Reflective Journal 5: Reflect on education. You may choose reflect on the necessary priorities of education, how far the ideals and realities of education converge, how the problems discussed about education in US and China can be resolved. You should explicitly explain how class discussion on education in US and China have influenced/shaped your views.
Education. Much debate has arisen about what it is about and how it is supposed to be. Many experts and well-known figures with differing views. Indeed, education can be perceived in many ways, depending on how one views this ambiguous term. In this reflective journal, I shall express my views on education itself, problems with it, and how it ideally should be.
Education can be defined in many ways. Some feel that it is simply the cramming of beliefs of the past generation down the throats of the young and impressionable while others believe that it is the end to ignorance. These different views on education varies according to how and which education system an individual had gone through. To me, education is a mixture of both. Undoubtedly, education feeds you knowledge and this knowledge, when applied to real life, teaches us how to deal with all sorts of situations and make the best decision. Hence, it can indeed be considered the end of ignorance. However, it can also be considered cramming information into the young. Past discoveries, schools of thought are all reflected in textbooks or media which we have to study and these are all achievements of the previous generation. However, if we look at it from another perspective, these are the basics that is essential to us before be build our own knowledge upon it. Education is the process of supplying one with the basic knowledge and passion to learn, to develop, to soar beyond what they are taught in classrooms and discover new things on their own.
Why do so many people complain about the education system nowadays? What are some prevalent flaws that prevent it from reaching its objective? I’ll explore this issue from both perspectives of China and America. Firstly in China, there is an over-emphasis on rote based learning and standardized tests in China. Students’ academic abilities are completely judged by scores and grades on these tests. Though the Chinese are widely recognised as intelligent, earnest and hardworking, these are merely the qualities which an average worker should possess. Students can do well in tests and exams, as seen from various international competitions topped by the Chinese. However, they have not produced many innovative personalities who can revolutionise the world, such as Steve Jobs or Bill Gates. Generally, the Chinese are very clear and capable at what they are required to do and can fulfil the requirements of a job well, however, they lack the ambition and creativity to go beyond what is expected of them and explore. In my opinion, the cause of this is the standardized tests. It trains students to stick with the syllabus and meet the criteria. If you venture beyond, you would be placed at a disadvantage as others would make use of the time to further drill themselves on topics to be tested. Hence, we can see the over-emphasis on scores such that students believe it’s more worthwhile to spend time cramming for tests instead of exploring their interests, resulting in competent mediocrity being produced, not entrepreneurs.
On the other hand, America’s education system allows for more specialisation and freedom to choose one’s curriculum instead of a more all rounded education like China. Students have the autonomy to pursue subjects in which they have interest in, deciding the path they want to take in the future at a young age. This allows for more time and space for further exploration, unlike China’s education system in which students have to study and excel at a wide variety of subjects, reducing the time they have for exploration. However, such a system has its cons as well. Should one have the maturity and discipline to decide what is best for them and what would be beneficial to their future, then such a system is ideal. However, if they do not and decide to go for easy courses instead, they would ruin their future as they have no other knowledge to rely on. Hence, this would and could result in unemployment among youths as they do not possess the necessary skills to contribute to the economy.
In conclusion, the ideal education system should have a mix of both China’s and American education system. Incorporating experiential learning into a rigorous curriculum would produce the best and brilliant students that are diligent, earnest, yet at the same time not lacking in creativity and innovation to venture beyond their classrooms and achieve their potential.
Hello Vincent,
ReplyDeleteYour reflective journal included various valid points in that America has a more flexible education system and China having a rigid one that stifles creativity. However, I found your reflective journal to be lacking in key evidences at certain points and some sweeping statements were made.
For example, "Generally the Chinese are very capable and clear what they are required to do", any statistics to back up your point? Furthermore, you mentioned that qualities and attributes such as being hardworking and earnest only enables one to become "an average worker". In a country with such a booming population, I believe that perhaps being an "average worker" can be considered a success already among society, considering the huge number of unemployed graduates already.
Next, I would have liked to hear some of your opinions about what you are currently experiencing in Singapore. Do you find the system a better one than arguably the two world's largest superpowers? Perhaps some personal thought would have added much more spice to your reflective journal.
Thirdly, you mentioned in your last paragraph that the ideal education system should have a mix of both China's and American education system. I beg to differ. Both countries granted, are very different,and this is the exact reason why I feel that a hybrid between them will solve problems, but nevertheless new, fresh problems may surface. What you mentioned in your last line is I believe, a dream education system that no country can as of yet achieve.