1、 A Comparative Study on Family Education in America and ChinaAbstract: In a lifetime , family is the first school , in which parents are the first teachers for the children . Children are the hopes of a nation , and family education is the elementary education for children . There are many types of
2、family education in the world and each of them shows distinctive features and is closely responsive to its culture . And American family education is the most famous one among them . There are great differences in the concepts of education , aim of education , methods of education and contents of ed
3、ucation between American family education and Chinese family education . This thesis will complete the comparative study from the differences , the reasons and the results of family education between America and China . The author hopes to find a satisfied family education method through comparing t
4、he differences between American family education and Chinese family education . At the same time , the author hopes this thesis can provide some helpful suggestions for family education in order to make children grow more healthily and roundly . Keywords: family education childeren differences educa
5、tion for all-around development Main Body:.The differences of family education between America and China:1. The concepts of family education are different .The different education concepts between America and China lead children to receive differert education . In China , many parents only care abou
6、t whether the children have a promising future , a good job , a good life or not . Based on these expectations , the majority of parents feel that their responsibility for their children is to create as good conditions as possible they can so that the children will not worry about anything in the fu
7、ture . Chinese parents would like to provide everything what they can for their children in the process of childrens growth . In short , they would like to sacrifice anything if their children can live better with their help . Therefore, in the process of childrens growth, the most important thing t
8、he parents concerning is to develop their childrens intellect , except for caring childrens daily life . In order to make their children have a good performance in study , become outstanding , or even become a famous person in the future , they would not let children do anything except studying . Co
9、ntrastively , American parents generally believe that the growth of childeren must rely on their own strength and experiences. Based on this concept , most American parents emphasize more to train their childrens ability of independence once they are born because they think that children should form
10、 a self-supporting will and the capacity to live independently since their childhood . And the capacity comes from the training in the early age . In the film Gua Sha Treatment , there is a scene that Datong orderded his son to apologize to his bosss son when his saw his son was fighting with his bo
11、sss son . Whats more , he slapped his son in the face when his son refused to apologize , which gave his boss aquite a shock . His boss became confused why the father would show the regret by striking his son . This scene and the bosss confusion reflect the different concepts between the two countri
12、es . Traditonal Chinese family education emphasize kindheartedness and bedience , so we can say that Chinese parents like Datong in the film always want to model their children . On the contrary , America children have more rights of autonomy because their parents emphasis on justice and freedom in
13、the process of family education . 2. The aim of family education are different .The aim of family education is to foster the childeren to grow in some direction by family education . It is the restrictive factor for the direction of family education , deciding the general effect of it . So the aim o
14、f family education is the core of family education and the fundamental reason for the differences between the two countries on family education . There is an essential difference between two countrys aim of family education , with to expect the child to become an outstanding personage and to hope th
15、e child to be an comprehensive and independent person giving expressions to the difference . To most Chinese parents , the aim is expecting their child to be a “ dragon ” , which is “ wang zi cheng long ” in Chinese . But American parents take hoping the child to be a man of ability which is “ wang
16、zi cheng ren ” in Chinese as their aim . For Chinese parents, their aim is to do anyting to support their children to get high marks . What forms apparent contrast to it is , America parents give their children more training about improving abilities . They try to train their children to have the ab
17、ility of adapting to environmental variety and the ability of living independently . 3. The methods are different between America and China .The differences of concepts and aim cause the childen to be taught by different ways and methods . In Chinese family , affected by Chinese traditional culture
18、, parents educate children by “ control ” and “ seal ” type . There are three tips for it :(1) Chinese parents prepare all things for their children in daily life . In Chinese family , children dont have to do any housework . (2) Chinese parents protect the children to excess in social activities .
