<p>Hey</p>
<p>I read a small article about a documentary called 2 million minutes in US News today about how education in the US is decaying compared to India and China. What do you think? Here is a trailer:</p>
<p>You have to watch this. It's great!!!</p>
<p>My thoughts:
Sure, Indian and Chinese kids are smarter, but they only memorize facts and spute them out again. They cannot apply these to situations because they spend their time on remote memorization.</p>
<p>And about so many of the kids wanting to be engineers and etc. they do that because those are the jobs that get a lotta money. They study so much for money and good jobs. They're not all geniunely interested in those subjects.</p>
<p>In the US you can do whatever job you wanna do. That's what's so great about the US.</p>
<p>wow, this looks very interesting! :)</p>
<p>try going to a private school. </p>
<p>all of the "smart" kids are the type that you described except they're white</p>
<p>You guys have to watch this!! It's awsome. As far as my thoughts I still love the US b/c we're told from the very begining to be what we wanna be and to chase the American Dream. So who cares if those kids are smarted than us, we have or try to have careers that are fun to us, not what will give us the big bucks.</p>
<p>"
My thoughts:
Sure, Indian and Chinese kids are smarter, but they only memorize facts and spute them out again. They cannot apply these to situations because they spend their time on remote memorization."</p>
<p>That is true in most cases. But the youth population is so great that there are always deviants to this, and the number of deviants may just as well equal the number of innovative thinkers we have in the U.S. school system today.</p>
<p>At least for now, Chinese and Indian kids still want to come to America for college and jobs. I think this will change, but it's a silver lining.</p>
<p>The US is pretty low on the average intelligence ladder, but we still spew out the most inventions and innovations of any other country.</p>
<p>We can apply what limited knowledge we have :).</p>
<p>Sounds like a great film. </p>
<p>We really need a reform in order to catch up to these rapidly growing nations. Starting with me...</p>
<p>I do agree that we need reform.</p>
<p>Looks ridiculous...using scary sound effects to talk about school reform just comes off as horrendously cheesy. I don't see what's scary. "OH N03Z THE ASIANS AR3 C0M1NG!!1!" US students have been worse than other countries for a long time, and if it signals the end of an empire, so what? I fail to comprehend what's so bad about not being "on top". People in Denmark or Austria don't sit around crying because they don't have the most powerful empire, it just doesn't matter.</p>
<p>^My thoughts exactly.</p>
<p>Besides. We can always just blow them off the face of the earth. Problem solved.</p>
<p>ONLY KIDDING...don't flame me.</p>
<p>"My thoughts:
Sure, Indian and Chinese kids are smarter, but they only memorize facts and spute them out again. They cannot apply these to situations because they spend their time on remote memorization."</p>
<p>Wow. Way to completely generalize all students in the two most populous countries on the planet.</p>
<p>I love our education system. What the hell were they talking about, ********ing about about time management?</p>
<p>They were implying that the girl who went to school, then to practice violin, then to homework, then start again was using her time wisely. I couldn't disagree more. She's going to be a great engineer someday, but that's all she's ever going to be. An engineer.</p>
<p>I, on the other hand, am what that video would probably call a stereotypical American smart kid. I get great grades putting in the least effort possible, and I do it all having fun. I do maybe an hour of homework a week (even with 5 APs) and spend more time wakeboarding than studying and a hell of a lot more time drinking than playing the ****ing violin. And I think i'm a better person because of it.</p>
<p>America creates brilliance in so many different ways. I'm glad that our decentralized education system (no matter how flawed it is) can highlight that.</p>
<p>Wow.</p>
<p>classic3020 - you think you're better off than Indian / Chinese / Fill in the Blank kids because they spend their time on intellectual activities, such as the violin, instead of drinking like you? Maybe you are smart, but the fact that you "put in the least effort possible" contradicts that very statement. If you think you're better than other kids, who like to develop and use their potential in the best of ways, than I really feel sorry for you. I feel sorry for you because you, yourself, will never truly know what you are capable of and are content with "wakeboarding". Despite what I say, what you do is up to you, but don't you dare criticize hard working children, either from India or China, America or from the Artic, for their dedication to pursuing activities that will put them better off for the future and beyond. </p>
<p>You're proud of the decentralized education system? You're a great example of it. This is why soon enough you'll be telling your kids to behave the complete opposite - when reality hits and it becomes clear that high end jobs and good paying salaries become extremely competitive. When you apply for a six figure job and the chinese kid you made fun of gets it instead of you, maybe you'll reminisce and think the drinking and relaxation growing up was surely worth the chance at a bigger house and better lifestyle.</p>
<p>Either way, you can do whatever you want. Just don't **** me and other kids on CC off by ranting about successful and goal orientated children. They're are going to end up higher and better off than you. </p>
<p>It's because of people like you that this country's education system is in a hole and why future generations are in desperate need of help. Meanwhile, India and China are booming with brilliant minds and growing economies. Be happy with what you have now, because the luxuries you think you have now will mean nothing in the future. </p>
<p>sciencenerd -</p>
<p>"Sure, Indian and Chinese kids are smarter, but they only memorize facts and spute them out again. They cannot apply these to situations because they spend their time on remote memorization."</p>
<p>they can't apply them to situations? are you ignorant? do you think companies like dell and microsoft outsource because people abroad are incompetent?
