The period of “permissiveness” in a child lasts only up to 5 years. Before this age, the Japanese treat the child “like a king,” from 5 to 15 years old, “like a slave,” and after 15, “like an equal.” It is believed that a fifteen-year-old teenager is already an adult who clearly knows his responsibilities and impeccably obeys the rules. This is the paradox of Japanese upbringing: a child who was allowed everything in childhood grows into a disciplined and law-abiding citizen. However, there is no need to rush to transfer Japanese education methods into Russian reality. It would be wrong to consider them in isolation from the worldview and way of life of the Japanese. Yes, young children in this country are allowed everything, but at 5-6 years old the child finds himself in a very strict system of rules and restrictions that clearly dictate how to act in a given situation. It is impossible not to obey them, since everyone does this, and to do otherwise means to “lose face” and find yourself outside the group. “There is a place for everything” is one of the basic principles of the Japanese worldview. And children learn it from a very early age.

Tradition and modernity

The traditional Japanese family is a mother, father and two children. Earlier family roles were clearly differentiated: the husband is the breadwinner, the wife is the keeper of the hearth. The man was considered the head of the family, and all households had to obey him unquestioningly. But times are changing. Recently, the influence of Western culture has been felt, and Japanese women are increasingly trying to combine work and family responsibilities. However, they are still far from equal rights with men. Their main occupation is still home and raising children, and the man’s life is absorbed by the company in which he works. This division of roles is reflected even in etymology. A commonly used word to refer to wife is the noun Kanai, which literally translates to “inside the house.” And it is customary to address a man shujin –"main man", "master". Subordination can also be seen in relationships with children. There are no words for "brother" and "sister" in Japanese. They say instead ani(“big brother”) and otooto (« younger brother»), ane (« older sister") And imooto (« younger sister"). Therefore, the idea of ​​superior and inferior never leaves the child’s consciousness. The eldest son is noticeably distinguished from the other children, he is considered the “heir to the throne,” although the throne is just the parental home. The older child has more rights, but accordingly more responsibilities. Previously, marriages in Japan were arranged by arrangement: husband and wife were chosen by parents, taking into account social and property status. Nowadays, Japanese people are increasingly marrying out of mutual sympathy. But parental duty clearly prevails over emotional connections. There are also divorces in Japan, but the percentage is much lower. This is reflected in the orientation of the Japanese towards group consciousness, in which the interests of the group (in in this case families) are placed above individuals. The mother is responsible for raising the child. The father can also participate, but this is rare. Amae- this is what mothers are called in Japan. It is difficult to find an analogue for this word in Russian. It means a feeling of dependence on the mother, which is perceived by children as something desirable. Verb amaeru means “to take advantage of something”, “to be spoiled”, “to seek protection”. It conveys the essence of the relationship between mother and child. At the birth of the baby, the midwife cuts off a piece of the umbilical cord, dries it and places it in a traditional wooden box slightly larger than matchbox. The name of the mother and the date of birth of the child are engraved on it in gilded letters. This is a symbol of the connection between mother and baby. In Japan, you rarely see a baby cry. The mother tries to make sure that he has no reason for this. For the first year, the child remains, as it were, part of the mother’s body, who carries him tied behind her back all day, puts him to sleep next to her at night, and gives him the breast at any time he wants. The Japanese industry even produces special jackets with a zipper insert that allows you to carry a child in front. When the baby grows up, the insert comes unfastened and the jacket turns into ordinary clothes. The child is not prohibited from doing anything; from adults he only hears warnings: “dangerous,” “dirty,” “bad.” But if he does get hurt or burned, the mother considers herself to blame and asks him for forgiveness for not saving him. When children begin to walk, they are also practically not left unattended. Mothers continue to follow their little ones literally on their heels. They often organize children's games, in which they themselves become active participants. Dads only go for walks on weekends, when the whole family goes to the park or nature. And in bad weather, large shopping centers, where there are game rooms. Boys and girls are raised differently because they have to fulfill different social roles. One of the Japanese proverbs says: a man should not enter the kitchen. They see the son as the future support of the family. In one of national holidays– Boys’ Day – images of colorful carp are raised into the air. This is a fish that can swim against the current for a long time. They symbolize the path of the future man, capable of overcoming all life's difficulties. Girls are taught to do housework: cook, sew, wash. Differences in upbringing also affect school. After lessons, boys are sure to attend various clubs where they continue their education, and girls can sit quietly in a cafe and chat about outfits.

The worst thing is loneliness

The Japanese never raise their voices at children, do not lecture them, not to mention corporal punishment. A widely used method can be called the “threat of alienation.” The most severe moral punishment is excommunication from home or pitting the child against some group. “If you behave like this, everyone will laugh at you,” the mother says to her naughty son. And for him this is really scary, since the Japanese do not wash themselves outside the team. Japanese society is a society of groups. “Find a group to which you belong,” the Japanese morality preaches. - Be faithful to her and rely on her. Alone you will not find your place in life; you will get lost in its intricacies.” This is why loneliness is very difficult for the Japanese, and separation from home is perceived as a real disaster. A Japanese woman never tries to assert her power over children, since, in her opinion, this leads to alienation. She does not argue with the will and desire of the child, but expresses her dissatisfaction indirectly: she makes it clear that she is very upset by his unworthy behavior. When conflicts arise, Japanese mothers try not to distance themselves from their children, but, on the contrary, to strengthen emotional contact with them. Children, as a rule, idolize their mothers so much that they feel guilty and remorseful if they cause them trouble.

Attitude to early development

The Japanese were among the first to talk about the need early development. Half a century ago, the book “After Three is Too Late” was published in the country, which revolutionized Japanese pedagogy. Its author, Masaru Ibuka, is the director of the Talent Training organization and the creator of the world-famous Sony company. The book says that in the first three years of life, the foundations of a child’s personality are laid. Young children learn everything much faster, and the task of parents is to create conditions in which the child can fully realize his abilities. In education, it is necessary to follow the following principles: stimulate cognition through arousing the child’s interest, cultivate character, promote the development of creativity and various skills. In this case, the task is not to raise a genius, but to give the child such an education that “he has a deep mind and healthy body, make him smart and kind.” Now this point of view seems obvious, but in the mid-1950s it sounded revolutionary.

Let's go to kindergarten

Typically, a Japanese mother stays at home until the baby is three years old, after which he is sent to kindergarten. In Japan there are also nurseries, but education in them small child not welcome. According to everyone, children should be looked after by the mother. If a woman sends her child to a nursery and goes to work, her behavior is often seen as selfish. Such women are said to be insufficiently devoted to their family and put their personal interests first. And in Japanese morality, the public always prevails over the personal.

