| Should we have "key schools"? | |
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| Mar 6, 2009 02:20 |   |
 | A principal of a college in China say in an interview that China should gradually cancel the "key primary and middle schools" to realize the equality in education. Do you think this is a good idea? Undoubtedly, the key schools have better educational resources than the ordinary schools. Excellent teachers and hardware facilities are owned by these key schools. Therefore, almost all parents do their best to send their kids into key schools. They believe that their children will receive better education there. It is true. Rate of admission into higher schools or colleges in key primary and middle schools is higher than that in ordinary schools. However, there is a problem. The key schools' accommdation capacity is limited. Therefore, the parents compete to send their kids into the key schools. They find "contacts" or bribe the principals to let their kids enter the key schools. What about those parents who are not rich or don't have contacts? They have no other way except letting their children in ordinary school. Then the unfairness in education appears. "To tackle this problem, cancelling the key schools is a good method." I agree with that principal. BTW, I am wondering if there are "key schools" in other countries. Anyone would like to share some info? |
| Mar 6, 2009 04:16 | #1 |
| I believe it is impossible to have a “one size fits all” education system that can accommodate all and still produce or allow excellence to blossom. The lowest common denominator always ends up using the higher percentage of resources available. Australia does have Selective schools (key schools) which always head the list as far as exam results are concerned. Prospective student site an entrance exam which has in turn lead to collages being set up to coach these students on how to pass them. I have heard that the going rate to enter a Key school in China is 100,000 RMB. Eliminating the culture of bribery is the challenge, not the pursuit of an equality of outcome at the expense of high achievers. Dodge |
| Mar 6, 2009 20:54 | #2 |
| Key schools? I’m guessing this is what we in other countries call as exclusive schools. Or in USA, we call Ivy League schools. Very expensive schools with rigorous selection process. You have to be an elite, a great athlete pirated from another school or a poor kid on scholarship. You have to be rich and intelligent at the same time. But if you are intelligent and poor, fear not, there are college grants.  |
| Mar 6, 2009 21:02 | #3 |
| By the way, I don’t know what ‘equality’ here means. In America, educational system is going downhill because of this so called ‘equality’. Many parents cannot accept that their kids (who carry their 'awesome' genes) are not really that bright. If their kids get an F, they complain or worse try to sue the teachers and the school. WTH??? Why can’t people accept the fact that there are kids who spend their nights studying hard unlike their kids who spent their nights partying therefore couldn’t answer the tests, yet they expect that they should get an equal grade? Grrr...  |
| Mar 6, 2009 21:02 | #4 |
| Wooo... sorry, double post. |
Last edited by SHESGOTTOBE: Mar 6, 2009 21:02 |
| Mar 7, 2009 00:49 | #5 |
| She, a Key school in China is a Selective school, not an exclusive school. There are no fees that I know of, but I could be wrong on that. You need to be very bright to pass the entrance examination. If you fail and you have rich parents then there are ways in through the back door. There are exclusive private schools in China. These are filled with the children of the super rich and CCP. Therefore, they are no quite the same as the Ivy League system that exists in the US where talent can still rise to the top as BY’s President has demonstrated. (The one that we mere mortals are not supposed to have an opinion on) Dodger. |
| Mar 8, 2009 10:18 | #6 |
| In Finland we have equality, the only criterion to university is what you can and know. Money or parents are not involved. Being a top athletic does not help. Yes, we have high schools for athletics, for musicians, for artists... but usually there are higher educational criterions than to a "normal" high school. Finns are among the top educated people in the world, so I would say it is not necessary to have selective schools. Here must say that there are only about 5 million Finns, so compared to US or even to China, perhaps it is different because of that. Carlos |
| Mar 8, 2009 20:37 | #7 |
| Demands are much higher than supplies in high education in China, the 'key school' promises much higher probability of assisting students touch the threashhold of entrance to colleges. Situations have changed now i think as educations are sort of biz - profit orentated. And in order to keep reasonable unemployment rate and social stability, colleges and uni. are trying to retain students for further study. Here in Canada, if you want to learn, high edu is always opening the door to you. I always tell my son that you are lucky living in place that is called the heaven of children and senior persons. Usually here 'key high school' do not refer to good facilities or better educator but depends on where the students are from (for immigrant nation particularly ) and if the neighborhood is nice. Usually, Chinese ethnic dominant high schools have high acadeic achievments but they usually lack leadership skills or association skills compared to other races or ethnic groups. Usually, Chinese children like to choose medical doctor, professional accountant, dentists, pharmacist, and other technological areas as their careers. |
Last edited by MARRIE: Mar 8, 2009 20:39 |
| Mar 8, 2009 22:51 | #8 |
| Quote:Originally Posted by DODGER I have heard that the going rate to enter a Key school in China is 100,000 RMB.Jesus Christ. If I had 100000 RMB, I will use it to do something else. Chinese parents spend a lot of money to send their children to the key schools hoping that they can enter the college smoothly. But, do they think about this question seriously? Many college students can find a job after graduation. I won't force my kid to enter a key school in the future. I will listen to his opinion. Learning knowledge is a happy thing. However, most kids in China learn painfully. They have too much homework to do after class. At weekends, they need to have extra classes that are arranged by their parents. No parents would like to see their kids fall behind others. |
| Mar 9, 2009 13:07 | #9 |
| What are the criteria to be a key school? If one of its criteria that the school produces better grades, perhaps it is due to dedication of the teachers. Instead of abolishing key schools, why not produce more? When I was young (in primary school), we were requested to sit for an examination to enter seconday boarding schools. Each primary school will send 5 of its top students for the assessment test. The entrance requirement is not because one is rich or knows someone in the education department but rather due to academic excellence. Wan |
| Mar 10, 2009 03:40 | #10 |
| Of course the students in key schools earn higher scores. They have more advanced hardware facilities and good teachers. However, those ordinary schools are not so lucky. I finished my middle school life in a very ordinary school near my home. You couldn't believe that it was the worst middle school in our district. However, I didn't lose hope and finally went to study in a college. Here in China, you have two ways to enter the key schools: 1. If you are a student who has achieved high academic excellence, you can enter the key school easily because you can pass the exams held by the key schools easily. 2. If your parents are very rich or have some "contacts" in the government, you can enter the key school easily too. Sometimes, a note from a powerful offcial is more useful than money. |
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