Savvy's Resolute Adventures

Understanding the Tiger Mom: Education vs. Sports

The US ranks very poorly in education versus other nations - average to bottom of various research studies. In China, schooling and education is given the utmost importance [listen Tiger Mom talk show].

In a very well attended evening talk with a visiting NYT best selling author on parenting, one father stood up and asked why Asian students seem in general to do so much better academically in the US.  The author stated that the vast difference in importance placed on sports could be a big contributing factor.

This comment that Asian parents do not value sports made me better understand my family.  I was a football cheerleader  for 2 years and my parents had no interest in attending a game. That was my only 'sport' - participating in athletic pursuits were not valued in my family. My parents have no interest in my endurance pursuits and did not want me to bike or do anything "dangerous".  After my pianist sister hurt her wrist riding her bike down our street, she and I were relegated to riding in circles in our driveway.

With the exception of perhaps sumo and baseball, there are not many professional sports in Asian countries compared to the US, where incredible amounts of money are spent on sports. So, different cultural values result. Time and energy are spent on different activities. For instance, when you go to Taiwan, stores are typically open very long hours.  Chinese people generally value hard work and as a result, economies flourish.  

I have always been in situations where  I had to be a very hard worker.  I knew from the start, I would never be the smartest so I had to work hard.  I had Calvin Kuo and Alan Chao in my elementary and high school achieving greatness,  so I knew I had to work hard to keep up!

   

Understanding the Tiger Mom

In a recent Understanding the Tiger Mom talk show, I was asked about the differences in academic expectations and learning discipline among cultures, especially in China, and what this may ultimately mean for global competitiveness. Listen to the conversation.

Tiger Mom: The Other Side of the Story - Race to Nowhere

 

After the Tiger Mom controversy, a powerful documentary film is in the works. "Race to No Where" talks about how our kids today are pressured to achieve in this fast paced, over-scheduled world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uem73imvn9Y