Types of kindergartens

Kindergartens in Japan are divided into public and private. Hoikuen– a state nursery-kindergarten, which accepts children from 3 months. It is open from 8am to 6pm and half a day on Saturday. To place a child here, you need to justify this with very compelling reasons. In particular, bring documents stating that both parents work more than 4 hours a day. Children are placed here through the municipal department at their place of residence, and payment depends on family income. Another type of kindergarten - etien. These gardens can be either public or private. Children are here for no more than 7 hours, usually from 9 am to 2 pm, and mother works less than 4 hours a day. A special place among private gardens is occupied by elite, which are under the tutelage of prestigious universities. If a child ends up in such a kindergarten, then there is no need to worry about his future: after it he enters a university school, and from there, without exams, to the University. A university diploma is a guarantee of a prestigious and well-paid job. Therefore, it is very difficult to get into an elite kindergarten. It costs parents a lot of money to admit their child to such an institution, and the child himself must undergo quite complex testing.

Interior

The situation inside the kindergarten looks, by our standards, very modest. Upon entering the building, the visitor finds himself in a large corridor, on one side of which there are sliding windows from floor to ceiling, and on the other - sliding doors (entrance to the rooms). As a rule, one room serves as a dining room, a bedroom, and a study area. When it's time to sleep, the teachers take them out of the built-in cabinets futons- thick mattresses - and lay them out on the floor. And during lunch, tiny tables and chairs are brought into the same room from the corridor.

Food

Meals in kindergartens are given special attention. The menu is carefully developed and necessarily includes dairy products, vegetables and fruits. Even the vitamin and mineral composition of dishes and their calorie content are calculated. If the kindergarten goes for a whole day for a walk or excursion, each mother should prepare for her child obento- a lunch box. But if in such cases we limit ourselves to a cutlet with vegetables or just sandwiches, then the art of the Japanese mother is worthy of admiration. Such a lunch must meet the mandatory requirements, namely: include 24 (!) types of products, the rice must be sticky and not fall apart, and there must be no beets present. It is advisable not to buy all the food in the store, but to prepare it with your own hands and beautifully arrange it in a box so that the child also receives aesthetic pleasure.

Relationships in the team

Groups in Japanese kindergartens are small: 6-8 people. And every six months their composition is reorganized. This is done in order to provide children with greater opportunities for socialization. If a child does not have good relationships in one group, then it is quite possible that he will make friends in another. The teachers are also constantly changing. This is done so that children do not get used to them too much. Such attachments, the Japanese believe, give rise to children's dependence on their mentors. There are situations when some teacher dislikes a child. But things will work out with another teacher good relationship, and the baby will not think that all adults do not love him. What classes are held in kindergarten? Children are taught to read, count, write, that is, they are prepared for school. If the child does not attend kindergarten, such preparation is carried out by the mother or special “schools” that resemble Russian clubs and studios for preschoolers. But the main task of a Japanese kindergarten is not educational, but educational: to teach the child to behave in a team . In later life he will have to constantly be in some kind of group, and this skill will be necessary. Children are taught to analyze conflicts that arise in games. At the same time, you need to try avoid competition, since the victory of one may mean the “loss of face” of the other. The most productive solution to conflicts, according to the Japanese, is compromise. Even in the ancient Constitution of Japan it was written that the main dignity of a citizen is the ability to avoid contradictions. It is not customary to interfere in children's quarrels. It is believed that this prevents them from learning to live in a group. An important place in the education system is occupied by choral singing. According to Japanese ideas, singling out a soloist is not pedagogical. And singing in chorus helps to foster a sense of unity with the group. After the singing comes the turn sports games: relay races, tag, catch-up. It is interesting that teachers, regardless of age, participate in these games along with children. About once a month the entire kindergarten goes to the hike around the area. The places can be very different: the nearest mountain, a zoo, a botanical garden. On such trips, children not only learn something new, but also learn to be resilient and endure difficulties. Much attention is given applied creativity : drawing, applique, origami, oyachiro(weaving patterns from a thin rope stretched over the fingers). These activities perfectly develop fine motor skills, which schoolchildren need to write hieroglyphs. In Japan, children are not compared to each other. The teacher will never celebrate the best and scold the worst, will not tell parents that their child draws poorly or runs the best. It is not customary to single someone out. There is no competition even in sporting events - friendship or, in extreme cases, one of the teams wins. " Don't stand out"- one of the principles Japanese life. But it does not always lead to positive results.

The other side of the coin

The main task of Japanese pedagogy is to educate a person who can work harmoniously in a team. To live in Japanese society, a society of groups, this is necessary. But the bias towards group consciousness leads to the inability to think independently. Moreover, the idea of ​​conforming to a single standard is so firmly rooted in the minds of children that if one of them expresses his own opinion, he becomes an object of ridicule or even hatred. This phenomenon is especially common in Japanese schools today and is called " ijime"(a concept close to our army "hazing"). Non-standard students are bullied and often beaten. The Japanese themselves clearly see the negative sides of their pedagogical system. Today in the press there is a lot of talk about the “acute need for a creative personality” and the need to identify gifted children already in early age. But the problem still remains unresolved. Phenomena that are also characteristic of Russia are also observed in the Land of the Rising Sun: the infantilism of adolescents is growing, youth is rejecting criticism from adults, and aggression is manifested towards elders, including parents. But the sensitive and caring attitude of adults towards children, attention to the problems of the new generation, the responsibility of parents for the fate of the child are qualities that can be learned from the Japanese, despite all the differences in mentality.

« Many people wonder how Chinese parents manage to raise successful and confident children in a variety of areas. How did they manage to raise so many geniuses in mathematics and music, and is it possible to use their experience to raise their own children?"This is how Amy Chua began her essay published in The Wall Street Journal. And as an example of a strict Chinese mother, she cited herself and her own methods of raising children. Here, for example, is a list of things that her daughters, Sophie and Louise, are strictly prohibited from doing:

  • do not spend the night at home;
  • go on a date;
  • act in a school play;
  • complain and complain about not being able to play school plays;
  • watch TV and play on the computer;
  • choose your own extracurricular activities;
  • receive grades other than the highest;
  • not be the first in academic performance in every subject except physical education and dramatic arts;
  • play on any musical instrument, except piano and violin;
  • do not play the piano or violin.

Chinese method of raising children:

RULE 1: Chinese parents always insist that their children bring only the best grades from school, because they are confident that they are capable of this! If a child comes home with a bad grade, Chinese parents are sure that the child simply did not prepare enough for the lesson. And therefore, if they are unhappy with the result, they allow themselves to scold, reproach and punish the child. They are confident that their child is strong enough to withstand punishment, and smart enough to learn from it the necessary lesson and motivation for the future.

