Why do Asian and Asian-American students consistently perform so well on standardized tests? Why are students of Asian descent disproportionately admitted to America's top colleges? This comparison of educational methods in America and China answers such questions, while assessing the strengths and weaknesses of each culture's distinctly different education systems. For Americans to achieve more consistent academic success at primary and secondary grade levels, Huang recommends a blend of the virtues inherent in both cultures. He says this is exactly what often gives Asian American students an edge. They have the advantage of an Asian heritage that drives them to succeed and an American culture that teaches them creativity and independent thinking. Drawing on his own experiences as an immigrant to this country in the 1980s, and as a parent to a son raised in the US, Huang suggests that Americans rediscover the immigrant attitudes of their ancestors several generations ago. Like Asian immigrants today, they too saw education as a ladder to success in American society. Students anywhere will thrive when their families reinforce the seriousness of education and help children develop the study and discipline habits that ensure academic success.
