Introduction
Asian and American education systems are too different. Due to the cultural differences, USA and Asian education have specific structural, social, and economic varieties which make the educational systems of these two nations differ greatly. Starting the discussion with the structural peculiarities of each of the educational systems, the economic priorities along with the recent tendencies are going to be discussed.
Several years ago the US educational system was considered as the best one, however, starting with the beginning of the 21st century, the tendency has changed and Asian education, especially in such countries as Japan, Korea, China, etc. has become the leading one in quality and economical efficiency.
Specifics of American Education
The US education has always been considered as the best one. However, the recent tendencies have changed and American education is not valued that much any more. It should be stated that according to the principle that the USA takes the first positions in the research and discovery rates, the US education seems the best one.
However, according to the statistics, 27% of doctorate holders in science and technology sphere in the USA in 1999 were foreign-born. In 2008 this rate has increased. US school with its K-12 system of education has been spoiled and more and more degrees are held by the international students whose level of knowledge is much higher (Guo 2).
One of the main problems which exists in the US system of education is that it needs many top qualified scientists in different spheres, but the educational system requires changes and, therefore, the country is unable to cover these needs. There is no demographic potential to meet the country’s needs, thus, the educational system appears in collapse, the demand on particular professions exists, but there are no people who would be able to meet the requirements.
The educational system is too complicated, the cost is too high and this creates a number of difficulties. The recent American changes in the system of education are connected with the signature of the law No Child Left Behind where the US government attempts to teach all American children (Guo 34)
Specific of Asian Education
Asian education, vise versa, becomes stronger and more demanding. Marginson states that most of Asian countries follow Confucian model of education which pursues the following principles, “strong nation-state shaping of structures, funding and priorities”, “a tendency to universal tertiary participation, partly financed by growing levels of household funding of tuition, sustained by a private duty, grounded in Confucian values, to invest in education”, “’one chance’ national examinations that mediate social competition and university hierarchy and focus family commitments to education”, “accelerated public investment in research and ‘world-class’ universities” (Marginson 587).
Asian system of education development is based on training teachers as only via this method the level of education may be improved, according to Asian vision of the problem (Ferrari).
Recent Tendencies in American and Asian Education in Comparison
One of the main differences between American and Asian education is the opportunity to choose. The USA is a democratic country and its students have an opportunity to choose subjects they want to learn. Asian education does not offer such an opportunity. Students are to study the subjects they are required to by the curriculum in Asia. In American educational system students are offered freedom in research.
Being asked questions, students have an opportunity to present their own answers and to search for arguments in outside sources. Asian education requires specific answers taken from particular sources. Another opinion is considered as a wrong one as there are questions and particular answers to them.
For example, students in Asia are given the particular facts about the history of the country with the specific vision of the events and their consequences. US students are given an opportunity to search for the material themselves and to draw personal conclusions about the read information. This is the main difference between US and Asian systems of education based on cultural varieties.
Being a democratic country, US system of education encourages students to choose subjects and to search for specific answers for questions which fit them exactly. When American students are given a task, they are said that there is no correct answer and it is necessary to conduct personal research, while Asian students have to read the required information and to search for exact answers a teacher waits for.
For example, one Chinese mother who received education in accordance with the Chinese scheme reacted on the American task to her 9-year-old child to write about the past and the future of China as follows, “I was stunned upon seeing his work. He separated the materials he gathered into sections and chapters, and attached a bibliography in the end. This was the writing style I learnt during grad school, and at that time, I was 30 years old” (Wang).
There are several points when Asian system of education is more advantageous in comparison with the American one. First, Asian teachers are more respected and valued than American ones. Second, Asian students are imposed with harder ethical rules than American ones.
Third, American students separate high achieving students from low achieving ones, however, there is no such distribution in Asian schools. US education is more specific that helps become more qualified in the field, while students from Asian colleges have wider scope of knowledge and may be specialized in different fields. However, this is not an advantage for Asian students whose quality of knowledge of the main subject is lower.
Speaking about the disadvantages of Asian education, there are some norms which are too high for some students to reach, therefore, they have to drop education. The disadvantages of American system of education lie in time students spend in classes, it is too little in comparison with Asian norms. Thus, American students have to study individually more (Haynes and Chalker 21)
Conclusion
In conclusion, it should be stated that American and Asian systems of education are too different. Having absolutely different structures, forms and way of information delivery, professionals of both these systems of education are valued all over the world. Of course, different students get various level of knowledge, however, those who want to study will do it appropriately.
Having different cultural perspectives, American and Asian systems of education differ in the way information is presented. A democratic West is opposed to dependant East which has recently stood on the way to democratization of the society, therefore, most of the norms remained communistic. Having compared and contrasted two systems of education, it is impossible to say for sure which system is better, it depends on personal needs and study abilities.
Works Cited
Ferrari, Justine. “Lessons from Asia Show Way Forward for Schools.” The Australian. Australian. 17 Feb. 2012. Web.
Guo, Yugui. Asia’s Educational Edge: Current Achievements in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, and India. London: Lexington Books, 2005. Print.
Haynes, Richard M. and Donald M. Chalker. “World Class Schools.” The American School Board Journal 184.5 (1997): 20-26. Print.
Marginson, Simon. “Higher Education in East Asia and Singapore: Rise of the Confucian Model.” Higher Education 61.5 (2011): 587-611. Print.
Wang, Angela. “The Difference between Chinese and American Education.” TheEpochTimes. TheEpochTimes Mag., 10 Jul. 2012. Web.