RULE 2: Chinese parents believe that their children owe them everything! This probably comes from the teachings of respect for parents preached by Confucius. Parents sacrifice a lot for the sake of their children and they must become their reward, support and pride for this.

Amy Chua admits, however, that Western parents disagree with this view. “Parents in the West do not share the opinion that their children owe their lives to them. Even my husband has a different opinion: he believes that since children do not choose their parents, and do not decide on their own whether to be born into the world or not, then having decided to give birth to a child, the parents automatically take upon themselves the responsibility to raise and educate him, and the child is theirs. I don’t owe anything for this!”

RULE 3: Chinese parents always know what is best for their children! And accordingly, the preferences and desires of children are not taken into account. This is why Chinese children never go on dates, go to sleepovers in their pajamas, and never come home and tell their parents that they got the role of the fifth duck in the school play. “Don't get me wrong: Chinese parents love their children. And they are ready to do anything for them. They're just different methods of raising children“, Amy clarified.

« Western parents try to respect the child’s individuality, encourage his hobbies, interests, independent decisions, surround the child with care and attention, for full and happy development. Whereas, Chinese parents believe that best way to protect a child is to prepare him for the future, to show him what he can do, to equip him with all the necessary skills that no one will take away from him».

Unlike Western parents, the Chinese believe that:

  1. School always comes first.
  2. Five minus is a bad rating!
  3. The child must be at least 2 years ahead of his peers in mathematics.
  4. You should never praise your child in public.
  5. If a child has a conflict with a teacher, then parents should always be on the side of the adult.
  6. The child’s additional activities should be in an area where he is capable of winning a medal.
  7. The medal must be gold!

Disadvantages of the Chinese method

The Chinese method of education is very good for developing the individual qualities of a child, but it is absolutely not suitable for team work. Thus, children are completely deprived of communication and negotiation skills. Education is of course very important, but the development of human qualities is also necessary.

Chinese parents do not show their feelings towards their children. It’s just that many Chinese do not consider it necessary to say “I love you” to a child, hug or kiss him on the cheek or forehead. The absence of these sensory manifestations can harm the harmonious personal development child in the future.

The constant pressure to perform and succeed can be a difficult burden for a child's fragile shoulders, and at some point the child, feeling overwhelmed, will rebel against such a strict educational model.

Western method of raising children

The Western model of raising children is more liberal, and is aimed at developing the child’s personality, nurturing confidence and self-sufficiency. If a child does not succeed in something, parents will not insist on it, and will try to find another activity in which he can better express himself and succeed. If a child has bad grades at school, the mother will try to calm him down, be gentle and affectionate in communication so as not to cause an inferiority complex.

Disadvantages of the Western Method

The main disadvantage of this method of education lies in the fact that many parents simply do not know how to use it. They do not know when to resort to severity and when to affection, when to be a parent to a child and when to become his friend.

In the era of liberal relations, it seems that it is better to adopt a neutral position of non-intervention, instead of introducing a few strict rules for your own children. This is a destructive trend that is leading to an increase in the number of spoiled and poorly controlled children. They behave disrespectfully with adults, violate public order, are very rude and completely devoid of any respectful concepts.

What do you think about these two methods of raising children? What method were you raised by, and what method do you use in raising your own children?

After the release of Amy Chua's famous book “The Battle Cry of the Tiger Mother” and the article “Why Chinese Mothers are the Best” in the famous American publication The Wall Street Journal, the following among parents continues. best in the famous American publication The...

Following the release of Amy Chua’s famous book “The Battle Cry of the Tiger Mother” and the article “Why Chinese Mothers are the Best” in the famous American publication The Wall Street Journal, debate continues among parents about the peculiarities of parenting in different cultures. For example, Amy Chua argues that Chinese parenting methods help raise more successful children.

Researchers from Stanford University also became interested in this issue. They decided to shed light on what the key fundamental differences are between the parenting methods of Chinese and American parents. The results of this study were published in the scientific publication Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.

Chinese parenting

To identify cultural differences in parenting, the researchers compared how high school students (of Chinese and American descent) described their relationships with their mothers. The researchers also examined whether Chinese and American mothers motivate their children to succeed in school.

Lead researcher Alyssa Fu explains that the study focuses on maternal attitudes because in Chinese families, mothers tend to be more accepting. active participation in children's lives. “Chinese parents encourage their children to build strong relationships with parents. In other words, Chinese children are being trained to be interdependent,” the expert notes.

At the same time, European and American children are being prepared by their parents for independence. Parents encourage their children to see themselves as individuals. Moms and dads also strive to explore their children's thoughts and experiences. This is a key difference between Chinese and American upbringing.

Chinese wisdom on raising children and American principles

Alyssa Fu and her colleagues have already conducted four studies on this topic. In the first study, schoolchildren were simply asked to talk about their mothers. Chinese children were more likely to describe their relationship with their mother (for example, saying, “She pushes me to succeed”), while European and American children were more likely to describe their mothers as individuals and talk about how they looked. (For example, “At my mother’s Blue eyes, and she loves to read.”)

In the second study, schoolchildren were asked to rate how they felt about their mothers and whether they felt pressured by their parents. As scientists expected, Chinese children experience greater interdependence on their mothers. They also experience more pressure from their mothers, but do not feel discomfort from this.

European and American children reported that they regard pressure from their mothers as a negative factor. And the more pressure they feel, the less they feel like their mothers support them. European and American children are also more likely to feel that their mothers do not understand them. They also strive to assert their independence.

During the third and fourth studies, students were asked to solve a complex problem. At the same time, Chinese children became more motivated to solve the problem when they thought about their mothers. European and American children were more motivated and thought about their own future.

An interesting fact was that Chinese schoolchildren were helped not so much by thoughts about their mother, but by memories of any moments when the mother “pressed” her children and forced them to do something.

All four of these studies highlight fundamental differences in the parenting practices found in different cultures. The interdependence of Chinese mothers and their children allows them to use this connection for motivation while solving complex problems. European and American children, on the contrary, consider themselves independent from their mothers. Accordingly, mom’s pressure cannot be something motivating for them. In the European and American context, overcoming failure is a personal achievement, not a collective one.

Chinese child rearing system

The results of scientific work concern not only the relationship between children and parents. They also explain certain dynamics between students and teachers. “For example, the Chinese are very sensitive not only to the expectations of their mothers, but also to the social hierarchy. Therefore, the authority of the teacher plays a big role for them, much more than for European and American children,” explains the expert.

