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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote]In fact here is something you should think about - many people feel that the Asian kids must be hating all the enrichment, Kumon, tutoring that they get, because their own average kids hate to study. Maybe - since the Asians are significantly smarter than average, they like the mental stimulation that academics offer. Wow! That is a radical concept! Who would think that there are kids who like to be "straight A" kids and like to study. [/quote]

+100 I grew up in a very cheerleader/football type town. I had to pretend that I didn't get As. I could never admit that I liked school and studying more than cartwheels and playing dumb to be popular. I went away to a private school in another state. It was amazing. Everyone cared about academics, worked very hard, was competitive about academics in a positive way, and no one had to hide it. I was so much happier in that environment than the original one. I'm not Asian but I relate to what you wrote.

[b]Sometimes I wonder if the moms so intent on dissing the Asians and kids that enjoy academics are those cheerleader types that I had to pretend to be someone else for when I was a young kid or risk being bullied and excluded[/b]. [/quote]

I think a lot of this area is already pretty academically oriented even without the kumons of the world.  A lot of parents here do have high academic expectations of their kids without being pushy.  I suppose different people have different definitions of what "pushing the kid academically" means.

I think that is what some of the parents here are lamenting...that some kids are probably being pushed into it.  Are there some kids that enjoy the extra tutoring?  Maybe.  But I'm sure there are those that do not.  And focusing on social interactions is also very important to one's success in life.  If a child's *only" focus is on academic and not social interaction, that child is missing a key part of development.  And social interaction is more than a 30min playdate once a week or a 30min recess at school (and in the winter, there is no social interaction at recess as a lot of kids just watch a movie).  It's also the spontaneous interactions that occur when playing outside with your friends or at the park.

I'm Asian, never was a cheerleader, loved getting good grades as a kid, value education, but still don't think having extra tutors for young ES kids is necessary to attain success in life, or get into HGC as my DC got in without one.  My DC loves to learn, but if I made DC go to after school or weekend tutoring to learn more advanced math or whatever, DC would probably hate it.  Instead, DC initiates own extra learning on DCs own by reading, etc... at home without being pushed.   At the HGC orientation, the speaker said this is one of the hallmarks of a truly gifted child -- the innate desire to learn.  Being pushed into tutoring doesn't reflect that.[/quote]

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