Should we reach more about China in schools?

[mids2019]

I am constantly amazed by some of the scientific and technological developments coming out of China in recent years. Part of the reason for my amazement has been the fact that I know very little about the country or its language or culture and I only hope my hands up to this. What I was wondering is whether Chinese studies should be more of a focus on schooling and unkvedsity? We all know I think about the US to some extent but as the Chinese economy grows we seem to have daily reports of technical advancement from a country many know little about.

I am constantly referencing Chinese scientific publications now especially in the medical field and there seems a little bit of a disconnect. I know of there are important publications not translated into English rheumatoid simply pass me by and I think that stands true for others.

Should we give a bit more space to Chime in 2025 edication?

Why single out China?
I think what is going on broadly in the world is general knowledge, and should be explored by parents rather than through teachers.
Not everything should become a school issue. Sometimes the parents need to have sone impact.

Every time we add something to the already-packed curriculum, we have to take something else out. Schools just cannot be responsible for teaching everything.

What they can do is to teach the necessary skills for a child/student to be able to carry out their own research on topics of interest. Parents can also help by supporting and teaching their own children about the world around them.

Why Chine? It's economic acceleration primarily but I do take your point. I just think there are barriers for the newer generations to learning about an important country in the world because of culture and langauge. I can tell you about New York but my knowledge of Beijing is more limited.

I think starting with the opium wars would be very interesting. Explaining how the British empire went to war with China to force them to allow opium in China when they made it illegal. Not once, but twice, and this how UK gained Hong Kong. To force drugs into a country.
The irony now is all this " foreigners involved in drugs" chatter.

School curriculum doesn't involve other countries at great lengths. We do study a bit Africa and the slave trade, but not how this trade or how European colonisation in general made sure any industry would only benefit the Empire or France or ... and not the development of the country itself.

The school curriculum is dense as it is and its purpose is not World history. There are plenty of gorgeous books on the topic. Museums have exhibitions.

Don't we have to counterbalance the influence of the US on our culture in some repects? American studies is popular so you could put the question why not Chinese?

I just feel we are missing something from our general education about this important country which could be of benefit. Maybe school is not the answer but more documentaries?.(Admittedly it is a somewhat closed society)

I agree with the school curriculum being dense and there is a lot of good history. I just think for the newer generations getting some at least overview of China and it's confusing impact on the modern world will be important especially when looking at technology and science. (I guess you could argue that of other Asian cointries).

“I am constantly referencing Chinese scientific publications now especially in the medical field”

OK I admit I am clueless generally speaking on this matter, but is there just not also a lot more since open access?

For us, because we are in London and there are lots of Chinese or Hong Kong Chinese around anyway, all my kids and we have friends from those countries so they talk about their culture and history both socially and at school. So there is plenty of informal cultural exchange. Notably far more of them around than Americans or Russians these days.

a study of evergrande collapse would be useful case study in the perils of state overreach in economic control.

Everyone at my kids school does mandarin plus a European language for year 7-8. So yeah they do learn a bit about China and Chinese culture with it.

A short thread about the wonders of China

and the OP manages to misspell the country…. Twice! (Chime and Chine) 😆

There are about 30 'Confucius Classroom' state schools in the UK that offer Mandarin. Think they were set up under Cameron, in the days when USA tech bros said all children needed to learn at school was Coding and Chinese. Funding from government has stopped but Mandarin GCSEs in these schools still seems to exist.

reach more? eh?