Scientists believe that both Chinese and American approaches are somewhat correct. European and American mothers are right in their assumption that too much maternal involvement can kill motivation. That's why they instill in their children strong feeling independence. But Chinese mothers correctly believe that their relationship with their child can serve as an excellent motivation for their son or daughter.

I have always been drawn to the east... And the older I get, the stronger the pull. I changed my once adored passion for Scandinavia, first to China, and now I have added Japan to it. This applies to all aspects of life: from philosophy to food.

Not long ago I was criticized for my attitude towards raising children. Well. I decided to clarify what the Han people I love so much think about this.

Eh! I was carried away!.. Like the best tea leaves, I selected sources of information, filled them with my knowledge and experience, let them brew, and voila! Selected extract! Sit back, enjoy)))

Briefly.
The history of China, immortalized in written sources, goes back about 3,500 years and, according to documentary evidence, begins with the Shang Dynasty, the foundation of which dates back to the 16th century. BC Chinese culture is one of the oldest. The earliest cultural monuments found in China date back to the 5th-3rd millennium BC.
One of the most significant events in the world in the last quarter of the last century was the powerful breakthrough of China. During the first 20 years of Deng Xiao Ping's reforms, China's GDP grew 5 times, the population's income increased 4 times, and 270 million Chinese managed to overcome the poverty threshold. The Chinese economy in 2005 ranked 4th in the world after the USA, Japan and Germany. By 2030s China expects to become the second most economically powerful state in the world.
China is a powerful nuclear and aerospace power. It is third in terms of nuclear weapons reserves, after the United States and Russia. China has created a wide comprehensive network of research, design, production and testing structures for rocket production and artificial Earth satellites... And in general, it is ahead of the rest.

“Parents hope that their son will definitely become a dragon, and their daughter a phoenix.”
家长都希望自己的儿子肯定会成为龙和一个女儿 - 凤凰

Traditional model family organization in China was characterized by patriarchy, patrilineality and patrilocality. It was formed on the basis of Confucian ideas about the family and the nature of the relationship between various categories of relatives by blood and marriage, the cult of ancestors and the doctrine of filial piety xiao.

China on at the moment far from being the richest country, but large number children and the harsh competition of the labor market could not but affect the way Chinese children are raised. And the combination with the culture of China gave an absolutely incredible style of education, by which you can define the entire country.

The Chinese have an old saying: “At the age of three, you can see what a child will be like when he grows up.” That is why young women in China begin raising their children from the very beginning, that is, even at the stage of pregnancy. Expectant mothers listen to specially selected music and talk to the baby while he is still in the womb. During this period, some pregnant women look only at beautiful paintings, admire beautiful objects, and try to remain in a calm mood.

It is believed that if a child has learned to bring his hand to his mouth, then he can be taught to eat on his own and it’s time to wean him.

A child’s learning to sing, draw, write and count begins at the age of one and a half years.

Chinese children aged 2–3 years already recite dozens of poems, by the age of 3 they know about a thousand characters and read fluently, and by the age of 4 they learn to play various musical instruments or attend sports clubs. Of course, all this is not without the help of the education system and the efforts of parents.

After the birth of a child, parents have more worries. They buy books, cassettes, and CDs for babies in order to develop an interest in everything in the child. When children turn two or three years old, parents take them to kindergarten and at the same time enroll them in various courses, e.g. English language, playing musical instruments, painting, dancing, wushu gymnastics. It often happens this way: as soon as children leave kindergarten, they immediately go with their parents to some classes.

The most favorite word For a Chinese schoolchild, zi xue is not just doing homework, it is self-education, self-improvement in the field of knowledge.

The components of the education system in China are preschool education, primary school, junior high school, senior high school, university, and graduate school.

Institutions preschool education are kindergartens, which are divided into public and private. They are attended by children aged 3 to 6 years. The purpose of preschool education is to prepare the child for schooling and for productive mastery of the school curriculum.

Primary school lasts six years, starting at the age of six. Here a solid foundation is laid for further education: the basics of literacy are comprehended, initial knowledge about nature and society is formed, attention is paid to patriotic and physical education. The main subjects of study are native language, mathematics (the emphasis is on these subjects), natural science, physical education, music, morality and ethics, foreign language (from 3rd grade, most often English). In addition, starting from the 4th grade, students spend two weeks a year working in workshops and farms, and at least one day a week they are engaged in extracurricular activities and in social activities.

Secondary school in China consists of two levels - junior and senior.

In order to enter a first-level secondary school, students take very difficult exams, the tasks in which are usually an order of magnitude more difficult than the material required by the program.

When students reach the age of 12-13, they begin their education in junior high school, or junior high school. The training lasts three to four years. Main academic disciplines at the first stage are native language, mathematics, foreign language, computer science, morality and ethics, physics, chemistry, political literacy, geography.

Ninth grade is the final stage of compulsory schooling in China.

A junior high school in China is a junior high school (high school). The age of students entering the second stage is 15-16 years. Studying here lasts from two to four years - depending on the chosen training course: academic or vocational profiles.

The task of secondary schools in China is to create a working person or a well-prepared applicant for admission to higher education institutions.

The academic profile is, in fact, a standard high school, which gives the opportunity to subsequently enter a university.

The vocational profile is represented by several types of educational institutions: special technical, technical, vocational or agricultural schools. Duration of training in special technical schools is 4 years. The programs are designed to train specialists in such fields as agriculture, medicine, economics, law, etc. Technical schools train specialists in the steel, textile, fuel and pharmaceutical industries. The duration of study in vocational or agricultural schools is three years, but they are considered the least prestigious.
Upon graduation, many graduates get assigned jobs.

Programs high school in China are focused on the mental, physical, moral and artistic education of students. The main academic disciplines in a Chinese secondary school are the native language, native literature, mathematics, history, physics, chemistry, biology, geography, foreign language, political literacy, physiology, physical education, music, and fine arts.

The academic year begins in September, lasts 9.5 months and consists of two semesters. Holidays are from January to February and from July to August. Classes – 5 days a week.
During the course of studying the academic profile of high school, students take several types of exams, one of which is the final exam.

To obtain a school certificate, students are required to pass exams in the following subjects: Chinese, mathematics, foreign language, physics, chemistry, political science, history, geography, computer science and biology.
The Unified School Final Exam (analogous to the Russian Unified State Exam) is held in May simultaneously throughout the country. Graduates' knowledge is assessed on a 100-point scale.

