We are completely intrigued by the new book Battle Hymn of the Tiger Motherby Amy Chua (pictured), a provocative look at parenting by a professor of law at Yale University.
How do Chinese parents raise such stereotypical successful kids, and are Western children mired in leisure, consumerism and self gratification?
Unlike your typical Western mother, the Chinese mother believes that:
1. Schoolwork always comes first
2. An A-minus is a bad grade
3. Your child must be two years ahead of their classmates in Maths
4. You must never compliment your child in public
5. If your child ever disagrees with a teacher or coach, you must always take the side of the teacher or coach
6. The only activities your child should be permitted to do are those in which they can eventually win a medal
7. That medal must be gold
“This is a story about a mother and two daughters,” says the blurb. “It was supposed to be a story about how Chinese parents are better at raising kids than Western ones. But instead it’s about a bitter clash of cultures, a fleeting taste of glory and how you can be humbled by a 13-year-old.”
This contributes to a debate that we are only just beginning to articulate about priorities and how we are educating our children. It's published by Bloomsbury (€16.99). PATSEY MURPHY