yes, it's cheap labor, but if you do your research, you'll go on to see that students over there are much more qualified and produce better results. I don't even understand how people like you can criticize kids that work 10x harder and will now, especially now, go on to better lives than you. </p>
<p>"And about so many of the kids wanting to be engineers and etc. they do that because those are the jobs that get a lotta money. They study so much for money and good jobs. They're not all geniunely interested in those subjects.
In the US you can do whatever job you wanna do. That's what's so great about the US."</p>
<p>You really are ignorant, aren't you. You just generalized and accused the majority of students in india and china work hard to get careers that pay well, in a negative way. Are you retarded? It isn't very different in the states. Why do you think people strive so hard for ivies? Because they know an ivy education means better paying jobs for the future. Why do you think people strive for accelerated medical degrees? Because they know it saves them a year of tuition and means an extra year of a six figure salary. Why do people want to go to Wharton? Why do people want to get onto Wall St.? No matter what country you live in, people strive to make the most money and work hard to end up in a good career. Don't try to insult kids abroad because they do the same thing people do here, just in a tougher, stricter way. They follow their interests in whatever way they choose to, and no one gives a crap about your analysis on the way they choose to pursue them. </p>
<p>my 2 cents.</p>
<p>Ambition,</p>
<p>you have to keep an open mind and realize everyone has different goals and ideas of what success or true brilliance is. There is no strict definition. Not everyone wants to be the ultimate science geek. Some want a balanced social and academic life, some want to live solely one or the other, and neither is better than the other. </p>
<p>Education is not the epitomy of success in my definition. Spending 12 hours each day studying isn't my definition of success either. </p>
<p>I know why you put these Asian kids on a pedestal; because spending nearly every waking hour studying so you can go on to work for the rest of your life for good pay is your definition of success. But just realize that not everyone thinks that way, and your definition isn't everyone else's definition.</p>
<p>^^ best post I've ever seen on this site.</p>
<p>Also, keep in mind that some of our most successful entrepreneurs/innovators/whatever were not strong students.</p>
<p>I never said it was the definition of success. Actually, I completely agree with you. Everyone has different meanings of success, but despite our personal definitions, the other posters have no right to bash on life styles of others - especially when what they do leads to better careers and better lifestyles. I'm not trying to define the meaning of success or to mold in how education should be, I'm merely praising the kids that CAN do what they do, and I'm trying to defend it. </p>
<p>While I think its great to balance academia with a social life, no one has the right to accuse the kids that can go on academia alone - especially if you don't have the capacity to do what they do. </p>
<p>Everyone is different and thats what makes a society unique, but if anyone insults children for being intelligent and for pursuing all that they can, there arises a problem.</p>
<p>talk about ambition</p>
<p>I was just saying not many of the people there are really interested in those subjects. I doubt that a whole country of people is completely interested in IT or engineering. Here it's good that people pursue their own interests.</p>
<p>The main motivation in India is money, a good job and a good salary. However, here's it's what you like. If you like dance you do dance. If you like physics you do physics. It all depends on what you think is better, knowledge or money. I've been taught that it's better to do something because you like it and not because it's good for college. It applies to this situation.</p>
<p>Btw. I'm Indian.</p>
<p>"yes, it's cheap labor, but if you do your research, you'll go on to see that students over there are much more qualified and produce better results. I don't even understand how people like you can criticize kids that work 10x harder and will now, especially now, go on to better lives than you. "</p>
<p>They're better because they've put so much time into it for a good job. That's why. </p>
<p>I'm not criticizing them. I'm just saying their motivations are different and now always for the better. And don't assume I'm lazy. Do you know how hard I work in school??? Do you know what I've done for the past 4 years for school??? Do you know what sacrifices I have had to make for school?</p>
<p>NOOOO</p>
<p>So don't assume I'm some retard who doesn't know what he's talking about.</p>