In Chinese schools, the bell rings for science-hungry students at 7:30 am. We need to have breakfast, there won’t be a big change after the second lesson. Therefore, no later than 6.30, even for a schoolchild living nearby, the alarm clock sings a cheerful song in the ear: “Zao shan hao!” The first lesson is tai chi gymnastics. Here students are doing the same thing that pensioners do at 5 am on the embankment: releasing creative energy. vital energy in the body. At 11.30 there is a break, quite noticeable (3 hours), but not invented for spontaneous pastime. During this time, you need to get home, have a hearty lunch and get a good night's sleep. It wouldn’t even occur to a Chinese child to exchange nap to a computer shooter. Otherwise, he simply will not survive this “cognitive” marathon. Sometimes children sleep at school: they fall asleep when the bell rings, lying on their desks, and wake up when the bell rings.

At 2:30 p.m., the home classes once again embrace the children in their strong brick embrace, this time until five in the evening. At 17.00 a student can be called a free bird, but only for two hours. Family dinner is a sacred thing! And at 19.00 the resilient bicycle will take its diligent owner for three hours of self-improvement. Young Chinese usually pull the tight strap of self-education in the library. They are not watched by video cameras or teachers or parents. And deathly silence. The teacher, of course, is present, somewhere out there drinking green tea, but not to steadfastly stand over the tender child’s soul, but to answer questions that arise.

After the library, schoolchildren rush home, where a voluminous homework.

In the last grade of secondary school, where children are prepared for the high school exam, there are at least 8–9 lessons per day: five lessons in the first half of the day, four lessons in the afternoon. Every day at the last lesson there is a test a.k.a.

Many high schools have boarding houses for students to live in. It is prohibited to bring electronic devices into the boarding school, that is, all iPhones, iPads and computers wait for their owners at home, where the latter spend their weekends - students return home on Friday evening, and on Sunday evening back to the dormitory.

See a Chinese child school age outside during the day - this is only possible in the summer. But not those who pass the ping-pong ball in carefree ecstasy. Even in the summer, children hungry for elementary truths rush to eat from the tree of knowledge. Children are not required by law to attend school in the summer. But if a child decides to brag that their school doesn’t have summer classes, all the Chinese sitting next to them will shake their heads disapprovingly: “This is a bad school”...

Parents of secondary school students usually invite tutors to their homes. For this they have to shell out a tidy sum.

School sports in China are also taken seriously; Chinese teenagers confidently win the Olympics. The principles of local education directly push them towards this: victory at any cost, strict discipline, “I can’t do it” classes... It’s hard not to become the best athlete.

The higher education system in China includes universities, colleges and vocational high schools.
Higher education institutions in the PRC are focused on the development of science, technology and culture, on the training of highly qualified personnel, on the formation of competitive education within the framework of the global educational process. In order to fully meet the needs of economic modernization, the list of educational specialties has been improved, with emphasis placed on political, economic and legal sciences, finance, mechanical engineering, architecture, electronics, computer technology, light and food industries.

Having a higher education in China is very prestigious. In the system of national values ​​and priorities, education occupies, perhaps, a leading place.
Graduates of secondary schools with an academic profile and graduates of special technical schools have a chance to receive higher education.
Depending on the results obtained in the final school exam, the applicant can apply for admission to the entrance exams only to the university whose category corresponds to the points scored.

To enter the university, applicants are required to pass a special exam in seven subjects.

When entering certain universities, competitions amount to 200-300 people per place, and therefore enrollment in a university becomes a real achievement for the applicant.
In China, paid higher education prevails, but it is not so easy to enroll on a “commercial basis” - all applicants apply on a general basis. Gifted young people have a chance to receive higher education for free. In addition, in some cases, the company where the student worked pays for the training. Gifted students also enjoy some benefits in the form of government scholarships or subsidies from enterprises and organizations.
The duration of study in highly specialized universities with a short-term course of study (junior colleges, or short-cycle colleges) is two to three years. Graduates of these educational institutions are certified mid-level specialists for work in various industries.
Colleges with four-year bachelor's degree programs accept graduates of special technical and regular high schools. Upon completion of training, graduates are issued a diploma in their specialty or are awarded a bachelor's degree.
Obtaining a bachelor's degree at a university takes 4-5 years.
Postgraduate studies can be carried out part-time or on-the-job. The training of postgraduate students is divided into two categories: training of specialists with an academic master's degree (duration of study - two to three years; age of postgraduate student - no more than 40 years) and training of specialists with an academic degree of Doctor of Science (duration of study - three years; age of postgraduate students - no more than 45 years old).

The logical chain of reasons why such selfless and backbreaking work in the educational field is possible is painfully simple and clear: your own wonderful future in the conditions of economic globalization depends on your workplace (the chair of the director of a company or a bench in the waiting corridor of the labor exchange...). Intense competition for employment does not matter only to a decently educated person, that is, a person’s fate entirely depends on the results of entrance exams to universities, and if we take into account that the number of places in them is strictly limited, and there are not even dozens, but hundreds of times more people willing to sit in them, - It turns out that for a Chinese a successful career begins already at school, if not in kindergarten. The country, now sparkling with fireworks of colorful neon, is very concerned about raising creative children. Plus the traditionally high prestige of education and the importance of preserving the “face” of the family, enlightened by Confucian wisdom.

“You are indebted to the person who was your teacher for at least one day for the rest of your days.”
你欠了他的余生来谁是你的老师至少有一天的人
Respect for the teacher, respect for elders and respect for older people are three fundamental points in raising children.

Children are required to be obedient and diligent, this instills responsibility and lets them know where they belong. Students respect the teacher, greet him standing and escort him out of the classroom while standing. The student performs any action only with the permission of the teacher.

In some places, schoolchildren can still be hit on the wrist and given a slap if he goes beyond certain limits (for example, if he chats in class or plays). There is usually deathly silence in the classrooms during lessons. You will not be allowed to go to the toilet during class. The lesson is coming - be patient. They are not allowed to be distracted in class. Therefore, if a child has problems with incontinence, they wear diapers.

Children leave school after school in neat rows, lined up in pairs, with the teacher at their head. They say goodbye to the teacher in the yard and go home. And in small towns, schoolchildren walk in a single file to their homes. Behind the gate two “streams” diverge to the left and to the right. And they gradually dissolve in the courtyards.

Honoring ancestors is one of the core values ​​of Chinese society. Accordingly, honoring parents is what the entire system of raising the younger generation in China is based on. “A core value in Chinese culture is the idea of ​​“filial gratitude,” which in a broader sense means reverence, respect and a sense of gratitude not only for parents, but for all ancestors. In China, children are required not only to obey their parents, but also to take care of them.”

The problems of upbringing in Chinese families are completely different from ours. Imagine a situation: a mother walks into a store and says to her child: “Wait,” and the child waits for an hour, or even two, without a single worry. Imagine if our mother said something like that and what the child would have done in those two hours.

