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I am so glad that the Chinese also see value in freedom and creativity. I believe that it is our advertising, name brand culture that is the culprit in our system. Not the freedom and creativity that we give our children.

The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother is an interesting novel. I have read about half and am looking for to a long weekend to finish it off. What I find most interesting so far is that the author is directing her attention to the way parents think and act based on their culture not on the actual school the child attends.

Although the author researched and pick the best schools in the area the girls are not attending strictly Chinese based private school, even their private music lessons are not really based on Chinese philosophy. Instead, she bases her novel and philosophy of parenting on what she calls the Chinese method. She does allows that she has met non Chinese parents, who the characteristics of a Chinese mother. Her theory is based on the attitude of the mother and the actions taken based on that attitude.

Where as I don't necessary agree with all of her practices like 3 to 4 hours of music lessons a day. I do agree and practice the philosophy that my children (2 daughters like the author) can do their best. I believe that doing your best is demonstrated by doing all they can do to be successful. For instance the other night when by daughter was preparing me for a lower than to be expected grade in math, we discussed a zero in work ethnic because she did not complete the final problem given for homework. I did question her about it and why she received it. Her reasoning was because she didn't know how to do it. My response was "Who did you ask for help?" No one, which was her answer was not acceptable, because she didn't do all she could do.

This philosophy does not differ much from the words of Bill Crosby in the Pound Cake speech or in Calvin Mackey's presentation that I had the pleasure of hearing several years ago.

Yes, child should play. They should be in plays. They should spend amazing amounts in mud, puddles and finger painting. They should be able to do these things free from pressure and for pure joy. But they should also be taught that they have a responsibility to themselves, their family and their society to prepare themselves to be the best Robin, Peter, Mary, Detonaye, Maggie etc.. There family and their community has the right to expect that of them and the responsibility to follow up behind them at every step to make sure it happens. This is how they learn responsibility, follow through, self contentment, and happiness. This is our responsibility to being good parents and raising individual who replace the Edison, Fords and Gates of this country to help it maintain the economic, political, societal strength we are accustom to.

Here's a link to an article withthe Author. Seem's a bit of a hornet's nest has been stirred.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/tiger-mom-amy-chua-controversial-book-parenting-guide/story?id=12767305

It is not uncommon for those from other countries to look at the seeming "progress" of the United States and long to be in the "free society" full of "creativity" and "independence". Some of those same dreamers then get to America and are surprised when they lose their children to drugs, alcohol, violence, and moral decay.

While I did not agree with everything the Tiger Mom had to say, I did agree with the majority of it. "Western" parents are raising children for whom manners are optional, and "Respect" is an old R & B classic. Math scores are just one of many indicators of Western failure. Anger, reverse blame, justification, and defense of idiotic parenting practices are others.

p.s. To my comment that Montessori education can increase children's abilities in math, science and reading, I most definitely should have added: while encouraging and developing independence and creativity.

It certainly sounds like the educational systems of China and the United States could learn from each other. A Montessori education is an excellent way to increase children's abilities in math, science and reading. Association Montessori Internationale is the original organization founded by Dr. Maria Montessori's own son - Mario. There is also the American Montessori Society. Check them out: www.montessori-ami.org and www.amshq.org

Sorry, but have to say that I got a chuckle out of "Josh pitch curriculum toolkit" I don't think we were supposed to see that!

This just confirms what we all know -- that it's hard to draw accurate conclusions when painting with too broad a brush. Yes, U.S. students' international ranking in reading, science, and math is appalling -- but we need not compare ourselves to other countries to know that we are falling short in these critical areas that are tied to our national security, our future prosperity, and how we see ourselves in an increasingly competitive world. "American schools" are not a monolith. They are more varied than we can really comprehend -- and, in most cases, it is money that makes schools great. . . or, perhaps it's more accurate to say that adequate funding is one essential ingredient. Whether the money comes from government, foundations and charitable organization, or parents, the source doesn't matter nearly as much as the quantity. We might criticize Exxon for generating over $40B in profits, but we don't begrudge them the ability to spend money on their operations in order to make that profit. . . I look forward to the day when we invest in education more rationally, more fully, and more richly across-the-board (in rich & poor communities alike, and all communities in between). I'm remembering a poster from long ago -- was it from NAEYC? -- that said something like, "wouldn't it be nice if schools had all the money they needed & the defense department had to hold a bake sale?"

