A Comparative Study on Family Education in America and China

Abstract： Family education is an important complement to school education. This paper focuses on the differences and similarities of family education in America and China to accelerate their learning from each other and improvement.

Key words： family education； America； China； differences； similarities

1. Introduction

Family education refers to the social activities conducted by parents， in order to educate and influence their children. Family education is lined with the training goal required by a certain society and class， and it is conducted by parents at home， through some personal examples and life practices.

2. Differences in family education in America and China

2.1 The purpose of family education in America and China is different.

The American family education puts emphasis on the quality. However， the Chinese family education puts emphasis on the examination. In America， parents encourage children growing freely， and they pay much attention to children’s development of non-intelligent part. They also encourage children express their feeling and thought so that it can nurture children’s imaginative and creative ability. The American parents provide the children an environment for growth resistant to them， and foster their tenacious individuality and the good conduct， and they choose their idea and way of cultivation according to the change of society and the characteristic of children physical and mental.

Compared with that of America， Chinese family education is still coping with the “exam education” with schools. During the process of children’s growth， Chinese parents take the academic achievement seriously， even as the most important part. The examples of this point scatter everywhere. For example， in America， parents let the children sleep alone， while in China， children usually sleep with their grandparents or parents. This example shows that independence is trained by American parents. Another example is that American parents respect the children’s own will， develop the children’s imagination and develop the children’s ability of independence. However， in China， it seems that the college entrance examination determines everything and study is the center of everything. Parents arrange all for the children. So， the purpose of family education is totally different in America and China.

2.2 The family structure leads to different ways of family education in America and China.

In America， children usually live with their parents， and parents teach their own children themselves， no matter how busy they are at work. While in China， parents are always devoted to their work， and they have their children taught by their grandparents， which leads to different ways of family education in the two countries. In America， parents are clear to their responsibility and obligation. If their children are under 18 years old， they should be responsible for all the things. But if their children are older than 18 years old， the children should be responsible for themselves. In addition， American parents are fair in meting out rewards or punishments. If their children behave well， they will praise them. And if they make mistakes， punishment is necessary.

Most of the Chinese have a traditional family， that is to say， two or three generations live together. On the contrary， Chinese parents do badly in terms of punishment， especially the grandparents. Most of the children who live with their grandparents are spoiled badly. These kinds of Chinese children are always impolite and indocile. So， in terms of traditions， America and China have different family structures， which lead to different ways of family education.

3. Similarities in family education in America and China

Firstly， with the development of both societies， quality education is important both in America and China， which is emphasized by family education of parents. Secondly， family education plays an important role in both America and China. Thirdly， father and mother have different roles in family education， which is true of both America and China. Fourthly， parents both in America and China cultivate their children to read more books and desire to knowledge. Lastly， American and Chinese parents are models for their children. They should behave themselves well first， and then let their children learn from them. These are the similarities of family education in America and China.

4. Conclusion

For American family education， it gives the children more space to do something according to their own interests and cultivate their abilities better. While for Chinese family education， it has a very strict situation， and the requests are very clear， which contributes to restrict the laziness of children. Those are what the parents from the two countries should learn from each other to make improvements to their own family education.

Conferences：

[1] 史静寰，当代美国教育[M]，北京：社会科学文献出版社，2004

[2] 李泽同，透视美国[M]，北京：对外经贸大学出版社，2003

作者简介：徐岩（1978.8- ），女，沈阳医学院外语教学部讲师，辽宁大学翻译硕士在读，英语笔译专业。