Submission and self-abasement are two main factors in the upbringing of the Chinese. Previously, in rural areas, a child spent the whole day with his mother anywhere and everywhere, being tied to her with a piece of cloth. Breast-feeding lasted for a long time, fed the child on demand, the babies slept with their parents. Everything seemed to be quite normal, but at the same time it was believed that the floor was dirty, and the child was not allowed to crawl on the floor. Most of the time the baby sat on a chair, sometimes even tied up. Over time, parenting styles have changed, but submission and acceptance of everything with humility have remained as basic principles.

Confucianism

Everyone - from the emperor to the common man - agrees that raising a child is the direct responsibility of parents. It should be appreciated that for several thousand years, during the development of the traditions of the Chinese people, proper home education was highly valued and it was always believed that raising children is the duty of parents. Those parents who only raised their children without raising them properly were not considered full-fledged parents. Even in an ancient Chinese poem it was said that “to raise, but not to educate, is the fault of the father.” If a person wanted to be a full-fledged parent, he had to adhere to the principles of traditional education. It was believed that a person should raise his child not only at a young age, but throughout his life. Over time, the concept of raising children gradually expanded.

Home education has always been important not only for children and families, but also for the development of society and the country as a whole, since it was believed that the country should be one big family. The child had to realize from early childhood that he must take care not only of his family, but also of the entire country.

First of all, the child was taught to behave with dignity in society, and only then he was taught to correctly fulfill his duties and act. In China they say: “If you want to succeed at work, you need to behave like a worthy person (“become a person”).” According to the theory of Confucius, a person must first of all have “ren” - humanity, humanity, love for people; manifestations of “ren” - justice, loyalty, sincerity, etc.

In order for Children to become independent, they must be taught from childhood to work and to handle money correctly. Parents should not save material resources for the future of their children so that the children do not rely on this money. Also children should not use social status their parents.

According to Chinese traditions We can highlight the important positive qualities of a person: independence, hard work, curiosity, love and respect for parents and relatives, loyalty to one’s country, patriotism, high-quality work, courage, non-conflict, honesty, politeness. These qualities are the main content in traditional education.

Already in ancient China people knew the significance family education during the period preschool age, knew that education is much easier than re-education.

Another principle is love and severity: do not spoil the child, show the right examples, know good and evil.

Also important in raising a child is good environment. In any literature related to parenting, they talk about one mother, “Men,” who moved three times in order to have good neighbors who could positively influence the development of the child. Ancient scientists believed that the environment is “education without words.”

The formation of the personal quality of honesty at an early age is especially strong if a person has developed infidelity, then he will not soon get rid of it. Truthfulness is not given to a person ready-made; it must be acquired and assimilated initially only by observing the lives of others, just like the speech of a child.

Constant and consistent parental examples have a positive impact. The educational power of parents' personal example is determined by psychological characteristics preschool children: imitation and concrete thinking. Parents should educate their children not only with words, but also with their positive examples of behavior.

Before the “planned childbearing” policy, Chinese families usually had several children, loving each one large family important. According to the ancient views of the Chinese, in order to ensure a peaceful existence, the head of the family must take care of the continuity of his family. He needs to have a son, it is advisable to see him married during his lifetime and even have his own children, and if possible, then great-grandchildren.

One of the important foundations of social order, according to Confucius, was strict obedience to elders. Blind obedience to his will, word, desire is an elementary norm for a junior, subordinate, subject both within the state as a whole and within the ranks of the clan and family. Confucius reminded that the state is big family, and the family is a small state.

Confucianism gave ancestor worship deep meaning symbol of a special order and turned it into the primary duty of every Chinese. Confucius developed the doctrine of xiao, filial piety. The meaning of "xiao" is to serve one's parents according to the rules of "li", to bury them according to the rules of "li" and to sacrifice them according to the rules of "li".
The Confucian cult of ancestors and the xiao norm contributed to the flourishing of the cult of family and clan. The family was considered the core of society; the interests of the family far exceeded the interests of the individual. Hence the constant trend towards family growth. With favorable economic opportunities, the desire for close relatives to live together sharply prevailed over separatist inclinations. A powerful, branched clan of relatives arose, holding on to each other and sometimes inhabiting an entire village.

Both in the family and in society as a whole, anyone, including the influential head of the family, an important official of the emperor, was, first of all, a social unit inscribed within the strict framework of Confucian traditions, beyond which it was impossible to go: this would mean “losing face”, and loss of face for a Chinese is tantamount to civil death. Deviations from the norm were not allowed, and Chinese Confucianism did not encourage any extravagance, originality of mind or superior appearance: strict norms of ancestor worship and appropriate upbringing suppressed selfish inclinations from childhood.
Since childhood, a person has become accustomed to the fact that the personal, emotional, one’s own on the scale of values ​​is incommensurate with the general, accepted, rationally conditioned and obligatory for everyone.
While not a religion in the full sense of the word, Confucianism became more than just a religion. Confucianism is also politics and administrative system, and the supreme regulator of economic and social processes - in a word, this is the basis of the entire Chinese way of life, the quintessence of Chinese civilization. For more than two thousand years, Confucianism shaped the minds and feelings of the Chinese, influenced their beliefs, psychology, behavior, thinking, perception, their way of life and way of life.

In feudal China, the entire Chinese nation, called the “hundred families,” was considered one big family, whose father and mother was the emperor. All subjects of this large family were supposed to show filial love and respect for the emperor. From early childhood, the Chinese were taught to believe that paternal power belongs to both the head of a small family, i.e. father and head big family, i.e. to the emperor. This tradition continues to this day. The tradition of instilling obedience and respect for elders is instilled from childhood. This tradition is mandatory both at home, at school, in society, and at work.

No less strong cultural tradition in raising children in China, parents strive to give their children the maximum, in the hope of receiving the same maximum from their children. China, like no other country in the world, is characterized by constant pressure on the child, which is exerted with a single goal: to achieve maximum success in life, to become the first among equals, or better yet, among the first.

In China, adults teach children that life is tough and that you have to work hard, know a lot, and look great. A Chinese mother does not disdain to call her overweight daughter a fatty or tell her child that he has not a head, but a garbage pit.

She will never praise her daughter or son for a minor role in a school play and for receiving a “good” rating: he should play only leading roles and receive only best ratings. If this happens, the child receives the delight of the family, which encourages him to achieve the next heights.

Chinese children and teenagers have many prohibitions: if a child plays a musical instrument, you cannot skip classes, you cannot devote too much time to friends, you cannot allow yourself to play computer games and so on.
But a grown-up Chinese will never tell his parents, like a European and a Russian: “Why did you force me to study so much? I didn’t have a childhood!”

