The Difference between an American and a Chinese Education

–Zhenzhou Hu, former and forever “The Bird on Fire” blogger, ponders the differences between an American and Chinese education. He’s been educated under both systems. Here’s what he had to say.

When I first arrived at boarding school in China far away from home as a six-year-old, I did not cry like many other pupils. Instead of being fearful, I was curious about the new environment and eager to find something enticing. School would be an interesting place, and teachers would be angels who would impart knowledge and encourage exploration. However, I was mistaken. We were required to sit upright with hands still on the desk. “Why can’t we sit leisurely?” When I doubted why 1+1 = 2, my math teacher confirmed, with an indisputable tone, “That’s truth. Just remember it.” I was once scolded by my teacher because my score held back the overall GPA of my class. As we entered upper grades, the academic workload became increasingly heavier and most of our spare time was occupied by being tutored. School was no longer the paradise I had expected, and teachers were not the angels I had hoped. Gradually, I felt like I was becoming a puppet–doing what the teachers expected me to do and believing all that the teachers said without questioning or experimenting. I even put away my interest in drawing to save time for the heavy academic burden. 1+1 must = 2! No room for argument.

In 2014, I came to the USA. The first classroom I walked into at Palm Valley School was so refreshing I will always remember it: small class, beautifully decorated classroom, seemingly random but actually well-organized seats, a group of vibrant students, a nice teacher, and a comfortable environment. My classmates were encouraged to express their various ideas, and the teacher gave us tremendous inspiration. The most impressive teacher to me was Ms. Mckee, my math teacher. When I asked puerile questions (like what was the difference between relative maximum and absolute maximum), she always answered, “Excellent question!” and then proceeded to explain it. If I had asked a question like that in China, the teacher would have given me a disparaging glance instead of encouragement. Ms. Mckee gave me the courage to ask questions instead of hiding behind them.
Although I was shy and dared not speak in the first place, I fell in love with this kind of education. Mr. Sarkis, my drama teacher, showed great patience in correcting my pronunciation, which greatly enhanced my performances. I bravely performed Shakespeare as Julius Caesar’s servant at the Fullerton College High School Drama Festival in front of native English speakers. I may not have won an award at this festival, but I won the feelings of success in a job well-done, confidence, and friendship. These prizes will last longer than any trophy.
Compared with my previous school in China, things are quite different at Palm Valley. I am no longer the timid boy who just arrived. I am once again the boy who was passionate, curious and energetic. As a result of my educational experiences in the United States, I want to return to China and teach math to middle school students. I am determined to find young boys and girls who want to know why 1+1=2. And, I will answer like Ms. Mckee, “Excellent question!”