Competition and Compassion in Chinese Secondary Education (Palgrave Studies on Chinese Education in a Global Perspective)

"Competition and Compassion in Chinese Secondary Education examines the nature of academic competition in Chinese schools and demonstrates its debilitating effects on adolescents' psychosocial development. Zhao shows how global economic competition induces changes in national education policies, which in turn shapes how school-aged youth are encouraged by their parents and teachers to relate to others and society. Facing extreme pressures of global economic competition, how can education both in the East and West sustain the kind of humanistic learning that is critical for promoting public reasoning or discourse? The book proposes a research-based approach for balancing academic achievement with the promotion of social and civic engagement in China and elsewhere"-- "Competition and Compassion in Chinese Secondary Education examines the nature of academic competition in Chinese schools and documents its debilitating effects on Chinese adolescents' social, moral, and civic development. Using the careful interpretation of empirical data, Zhao shows how global economic competition induces changes in national education policies, which in turn shapes how school-aged youth relate to others and society"-- Read more... "Competition and Compassion in Chinese Secondary Education examines the nature of academic competition in Chinese schools and demonstrates its debilitating effects on adolescents' psychosocial development. Zhao shows how global economic competition induces changes in national education policies, which in turn shapes how school-aged youth are encouraged by their parents and teachers to relate to others and society. Facing extreme pressures of global economic competition, how can education both in the East and West sustain the kind of humanistic learning that is critical for promoting public reasoning or discourse? The book proposes a research-based approach for balancing academic achievement with the promotion of social and civic engagement in China and elsewhere"-- Provided by publisher Front Matter....Pages i-xx Introduction: The Stressed and Lonely Chinese Teens....Pages 1-13 Front Matter....Pages 15-15 Promoting Competition: A Dramatic Shift of Discourse....Pages 17-31 Reducing Competition: The Cat and Mouse Game....Pages 33-50 The Friendship Dilemma: Competition and Emotional Isolation....Pages 51-71 “What’s Your Friend’s Ranking Position?” Parental Peer-Related Beliefs and Practices....Pages 73-93 Front Matter....Pages 95-95 The Ratty Shoe Case: Friendship and Compassion....Pages 97-115 Adolescents’ Perspectives on China’s Social Problems....Pages 117-138 Can Education Be Both Competitive and Compassionate?....Pages 139-150 Back Matter....Pages 151-192 "Competition and Compassion in Chinese Secondary Education examines the nature of academic competition in Chinese schools and documents its debilitating effects on Chinese adolescents' social, moral, and civic development. Using the careful interpretation of empirical data, Zhao shows how global economic competition induces changes in national education policies, which in turn shapes how school-aged youth relate to others and society"-- Provided by publisher