Chinese parents believe that their children owe everything to them (the so-called “Confucian filial piety”). And children are brought up with a constant sense of obligation to their father and mother, grandfather and grandmother.

The Chinese value strength rather than weakness; they often treat children as adults, scold them to the extreme, and demand them. They don’t mince words, they call things by their proper names: “You’re lazy! You're fat! At the same time, they spend a lot of money on the upbringing and education of their children, sometimes saving their entire life from the moment the child is born for his future studies in institutes. Chinese parents decide everything for their children! That's why girls here don't go on overnight camping trips and don't have boyfriends while studying at the institute. There are no family students here! The Chinese begin to prepare the child for the future “war for survival” from a very young age. Therefore, one should not be surprised at their endurance. From childhood, many people know that competition is a cruel thing. If you don’t want to study, you will work for “food” like a slave. And in the end we see what China has achieved! A huge number of Chinese in science, business, and culture are now all over the world, they are busy in both the USA and Europe, and they are moving forward!

Is it not thanks to such methods of education, enlightenment and upbringing of generations that the citizens of the PRC have collectively achieved enormous, world-recognized successes in sports, economics, science, technology, and in anything else?

From the outside, it seems that all of China’s victories are based on pathological patriotism, the personal ambition of each individual and the people’s strict fulfillment of the tasks of the party and government of the PRC. China is a truly powerful “machine” and a great power, and, by and large, thanks to each of its citizens.

And finally, I would like to quote an excerpt from the book “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” by Amy Chua, a Chinese woman living in the United States, a law professor at Yale University.

“Many people wonder how Chinese parents manage to raise such successful children. What do these parents do to raise such smart mathematicians and virtuoso musicians, what happens in their families, and is it possible to do the same in your family? I can tell you because I did it myself. Here are the things my daughters Sophia and Louise were never allowed to do:
· go to sleepovers
· make friends
· Participate in school plays
· complain that they are not allowed to participate in school plays
· watch TV or play computer games
· choose your own extracurricular activities
· get grades below "A"
· not be "student number 1" in any subject other than PE and drama
· play an instrument other than the piano and violin
· do not play the piano or violin

Despite all our struggles with cultural stereotypes, there is plenty of research that shows noticeable and even measurable differences between Chinese and Westerners when it comes to raising children. In one such study of 50 American mothers and 48 Chinese immigrant mothers, about 70% of Western mothers said that “demanding children to excel academically is not good” and that “parents should try to make learning enjoyable.”

At the same time, almost none of the Chinese mothers supported such ideas. Instead, they said their children should be "top students" and that "academic success reflects good parenting." And if a child is not able to study, this is the mistake of the parents who “are not doing their job.”

According to other studies, Chinese parents spend about 10 times more time during the day on educational activities with their children than Western parents. At the same time, Western children engage more in sports sections.
Chinese parents understand a simple truth: no activity will be enjoyable unless you learn how to do it well. To achieve perfection in any matter, you need to work, and children themselves never want to work - that’s why you don’t need to follow their lead. This requires parents to be persistent because the child will resist; It's always difficult at first, and that's why Western parents give up so quickly. But if you don't give up, the wheel Chinese technique starts to spin. Hard practice, practice, and more practice is what matters to perfection; The "repetition-mother-study" rule is greatly underestimated in America.

As soon as a child achieves success in something - be it mathematics, music, design or ballet - he receives recognition, admiration and pleasure in return. This is how confidence is built. And those activities that were previously unpleasant begin to bring joy. And this, in turn, stimulates even more hard work.

Chinese parents can easily handle things that baffle Western parents. Once in my youth, when I was disrespectful to my mother, my father called me “trash” in our native dialect. It worked. I felt terrible and ashamed of my wrongdoing. However, this did not harm my self-esteem at all. I knew exactly how much my father loved me. And I didn’t consider myself trash at all.

As an adult, I once did the same thing to my daughter Sophia, calling her "trash" in English when she acted horribly towards me. When I mentioned this story at a party, I was immediately criticized. One of the women present, named Marcy, became so upset that she began to cry and soon left our company. And my friend Susan, the hostess of the house, tried for a long time to rehabilitate me in the eyes of other guests.

It's a fact: Chinese parents can do things that are unthinkable - or even not very legal - for Western parents. A Chinese mother may well say to her daughter, “Hey, you’re fat, go ahead and lose weight!” In the same situation, Western parents lisp, tiptoe around the problem and use abstract words like “health.” However, their children end up in psychotherapy with various disorders and negative self-esteem. I once heard a Western dad fake sucking up to his adult daughter, calling her "beautiful and incredibly smart." Later she admitted to me that it was these words that made her feel like trash.

Chinese parents may order their children to get straight A's. Western parents can only ask that the child try to do “the best he can.” The Chinese mother says: "You are lazy, all your classmates have passed you by." Meanwhile, the Western mother will struggle with her conflicting feelings about her child's poor performance and will try to convince herself that she is not upset about her children's failures.

I've thought a lot about how Chinese parents manage this approach. I think this is due to three big differences in the minds of Chinese and Western parents.

Firstly, I have noticed that Western parents are very concerned about their children's self-esteem. They worry about how the child will feel if they fail, and they constantly try to reassure their children of how good they are - despite mediocre results in tests or auditions. In other words, Western parents are concerned about the child’s psyche. But the Chinese do not. They imply strength in their children, not fragility. And as a result, they behave completely differently.
For example, if a child brings home an A-minus on a test, a Western parent is likely to praise him. A Chinese mother in such a situation will be horrified and ask what happened.

If a child came in with a B, many Western parents will still praise him. Some will express disapproval, but will still try to make sure that the child does not feel discomfort; they won't call him a "fool" or a "freak". Among themselves, Western parents will worry that the child is not studying very well, or that he does not like this subject, or that the lesson schedule may be unsuccessful, or that the whole school is bad. If a child's grades do not improve, Western parents may complain to the school principal about a poor curriculum or an unqualified teacher.

If a Chinese child came home with a B - which should never happen - it would lead to an atomic explosion of screaming and hair-pulling. And then the terribly upset Chinese mother will take dozens or even hundreds of assignments on this subject and will complete them together with the child - until he gets an "A".
Chinese parents demand excellent grades because they believe their children can achieve such grades. If it doesn’t work out, it means the child didn’t work hard enough. That is why, in response to bad grades, they will criticize, punish and shame the child. Chinese parents believe that their child is strong enough to withstand these attacks and improve through them. And when the child achieves success, the parents will generously give him at home the fruits of their parental pride.

