The Guardian gets it, at last
Friday, October 29, 2010
Hideously diverse Britain: School success – the Chinese way | UK news | The Guardian.
Whenever anyone told us that certain ethnic groups do badly in school because of discrimination, my wife and I asked (based on her experiences teaching in state schools) "...if teachers are conventionally racist, why do Chinese pupils do so well and white working class children do so badly?"
Now, even the Guardian seems to get the point.
Cutting through all the condescension in the linked article, the answer is simple; the parents. What is more it's hard to argue (unless you are unconventionally racist) that there is anything Chinese parents do that other parents couldn't do just as well.
Not only is the racism industry a self-serving scam that harms the people it purports to protect, but - joy of joys - the idea that social deprivation determines life chances is stupid and dangerous too. What a life-enhancing, liberating insight! There's no need for any parent to blame others for their childrens lack of achievement. They can just show up to their parents' evenings, encourage them to do their homework and generally make it clear to them that education matters.
Who knew? Well, obviously the Chinese - and every other parent uncorrupted by British orthodoxy.
To put it another way, the envy-laden, excuse-generating ideology of the Labour movement and its house rag is - and always has been - destructive nonsense. So when can we expect a change of editorial line and a thoroughgoing purge of left-wing educationalists who have trashed the life-chances of millions? Perhaps not just yet.
Confidentially.... I heard bears do their business in the woods.
Jill, No way.
Posted by: Moggsy | Friday, October 29, 2010 at 12:55 PM
I understand there are also significant differences between "black boys" (the usual problem) ; i.e. Ghanaian origin do much better than Caribbean origin. Most teachers probably can't tell the difference between the two.
Posted by: Paul | Friday, October 29, 2010 at 10:43 AM
Genetic IQ base?
Posted by: Jill | Friday, October 29, 2010 at 08:56 AM
Well the parents aren't going to like that. No one to blame but themselves?
I think that may be to big a change for their beleif system to handle.
Posted by: Bucko | Friday, October 29, 2010 at 08:41 AM
Who'd a thunk it, parents have a massive influence on their children's education and future. They'll be telling us the Pope's a Catholic next.
Seriously though, having worked in Asian countries countries and seen the value that they all, not just the poor, put on education I'm not in the least surprised.
Posted by: SimonF | Friday, October 29, 2010 at 07:52 AM
Bloody hell. I'm genuinely shocked.
Excellent commentary as always.
Posted by: anarchyland | Friday, October 29, 2010 at 02:18 AM