What kind of education is better? Eastern education and western education?
Introduction
The primary difference between the two systems of education is found in the approach towards learning. This is where one of the education system uses teacher centered classroom approach while the other uses student centered classroom approach to learning. The education system in the east gives teachers the power over his/her students; students are expected to conduct themselves with high levels of discipline and listen attentively in class. On the other hand, students in the west actively participate in class, they are pushed to express their opinions; in this way they not only learn from their teacher but also from their peers.
Discussion
Over a long period of time, there has always been a strong debate about which is the best education system between the western and eastern. The biggest query concerning this discussion is this: why is it that students in United States of America spend a very short period of two to three hour in school every day, have very modest homework, do not attend classes during weekends and yet excel in education compared to students in China?. On the other hand when students in the Eastern schools attend higher institution of learning, there success is rated to approximately 100%. In the eastern education programs, students endure long classroom hour with a substantial number of assignments compared to those in western school (Lau S. et al 2004).
In order to evaluate the quality of the two education systems, it’s important to comprehend the strength and weaknesses of both. The western education system put emphasis on individuality and assortment in learning. It values inventiveness above conformity, and disdains rote memorization and drill learning. On the other hand, the education system emphasizes exercises and testing. Students of the same grade level are expected to learn the same materials and are constantly evaluated by a variety of diverse tests. Those who struggle must generally do more exercise to catch up. They are pushed by parents and teachers, who have high prospects for them. Such prospects and ordinary standards mean that most eastern learners are hardworking and flexible and see education as difficult quite than fun (Hudson, 2009).
There is quite a unique approach to learning when comparing western and eastern education. In the eastern education system, students study very hard since it’s believed that practical learning has been proven scientifically to be the best mode of studying. This illustrates the difference between studying had and studying smart. The western students are taught to balance their jobs and studies. Therefore, this means that they study smart.
There are number strengths in Eastern education that cannot be compared to Western education. For instance. In Eastern system of education, every actively takes up their role, this means that teacher provide knowledge while students receive it. Contrary to Westerners, teachers do not participate in classroom, they role is to guide and help students but do not fully teach. Consequently, students teacher tolerate interruption from students who ask questions any time unlike Eastern students who listen attentively in classroom without interruption.
Easter education is better in such a way that it demands from its students the knowledge that it has provide while the Western system is structured un such a way that it provides education and asks nothing in return. Conversely, Easter education is advantageous since it incorporated with rules that force students to respect their instructors thereby enhancing excellent discipline.
Western education moulds individuals who understand their future roles; Students get the opportunity to express their views regardless of the contradiction between the view of the society and the teachers as well. They only take classes that are congruent with their career unlike students in the eastern where students engage is classes that might not be helpful in the lifetime (Hayhoe & Pan ,1996).. Therefore, students in Western education have the advantage of staying focused on their career while having not to waste time on unnecessary classes. On the other side it may be and advantage for the eastern education system, where incorporating extra lesion, they end up molding diverse students with diverse intellect
The eastern education moulds individuals as well but far much rational ones. Even though they might not put in practice some of the knowledge attained, at least they will be better decision makers. They do not have knowledge limited to their field of study compared to students in the western education, but are more diversely informed due to the comprehensive education
In the East students are let to struggle during the learning process whereby they are given challenging task to struggle with. The Eastern culture, struggle is assumed as a predictable element of the learning procedure. Students are expected to struggle while the teacher evaluates the emotional capacity to of students to resolve problems through the struggle. According to Spiegel (2012), Granting that there is a lot of cultural diversity within East and West and it’s possible to point to counterexamples in each, Stigler still sums up the difference this way: For the most part in American culture, intellectual struggle in schoolchildren is seen as an indicator of weakness, while in Eastern cultures it is not only tolerated but is often used to measure emotional strength. It’s a small difference in approach that Stigler believes has some very big implications.
Conclusion
In the east, good education is perceived in terms of spending longs hour in class, adding extra hour to the class time and adding more days to the period of study. Schools take pride in adding number of classes in most occasions and making them longer. Contrary to the west education, teachers, parents and students can never withstand this. Teacher and parents wouldn’t think of sending their children to school on Saturday and Sunday at any given point. However this is very common in the east.
Given these observations, is it worthy to conclude that western education is better than eastern education and vice versa. Each approach to learning is faced with its own weaknesses and strengths which are vivid in both sides. Education stakeholders in the west tend to worry that their students might not be able excel above Eastern students who do well in many areas especially Mathematics and Science, Educator from the East have their worries as well.
Reference
Spiegel (2012) Struggle for the smarts? How eastern and western tackle learning retrieved from http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/11/12/164793058/struggle-for-smarts-how-eastern-and-western-cultures-tackle-learning
Lau S. et al (2004). Creativity: When East Meets West. World Scientific:Sydney.
Hudson, J.P.(2009). Pathways: Between Eastern and Western Education. IAP: Califonia
Hayhoe, H. & Pan, J.(1996). East-West dialogue in knowledge and higher education. M.E. Sharpe:New York