Secondly, Chinese parents believe that their children are indebted to them... for almost everything. The reason for this attitude is not very clear, but it may be a mixture of Confucian "filial piety" and the fact that parents sacrifice themselves for their children. Indeed, Chinese mothers spend long hours in the trenches of this war for children's education, personally teaching lessons and constantly monitoring your child. Either way, it is a generally accepted truth that Chinese children should spend their lives doing justice to their parents - by obeying them and making them proud with their achievements.

Western parents, it seems to me, do not consider their children to be “eternally obligated.” And even my husband Jed has different morals. “Children don’t choose their parents,” he once told me. “They don’t even choose when to be born. It’s their parents who give them life, and that means parents are obliged to help their children. But children don’t owe their parents anything. They will owe only their children.” . These words struck me as a terrible example of Western thinking.

Thirdly, Chinese parents believe: only they know what their children need in life - and therefore they reject everything own desires and children's interests. This is why Chinese girls are not allowed to have boyfriends in high school or go on overnight camping trips. Don't get me wrong. This attitude does not mean that Chinese parents do not care about their children. Exactly the opposite! They will give their lives for their children. It's just a completely different model of parenting.

Western parents are very concerned about their children's self-esteem. But the worst thing you can do for a child's self-esteem is to let him give up. On the other hand, the best way to increase self-esteem is to do something that you previously thought you couldn’t do.

There are many books coming out now where Asian mothers are portrayed as conservative, callous, closed-minded people who ignore the interests of their children. For their part, many Chinese women secretly believe that they care about their children and are willing to sacrifice for them much more than Western parents - who do not care if the child is doing poorly in school. I think there are kinks on both sides here. All responsible parents want the best for their children. It’s just that everyone understands this “best” differently. In the West, they respect the personality of children, encourage their independence and their own interests, provide positive reinforcement of lessons and a friendly educational environment. Meanwhile, the Chinese believe that best protection children - this is preparation for a harsh future, awareness of their strengths and arming with such skills, habits and self-esteem that no one can take away..."

And a little more video

The incredible hard work, dedication and patience of the Chinese people is largely due to the specific education system adopted in this largest Asian country, which shows rapid economic growth and enviable sporting success. We would probably call this system authoritarian and even cruel, but the Chinese themselves consider it absolutely natural and the only true one.

The infamous slogan “One family - one child,” put forward by the government in the 80s of the 20th century, forced families to approach the birth of a child with special care - they had no room for error. The woman decided to have an abortion, even if she was not satisfied with the gender of the child (for a long time, the birth of a boy has been considered a great joy in China, and the birth of a girl is considered a failure), and the birth of a baby with possible abnormalities was out of the question. In rural areas, however, this rule was never followed; “illegitimate” children were either not registered at all, or they were used to giving birth and paying taxes. Now the state, having become convinced of the ineffectiveness of the old strategy, has put forward a new slogan - two children, although many Chinese women who decide to undergo sterilization will no longer be able to use it.

The birth control policy forces parents to raise their only child (maximum two) very strictly so that he grows up to be the best, most talented, educated, and successful. “If you are not the first, then you are a failure” is a common slogan of Chinese parents. This is not cruelty, but sober calculation and concern for the future of one’s child, because “making it among the people” in a country of a billion people is not at all easy. The ability to survive in competition is instilled in children from childhood.

Unlike the values ​​that develop in Western society, Chinese society does not place the child’s personality and his harmonious development, but leadership, diligence and the ability to achieve goals. Teachers and parents do not complicate the upbringing process with such concepts as the delicate child’s psyche, self-esteem, trusting relationship with the child, etc. On the contrary, they believe that Europeans are too “bothered” with the problems of children’s individuality. Chinese children are taught to be submissive, and displays of spontaneity and ordinary emotionality are considered a sign of immaturity and inability to control oneself. If there are problems, Chinese parents will never take their child to a psychologist; they would rather punish him or even flog him.

An ambitious state, understanding the value of the “human factor”, sets the goal of the comprehensive development of children. From the age of 3 months, the state takes over the upbringing of children, who can already be sent to a nursery. From the age of 1.5 years, the child begins to receive a comprehensive and, it must be said, quite high-quality education: children are taught music, drawing, and develop mental and physical abilities. From 3 to 6 years old, children go to free kindergartens, which are not much different from Soviet and post-Soviet ones - here, without unnecessary frills, children are taught to work and collective coexistence, and they begin to teach literacy. Attention: a child who at the age of three does not know how to care for himself (eat, dress and undress, go to the toilet, wipe his butt, etc.) WILL NOT BE TAKEN into a state kindergarten. There are also private kindergartens, where the technical equipment is better, more attention is given to cultural and aesthetic development, fewer children and more teachers. From 6 to 12 children attend primary school, the next three years are devoted to compulsory secondary education. But only those who study well get into high school, and the competition is very high.

Schools in China require a separate paragraph. Children not only study there, but by our standards, they simply “work hard.” Every day the student gets up at 5 am to repeat and complete his homework. IN educational institution children are present all day to give parents the opportunity to work fully. Officially, they study until 5-6 pm, but in practice, after clubs and extra classes, they come home after 10 pm! During the holidays they are given so many tasks that they need to study for at least 2 hours every day, and before starting academic year you need to come to school and hand in the assignment to the teacher. The most surprising thing is that nervous breakdowns and overwork are not typical for Chinese children in such a rhythm of life (or do demanding parents and teachers simply not notice them?)

One gets the impression that for the Chinese, a child is a kind of project, which in the future must necessarily meet all the hopes of the parents. And here mom and dad can be truly ruthless: they force them to play scales for hours, not allowing the child to eat, drink or rest until he succeeds, the way he should. Or tearing up your mom's birthday card if it wasn't done well enough. They resort to blackmail, threats, deception and severe punishments, as long as the children meet the standard set for them. The Chinese do not allow you to waste time on TV or computer games. The choice of university and future profession for a child is also made by adults. And it’s better for impressionable parents not to know at all about what the victories of little Chinese athletes are worth.

At the same time, Chinese parents are always friendly and really love their children. How does all this affect the psyche of children? It’s difficult to say, because in infancy they are taught to obey their elders, not to be capricious and to be content with little. But the thing is that Chinese children are completely open, smiling, not “twitchy”, affectionate towards their elders and perceive their “hard labor” life as the norm. There are no shootings in schools, and teachers are not hated.

So, chinese style education is the absolute opposite of the European one, but the hardworking and disciplined Chinese are the absolute opposite, for example, of the infantile and lazy Spaniards. Some things in Chinese upbringing will seem unacceptable to us, but some will seem quite reasonable. And if we reduce the level of authoritarianism and make allowances for cultural characteristics, we will recognize in him the good old Soviet upbringing. Which my children sometimes really miss.