. obviously, america's isn't the greatest either but i think it's the better of the two. 

[get2herheart]

As an American, I don't like the educational system. But I don't like the Korean system either. Soooooo

[초췌]

both do in a sense

 

I wouldn't be able to deal with 100K+ of debts after graduating

 

Scandinavian countries is what ppl should aim for

i don't really think scandanavian schools are that great

it's just that tertiary education is free.... but that comes at a cost of exorbitant taxes and in norway's case, lots of oil money

[hey1990]

Not korean but living under same system, I can slay any question great iq however schools are so tiring the tension of studying, the loads so of course the society seem less about enjoyment and wasting time more about working hard and hard. .....

[*lesigh*]

I think the middle ground is Finland.

 

Yes. In Finland, they have high test scores and happy students.

 

I might move there tbh. America's education system is already starting to become Korea's education system and let me tell you it does not work well on America's kids. They only implemented the Common Core 5 years ago and parents are already complaining about how this new system drains creativity from our kids. America's education system has always been a mess, but this is only gonna make it messier. They really should look at Finland and learn from them, they're the real winners.