19、Many children are prevented from exposure to the outer world because their parents worry about childrens being affected by bad things . (3) Chinese parents have a rather strict attitude toward childrens study . Parents regard the grades as the only standard for future success . “ Tasks Sea ” strateg
20、y is often used in study . Chinese children are tired of doing many extra exercises . So Chinese children spend more time in studying than doing other things . What about America children ? Lets talk about the famous film The Pacifier . In the film , it may be unconcious , but Shane Wolfe had let th
21、e kids master many skills by training them during the time when he cared them . So American parents bring up their children by the method of “ letting go ” but “ not indulging ” to exercise childrens abilities of independent living .4. The different contents of family education between America and C
22、hina . The differences of family education between the two countries are also reflected in the contents of family education . Although the contents of Chinese family education can also devided into moral education , intellectual education , physical education and artistic education , but intellectua
23、l education has been the most important one since they go to school . However , the contents of American family education is abundant , which pay more attention to the harmonious development of language , emotion , knowledge and so on . It is so-called “ education for all-around development ” .The r
24、easons for the differences mentioned above:1. Different historical background China with a long histroy has a sort of cohesive and conservative sense of worth , which is lack of spirit of adventure and innovative consciousness . There is a shortage of environment in which people can accept new ideas
25、 . By contraries , America is a nation of immigrants with a short history , there remains so little traditional culture . With the influence of multi culture and sense of worth , it is easy to accept new thoughts and culture . So America children are better at taking risks and innovating . 2. Differ
26、ent economic formChina has a long histroy with a large population .Therefore , there are so few opportunities to find a job even a good job which can decide ones life happiness . And getting high marks has become a necessary condition to have a good job and future . The condition of econemy in Ameri
27、ca is better than that in China , so there are more employment opportunities in America . American parents think profession is not distinguished whether it is noble or nidering as long as they can survive in society . 3.Different social conditionsSo far , social security system and old-age care have
28、 not been perfect in China . Many Chinese parents take their children as their private possession in order to receive the childrens return , which is reflected in the methods of education . For this reason , their childrens high scores have become their origin of pride . But in America , there is a
29、prosper development of econemy and sane social security system , so American parents dont count on their childrens support . They see educating child to be an independent , conscientious and kindhearted person as their duties .4.Different traditional culture In China , people advocate collectivism w
30、hich emphasize the collective interests more important than personal interests . Therefore , Chinese parents usually replace childrens interests by their own wills and thoughts . They design childrens future standing in the adult angle . Whats more , in Chinese family , parents can raise their child
31、ren in the lifetime . However , stressing personality , upholding individual development and caring about personal benefit are all the cores of American culture . Rationalistic American parents insist that children after 18 years old should be independent and not rely on their parents . .The results
32、 of two different kinds of family education :The results of family education in the two countries also display obvious differences because of the differences of education concepts , aim , methods and contents . These are mainly reflected in five aspects . 1. Ability of adapting to the societyMost Am
33、eican children can adapt to the society more smoothly than many Chinese children . They can face and overcome setbacks more easily . 2. Ability of living independentlyCompared with independent American children , Chinese children have particularly much requirements and strong dependence ,and they al
34、ways want to get others care . 3. Interpersonal relationshipsAs a result of parents overprotection , Chinese children have few ablities of personal interaction . American children are opposite at this point . 4. Responsibility of supporting the oldGenerally speaking , Many American children lack the
35、 sense of responsibility to support their parents in comparison with Chinese children . 5. The relationship among family membersAs a whole , the relationship among Chinese family members is more harmony than that among American family . The relationship of Chinese family is very close , but in Ameri
36、ca ,family members look like separate individuals . Discussions and Suggestions :In this thesis , it is only a generic comparative study on family education in America and China . Of course , there is also distinctiveness on it . In addition , compared with Chinese family education , American family
37、 education also has its obvious shortage . So the aim of this thesis is not totally to repudiate Chinese family education or wholly to accept American family education . In the end ,by the comparative study on family education in America and China , the writer wants to cause reform ideas of Chinese
38、family education in order to improve Chinese education level .According to our countrys special circumstances, the number of one-child family is becoming larger , so family education must be improved in the project of educational reform and development and family education must be combined with scho
39、ol education and social education. Therefore, it is necessary to change traditional family education ideas . (1) Chinese parents should educate their children in social environment , in other words , they should not only teach their children the knowledge of survival , but also the responsibilities
40、for the society . (2) Chinese parents must cultivate their childrens consciousness of independence , self-support , cooperation and the spirit of caring for others .(3) In China , education for all-around development should be vigorously advocated and implemented effectively .(4) Much can be learned
41、 from each other on the ways of family education for America and China . In a word , family education is very important . With the development of society , all aspects of family education needs to be improved . Epilogue: This is the first time for me to write thesis in English , and I havent had eno
42、ugh knowledge and experience , so there must be some shortcomings . I will appreciate it that my teacher can be kind enoug to point the mistakes and help me to correct them . In the meantime , I will study hard to know more about family education in America and China and make greater progress in the
43、 future . References : 1.浅谈中美家庭教育的差异 高维亮 王丽艳 （科学时代 2006.11）2.学前儿童家庭教育(修订版) 李生兰 华东师范大学出版社3.美国家庭教育的启示 李盈 （教育实践与研究2005.04）4. Gua Sha Treatment 郑晓龙 导演5. 不同文化传统下中美家庭教育中的评价比较 唐梅 （世界教育信息2007.4）(加标注12)6.论中美家庭教育的差异 曾芝兰 （太原师范学院学报(社会科学版)2006.1）7. 校选修课 授课教师：8. 中美家庭教育的对比与分析 （联合早报网）9.The Pacifier Adam Shankman 10.中美家庭教育比较分析及对策研究 李子银 （当代教育论坛2007.06）（加标注13）11.Sina blog “tingting and her mother ” 12American Family Education ailin 中央编译出版社13.East look , West see zhaihua 中图书店出版社14. 中美家庭教育的六点比较 王乐 （家教指南2008年第五期）15.北大批判中国高等教育有病 薛涌 江苏文艺出版社16.造就小主人：教导孩子在做家务中养成勤劳、负责的美德 帕特丽夏H斯普林科 知识产权出版社7
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