Last month, I joined a group of American legislators and educators for a tour of Chinese schools, the equivalent of our K-12 system. The trip was a real eye-opener.

We visited Beijing and the Yunnan Province in the People’s Republic of China as guests of the Hanban office of Chinese Language Council International, an organization seeking to promote Chinese Language programs in the U.S. and Korea.

From what I saw, we are in deep trouble here in America. Our K-12 education system is so far behind China’s, there is no way we can catch up in the near future, let alone the next 10 years, without a change in the political correctness that plagues our system.

China’s government runs its schools much like America did in the early 20th Century. Students are taught the importance of attending school and that excelling in school is the way to a prosperous future. Schools are not run by teachers unions, curricula are not dictated by special interests like the ACLU, and schools will not tolerate alcohol, drugs, weapons or disruption of any kind. Teachers are dedicated to the children, helping them learn and making sure they have a bright future. This takes talent, a warm heart and a firm hand.

Students in China far outpace Americans at every grade level. How do they do it? First, students are not coddled. Teachers set clear expectations and students rise to the level of those expectations. Attendance is not optional and misbehavior is not tolerated. Students have approximately three hours of daily homework - it is required to pass the testing process. They study hard because they know that good jobs and a promising future depend on it. If a student fails, he or she does not graduate, period. As a result, students compete for high grades and show exceptional scholarship. Student academic scores far surpass ours at every level…

Source: HeraldNet
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20070722/OPINION03/707220317