The reason that Finland scored so high is because this country also reveres teachers. The teaching profession is honored and the best and brightest students are encouraged to become teachers. they also respect early childhood and children don't attend regular school until age 7.

Kudos and charts aside, as a child development instructor I believe that those hovering, controlling fear-based relationships diminish everyone, adult and child. Again and again answers lie in the RIE (Resources for Infant Educarers) principles. The first one, "basic trust in the child to be an explorer, an initiator and a self-learner" seems to be fundamental to so many issues of childhood development, such as emotional intelligence and mind-body connections, as well as the current uproar of parental power and use of control.
What does it mean to allow a child to become? Can the parent look within the child for answers to the child's being? Fearful that the child won't want to reach unless pushed, the parent teaches learned helplessness. And, in fact, a young baby can and will develop the outreached hand to grasp at something. With her "observe more, do less, enjoy more" mantra that points to both short and long-term effects, Magda Gerber counseled against putting a toy directly in a baby's hand. "If a child is interested in a toy that's been placed within reach, she says, he'll grab the object himself. This teaches a baby to be independent and curious. Above all, it makes a child an active partner in the learning process, not a passive recipient." (Child magazine, Feb 2002)
"It may be a more peaceful world we could create," are Magda Gerber's ending words on one of RIE's important educational films, "Seeing Infants With New Eyes." (recently purchased for use in 1700 Early Head Start programs nationwide). "When allowed to unfold in their own way and in their own time, children discover, manifest and inspire the best in themselves and in others," as RIE's Vision states.

After working in a dual language Mandarin/English immersion school for the past two years, I have some information that sheds light on the connection between Chinese students' success in math.
Chinese language imbeds the base 10 concept. When young children learn the names of the numbers, they automatically develop an understanding of the base 10 system. This is not true in any Euro-based language.

Secondly, the names of the numbers in Chinese are one syllable. The time taken by the brain to compute is much shorter for Chinese speakers.

Even our native English speakers compute math in Chinese and then translate into English to save time.

Good to know!!

We do have to worry about how our children perform compared to those around the world. We can no longer afford to think that America is the "World". Technology has created a new reality and the world is now smaller than it isued to be. The most important information I get from this is that we need to make EDUCATION OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY - not basket ball, football, or other "get rich quick" professions. To do that, we need to put our money where our future is - the schools, the teachers, the children. It is unrealistic to make education our number one priority absent the support that's needed to ensure we are successful. Creativity is important, but education encompasses creativity. Independence is important, but education encompasses independence. We can no longer afford to be complacent about education - we need to help our children compete around the world.

I am so tired of the very fact that we are obsessed with what other countries do with education. Why do we think the grass is always greener somewhere else. By what I witness is parents not wanting to cooperate with schools and teachers trying to do their jobs educating children. So I say more power to the parents who are really involved in their child's education and keeping tabs on their social lives. Quit worrying about overseas and worry about what we have here.

Many cultures throughout history have revered education and fostered a passion for learning: Jesuits, Judaism, ancient Greece. Which cultures "invented" medicine and the Arabic number system? Where have the greatest libraries in the world been? Alexandria, Timbuktu, Babylonia? Could the larger issue be more than expectations or reverence for education? Check out http://allchildsplay.blogspot.com/2011/02/any-tiger-moms-around.html

Might it be related to parenting philosophy & approach? Our passion for permissiveness? What’s the verdict?

One has to wonder, if the success rate of the Chinese vs the American schools has less to do with the method of education and more to do with the level of expectation. China has a high level of expectation, American schools have an unequal level of expectation. Is it possible to have an educational system that values creativity, and independence of thought, coupled with high expectations for focus, perspective taking, work ethic, and yes, passion for learning? I think so! But too often, at least in urban public schools, those things are missing in both the staff and as a result the children.