Contrasting the Chinese Schooling System and the American Schooling System

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Recommended: Human imagination

The clever and talented Napoleon Bonaparte once penned the phrase, “Imagination rules the world.” Imagination allows the mind to roam free, explore foreign, unknown territories, and travel to another reality, where people are free to be who they want, and do what they want when they want. It is full of boundless opportunities, endless luxuries, and is a welcome break from the harsh reality of life. Imagination exists in everybody. Everyone has the potential to be creative, however the growth of it depends on the environment in which a person lives in, for example their education. China imposes a strenuous schooling system that inhibits a child’s creativity, whereas America encourages a burgeoning culture of imagination and creativity that leads to boundless possibilities.

China has long stressed the importance of education. Dating back to the origins of China, the roots of a prosperous nation were founded upon one key principle – education. Education, whether taught by a learned scholar or self-taught, has been a vital component of China’s history. There are many maxims in the Chinese language that emphasize the importance the Chinese place on education, for example, one maxim is “in the high mountain of books, industry is the only path leading to the peak; on the boundless sea of learning, diligence is one’s own vehicle of passage”. There are no limits to learning, however, one can only continue down this path if they have the diligence to persevere. There is an endless source of knowledge, and it is the duty of the seeker to unlock them. Su Qin, a political strategist of the Warring States Period, put a particularly harsh emphasis on studying – he would jab himself with an awl whenever he feel fatigued in order to maintain his ...

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Works Cited

"China's High School Students Low in Imagination?" Chinadaily US Edition. Web. 07 Dec. 2011.

"Gaokao Is Make or Break for Students." China In Focus — A Maymester in China. Web. 08 Dec. 2011.

LaFRANIERE, Sharon. "Chinas College Entry Test, Gao Kao, Is National Obsession - NYTimes.com." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. 07 Dec. 2011. Web. 07 Dec. 2011.

McKernan, James. "Curriculum and Imagination: Process ... - James McKernan." Google Books. Web. 11 Dec. 2011.

Peters, Zrinka. "Can High School Extracurriculars Get You Into College? | Education.com." Education.com | An Education & Child Development Site for Parents | Parenting & Educational Resource. Web. 11 Dec. 2011.

Ren, Qiliang. "Diligent and Eager to Study." Common Knowledge about Chinese Culture. Beijing: Foreign Languages, 2004. 87-89. Print.

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