Immigrating Overseas focuses on Immigrant Life: “To hope for a child to become a great talent, one must nurture them with virtue.” The expectation for children to succeed has been deeply rooted in Chinese culture since ancient times. Today, this mindset remains firmly embedded in the hearts of the Chinese people. Such parents can also be seen everywhere overseas.
Competing with Heavy Investments in Education
Recently, according to a report by the Chinese Times in the United States, some Chinese parents in Los Angeles are willing to spend heavily to enroll their children in various extracurricular classes and specialty programs, with some children learning as many as seven or eight skills.
Ms. Yang, a parent, has invested in a complete set of equipment for her son to learn photography and videography, including a high-performance computer, a professional DSLR camera, a wireless flash, and a curved platform specifically for advertising shoots. To help her child gain creative inspiration, she also takes him on trips across China during holidays to photograph famous mountains and rivers, as well as pavilions and towers. To cultivate her child into a professional talent, she has already spent tens of thousands of dollars on various specialty classes.
Similarly, in Sydney, Australia, when Chinese parents gather, the only topic that seems to come up regarding their children is tutoring classes, elite programs, and elite schools. According to local media, the number of tutoring classes in Sydney has increased by 300% over the past ten years, with a significant contribution from the Chinese community.
The Reasons Behind This Phenomenon Are Mixed
On the surface, the heavy financial and psychological investment in children's education by Chinese parents is influenced by traditional Chinese values. However, overseas Chinese parents also face their own challenges.
Chinese immigrants who have traveled across the ocean to a foreign land and have worked hard to obtain a "foreign household registration" do not necessarily feel fully accepted by the local society. In search of security, Chinese parents naturally have high expectations for their children.
The mentality of comparison also fuels the trend of heavy investment in children's education among Chinese families. The culture of comparison, face-saving, and the belief that a father’s status is elevated by his child’s success remains strong among the Chinese community overseas. This culture of comparison leads to a "arms race" in parental expectations for their children.
Children's Nature Should Not Be Compromised
The educational approach of Chinese parents, which can be seen as overly forceful, has attracted external attention.
Dianna Kenny, an honorary professor at the University of Sydney, believes that students spending a significant amount of time and energy on tutoring during their spare time will affect their overall physical and mental development. The high expectations and pressure from Chinese parents can harm their children's self-esteem and freedom.
A Swedish individual commented, "Although they are in Sweden, they will never be Swedish, and neither will their children." He added, "In our country, you would never see a 10-year-old studying or hiring a tutor on weekends. People generally believe that if children live under too much pressure, their joy and inspiration during childhood will be completely lost."
He acknowledged that many Chinese individuals are indeed very talented, but he does not agree with the approach of using money and pressure to "cultivate" children, stating, "Like many Chinese, they may be very talented, but they will not be happy."
