Ontario Curriculum versus Chinese

Curriculum: The Sum of all Parts

I just stepped in from my balcony after watching an extended display of fireworks with the mountains as silhouettes in the background.  Fireworks are set off at all hours to drive out spirits from new buildings.  I think even renovations qualify.

I’ll stick to educational themes.  I have observed by this point all of my staff in their classrooms.  I am very proud to say that I think the Ontario curriculum more than holds its own when compared to the Chinese. The Chinese depend on rote learning, have large classrooms and are glued to standardized testing and curriculum solidarity.

 In fact, contrary to stereotypes on the topic I place the Ontario curriculum in math and science over the Chinese.  I think we may have the edge not only for content but because  of our teaching style.  Chinese students begin some mathematical and scientific concepts at a much earlier age and by so doing may give Westerners a sense of precociousness.  I sat in on a grade 12 U level course in Physics on the topic of acceleration.  I was taken by the presentation and found myself asking questions.  I had to hold myself back.  But there were other topics, like quantum mechanics in which the students had no background from their Chinese curriculum.  When this happens they get into a swarming panic, hiring tutors and “go to mattresses” until they have mastered the topic. If nothing else they take studies serious, something sometimes lacking in Ontario.

They are hard working, but as I watch them I see that they are very narrow in their focus.  They do not do extra curricular.  The curriculum is all there is.  The curriculum is life.  Now we may wish for students like that in a perfect world and admittedly it is wonderful, but outside the curriculum the Chinese students are largely ignorant.  They don’t play games, our school of 2700 has no teams, there are no clubs, they are not allowed to date.  “Love is not allowed” is actually a school rule here. I think something got lost in translation.  

While I admire their many accomplishments in the academic arena I also feel sorry for my students.  They know nothing of current events and the larger world.  In this issue now in the news with Japan (I must write in vague terms here) students are taught to hate.  They are xenophobic, lack any sense of tolerance and do not know the facts because that is how their world is orchestrated. Our students hope to come to Canada, specifically Southern Ontario and they all want to get into U of T.  Toronto is what the most multicultural city in the world?  These students are in for a shock because they do not understand multiculturalism and the tolerance that goes with it.  

I am proud to say that in so many ways Canada has done it right.  The Ontario curriculum is right on the mark.  Our system has, for the most part, created a generation of more tolerant and more holistic students.  And don’t be fooled there is an abundance of special education students in China too.  In fact by numbers I would wager they have more spec ed students than we have students in total.  The thing is not one of them is recognized and none of them are assessed as there is no special education in Jinhua and likely China as it brings shame to the family.  China has a long way to go.

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