Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior by Amy Chua, Essay Example

In “Why Chinese Mothers are Superior”, Amy Chua explains that Chinese mothers are more strict with regards to studies than Western mothers and that their children are therefore more successful in terms of academics (Chua). She argues that many Western parents believe that it is necessary to allow their children to associate learning with fun or to occasionally undermine the value of education. The most striking example she provides of this phenomenon is that while Western mothers may require their children to practice an instrument for an hour a day, Chinese parents require their children to practice for three.

After attending 12 years of public education, it appears that motherly support is a necessary component of academic success. My mother always made sure that I did my homework before completing other activities, which allowed me to become diligent and caring with regards to my school work. I believe that my public education prepared me for college, but only because my mother supported me during the first few years of my education journey. This allowed me to develop skills that I would need to study on my own.

While the article argues that the strictness enacted by Chinese mothers is necessary to allow their children to achieve academic success, this is not completely true. If children are not able to learn how to excel in academics on their own, then this parenting style is not adequate. It is therefore necessary for parents to instill a love in learning in their children, but also demonstrate that learning could be fun if they wish their children to become successful and independent adults (Sean).

Personally, I believe that the methods that Chinese parents to use their children is beneficial because it provides them with structure. Growing up, I was not provided with this same structure and was required to build my own study skills and work ethic. I would have appreciated my parent’s involvement in my education, as this would have helped me develop these skills more quickly. However, I believe that a mixture of freedom and structure is somewhat necessary to allow each student to recognize the importance of learning on his or her own. As a future parent, I intend to implement this philosophy into ensuring that my children will be able to come to understand the value of learning on their own.

It is important to allow children to come to understand the value of learning on their own because this will help them build lifelong skills rather than simply reinforcing the concepts that school teachers require them to learn. The most important thing that schools can teach is instructing students in critical thinking skills that show them how to learn on their own. This is a necessary skill to develop for succeeding in college and in life because information is often not provided directly. It is up to the individual to determine what knowledge is important and to study and incorporate it accordingly. Ultimately, doing so allows an individual to develop more specialized skills which contributes to their ability to be successful in their family life and career.

Works Cited

Chua A. Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior. 8 Jan 2011. Web. 12 April 2015.

Sean. Is Learning, Fun? 2009. Web. 12 April 2015.