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[quote]
Don't foget, the internet was launched in 1992. That's only 14 years ago. A blip on the radar of history--and an indicator of a continuance of American innovation.
<p>None of this has anything to do with Chinese education -- I just want to point out that it is a mistake to characterize this and other technologies as "American" innovations. </p>
<p>--
For what it's worth, one reason I started this thread is that I was intrigued by the article about the Chinese girl who decided to chuck it all and deliberately blow off the Gaokao, saying she was going to skip University and become a writer or artist instead. I am intrigued not so much by the fact that this happened, but that it attracted the attention of the Chinese media. It suggests that creative thought is not altogether dead in China -- there must be others like that girl who would rather follow their creative impulses, even if it means foregoing a University education.</p>
<p>I was teaching students about women's rights, Parliament, ages of consent, etc. BECAUSE I was an English teacher. I was there to expose my students to the English language, and the way I use the English language is based on the culture I grew up in. How am I meant to teach students English if I am not allowed to mention topics that are integral to Western culture? I wasn't paid to echo the viewpoints of their regular Chinese teachers.</p>
<p>And yes, I do indeed think that sex and religion should be discussed in schools. Why shouldn't they be? Schools should be there for educating free-thinking, critical individuals, not clones who are afraid of questioning the established norms. This is how societies grow and become more sophisticated.</p>
<p>"They warned you of not teaching those things because, what a surprise, they don't focus more on englihs than on history."</p>
<p>No, they warned me against teaching these things because they don't want their students exposed to those ideas. What do you think is the point of censorship if not the desire to shield individuals from alternate views? </p>
<p>"If you came into my classes in the US and talked about UK culture and politics, we'd all be interested as well becaseu we rarely ever study the stuff."</p>
<p>Isn't that a good sign? Like I said, I was there to provide English classes from my cultural perspective. Not to ape their other teachers. The students wanted to hear more from me, because they get didn't alternate viewpoints from anyone else.</p>