中美家庭教育对比研究以《小欢喜》和《少年时代》为例

IntroductionThefilmBoyHood,directedbythefamousAmericandirectorRichardlintleck,hasreceivedravereviewssinceitsreleaseintheUnitedStatesinJuly2014.Ittook12yearstomake,andwashailedasa“masterpieceofthecentury”anda“movingepicofordinarylife”.Inthiseraoffastfooddoctrine,itislikeafreshspringintheheart,givingpeopleafreshfeeling.RenownedfilmcriticAnnHornadycalledita“landmark”film.BoyHoodfollowsaboynamedmasonfromtheageof6to18.Itrecordshislifeasateenager,playinggames,watchingcartoons,arguingwithhissisterSamantha,watchinghermotherOliviamovetoadivorceexamdegree,discussingcontraceptionwithDadandoldMason,travelingalone,thefirstcopyWork,firstgirlfriend,firstparting.Hewentfrombeingaprettyboywithafatbabyandaflatnosetoayoungmanwithashaggybeardandevenafatherfigure.ChineseTVseriesALittleReunionhasbecomeahitinChina.Thewholeseriescentersonthreegroupsofhighschoolstudentswithdifferentculturalandeducationalbackgrounds,andthewholeplayisveryclosetotheeducationofChinesefamilies.ThesetwoTVseriesaregrowthfilms,sowecannotgetawayfromthetopicofeducation,especiallythetopicoffamilyeducation.Familyeducationisthefoundationofschooleducationandsocialeducation,whichplaysacrucialroleinthegrowthofchildren.Peopleallovertheworldattachgreatimportancetotheinfluenceoffamilyeducationonchildren.ThemovieBoyHoodreflectsmanyvaluesofAmericanfamilyeducationandreflectstypicalAmericanfamilyeducation.ALittleReunionisverytypicalofChinesefamilyeducation.Thispaperisdividedintofourmainparts.Thefirstpartmainlydiscussesthetheoreticalresearchoffamilyeducation;thesecondpartmainlydiscussesthefamilyeducationindifferentaspectsofALittleReunionandBoyHood;thethirdpartdiscussesthecausesofthedifferencesbetweenChineseandAmericanfamilyeducation;thefourthpartprovidesChineseparentswithadviceonfamilyeducation.

Chapter1ResearchBackgroundandtheValueoftheThesisTheSignificanceofThisResearchChildrenwithgoodfamilyeducationaremoreadaptableintheprocessofreceivingschooleducationandsocialeducation,andliveintheenvironmentoutsidethefamily.Anyperson’spersonalityandbehaviorareaffectedbytheirownthinkingpatterns,andaperson’sthinkingpatternshavebeeninfluencedbyfamilyeducationsincechildhood.Familyeducationisanintegralpartoftheentireeducationsystem.Itplaysakeyroleinshapingchildren’scorrectworldoutlook,outlookonlifeandhealthydevelopmentofgoodhabits.Thispaperwillanalyzethedifferenceoffamilyeducationbetweenthetwofilms,thendiscussthedifferentreasons,andfinallygivesuggestionstoChineseparentsaboutfamilyeducation.LiteratureReviewInrecentyears,manyChinesescholarshaveparticipatedinthecomparativestudyofthedifferencesbetweenChineseandAmericanfamilyeducation.ZengZhilanpointedoutthatfamilyisthemostimportantplaceforchildrentobeeducated,whichplaysaveryimportantroleinthedevelopmentoftheirgoodhabitsandintelligence.TherearesignificantdifferencesinfamilyeducationbetweenChinaandtheUnitedStates.Forexample,intermsoftherelationshipbetweenfamilymembers,mostChineseparentsareinadominantposition,whileAmericanparentspaymoreattentiontogettingalongwiththeirchildrenasequals.Intermsofeducationmethods,Chineseparentsprefertodoeverythingbythemselves,whileAmericanparentsprefertolettheirchildrendothingsbythemselves.Thesedifferenceshaveledtotheobviousgapinthesurvivalandadaptationabilityofchildreninthetwocountries.Itisofgreatpracticalsignificancetocorrectlyunderstandandlearnfromforeignadvancededucationmethodstopromotethehealthygrowthofchildrenandimprovethequalityoffuturetalents.BuDezhen,Sunaixuepointedoutthatparentsarethefirstteachersofchildren,andfamilyeducationhasanirreplaceablesignificanceforhumaneducation.TherearesignificantdifferencesinfamilyeducationbetweenChinaandtheUnitedStates.DifferentconceptsandtrainingmethodscausesignificantdifferencesbetweenChineseandAmericanchildreninadultlife.Theytrytoanalyzethecausesofthedifferencesandgivesolutions.Inforeigncountries,thewayoffamilyeducationismainlyfocusedontheunderstandingoffamilyeducation,theimpact.Inrecentyears,intheinternationaleducationreform,theUnitedStates,theUnitedKingdom,Scotland,Singaporeandothercountriesandregionshavelaunchedtheirown“educationexcellenceinitiative”.Inthisplan,theUnitedStatesfullyrecognizedtheroleoffamilyeducationineducation,andemphasizedtheneedforsocialandfamilysupporttoimprovestudents’academicperformanceandnarrowthegap.InthemodelofexcellentschoolsinSingapore,italsofocusesonfamily,socialconnectionsandotheraspects.DavidKirk,anAmericanscholar,alsopointsoutin“Americawithoutafather”thatboyswholackafather‘seducationnotonlyexperiencemorementalproblemsthanotherboys,butalsohavepoorgradesandhighdropoutrates.ScientistsatYaleuniversityhaverecentlyreleaseda12-yearstudy.ThedatashowedthatchildrenbroughtupbymenhadahigheraverageIQ.Theytendtodobetterinschoolandaremorelikelytosucceedinsocietyinthefuture.BriefIntroductionoftheThesisThisthesisaimstocomparethedifferenceofChineseandAmericanFamilyEducationinALittleReunionandBoyHoodasExamples.ThereareonlyfewscholarsathomehavetakenALittleReunionandBoyHoodasExamplestostudyChineseandAmericanFamilyEducation.Bycomparison,thispaperfirstpointsoutthedifferencesbetweenChineseandAmericanfamilyeducation,mainlyfromthepurpose,contentandmethodsoffamilyeducation.Aftercomparison,thearticleexplainsthecausesofthesedifferences.Finally,thispapergivessomesuggestionsforfamilyeducationinchina.ThroughasimplecomparisonofthedifferencesbetweenChineseandAmericanfamilyeducation,itmayhelpourparentstoprovidesomereference.Withthetransformationofeconomicsocietyandthechangeoffamilystructure,familyeducationinchinaisfacingmanynewproblems.Theeducationalexchangesbetweenchinaandtheunitedstatesareincreasinglyfrequent,anddifferencesinfamilyeducationbetweenthetwocountrieshavenotbeenhighlighted.Familyeducationistheinitialstageoflifeeducation.Itplaysavitalroleinaperson’sthinkingmodeandtheformationofworldoutlook,lifeandvalues.Thesuccessoffamilyeducationisrelatedtoaperson’slife.MethodologyoftheResearchInordertofulfilltheresearchobjective,i.e.toprobeintothewaysofdifferencebetweenChineseandAmericanfamilyeducation,thefollowinganalyticalprocedureshasbeendesigned:Step1:Theauthorreadsliterature.Step2:Theauthoranalyzesthematerial.Step3:TheauthormakesacomparisonbetweenChineseandAmericanFamilyEducation.Step4:Theauthordrawsaconclusionthatfamilyeducationplaysavitalroleinone’slife.ExpectedResultsoftheThesisWiththedevelopmentofChinesesocietyandeconomy,Chinesefamiliespaymoreandmoreattentiontofamilyeducation.Manyparentsdonotfullyappreciatetheimportanceoffamilyeducationinthewholeeducationsystem.Theybelievethateducationismainlyamatterforschoolsandteachers,andtakechildren’sacademicperformanceasthestandardofwhetherachild’seducationissuccessfulornot.TounderstandandlearnvaluableeducationmethodsinothercountriesishelpfulforthereformandimprovementofChinesefamilyeducation.ThroughALittleReunionandBoyHood,thispapercomparesChineseandAmericanfamilyeducationinordertoprovidesomeenlightenmentforChinesefamilyeducation.Chapter2TheRiseofFamilyEducationThischapterwillmainlydiscussoriginanddevelopmentoffamilyeducation,thefeaturesandpositionsoffamilyeducationandthebackgroundoftheRiseforFamilyEducation.2.1OriginandDevelopmentofFamilyEducationChinesefamilyeducationhasalonghistory.Family,Jian,Gu,JieandotherhexagramsintheBookofChangesarethefirsttotalkaboutfamilyissues,includingfamilyeducationissues.IfbasedontheBookofChangesinYinZhou,thefamilyeducationinChinawithwrittenrecordshasmorethan3,000yearsofhistory.Throughoutthesefamilyeducationmodels,fromthecultivationofchildren’scharacterandambitionstothefriendshipofinterpersonalrelationships;fromtheformationofdailylifeconsumptionhabitstothecultivationoflifeinterest;frombehaviorsandworkattitudestocareerchoices;fromthecultivationoftheconceptofhappinesstohowtohaveahealthybody,itisfullofparentalteachingsandadmonitionsonallaspectsoflifeforfuturegenerations.ItisalsolikeLetterfromZengGuopan,whichconveysthefamilytrainingideasandthewayoflivingintheChineseculturethroughthefamilybook,makingitatraditionandendlesslife.InancientChina,especiallyintheMingandQingdynasties,alargenumberofmottosandfamilypreceptsaboutfamilyeducationprovidedrichfamilyeducationheritageforlatergenerations.2.2TheFeaturesandPositionsofFamilyEducationFamilyeducation,schooleducationandsocialeducationarethethreepillarsofmoderneducation.Intoday’sfamilyeducation,Chineseparentsbecometheteachingassistantsofteachers.Afterclass,theexaminationofhomeworkandextracurricularactivitiesallrequireparentstorevolvearoundtheschool,whichhasbecomeaproblemthattroublesmanyparents.Theessenceoffamilyeducationislifeeducationanditshouldnotbecomeknowledge.Thedirectionofhome-schoolcooperationisnottomakethefamilyaschool,buttomakethefamilymorelikeafamily.Familyhasaprofoundinfluenceonpeople'slife.Itisakindoflife,akindofemotionandcancultivatepeople’swisdomoflifeandpracticalintelligence.Whenachild’slifeexperienceispoor,hemakesthechoice,easyextreme,simplified.Butifhehasalotofexperienceinlife,hewillknowhowtoresolveconflicts.EducatorTaoXingzhioncesaidthatgoodlifeisgoodeducationandbadlifeisbadeducation.Asparents,whattheyarenotgoodatistutoringtheirhomework,andwhattheyarebestatislifeeducation.Therefore,parentsshouldreturntotheiroriginalheart,attachimportancetofamilyconstruction,andmakefamilylifefullofcharm,sothatchildrencangrowupwell2.Familystyleisoneofthekeymarkstojudgethesuccessorfailureoffamilyeducation.Parentsinfluencetheirchildrenwiththeirownbehavior,andchildrenlearnthegoodqualitiesoftheirparents.Familystyleisnotonlywrittendown,butalsothewordsanddeedsmade,passeddownfromgenerationtogeneration.2.3BackgroundoftheRiseforFamilyEducationFromthehistoricalprocessofhumansociety,familyeducation,asaformofeducation,wasborntogetherwithmonogamousindividualfamilies.Engelssummarizedthedevelopmentofthehumanfamilyfromlowtohighlevelinfourforms:familiesthatexcludethegrandparents,parents,andchildren,butallowtheprimarygroupofmarriagesbetweenbrothersandsisters-bloodfamily;afamilywithahigh-levelgroupmarriagesystemthateliminatesthesexualrelationshipbetweenbrothersandsisters-thePunaluyefamily(thatis,amarriedfamily);afragilemarriageformedbyafixedmanandafixedwomanlivingtogether-adualfamily;amonogamousfamilythatoriginatedattheendofprimitivesocietyandthebeginningofslavesociety1.Theeducationofchildreningroupmarriagesocietyisstillsocialeducation,andthebirthoffamilyeducationisbornwiththebirthofmonogamousfamilyinthestrictsense.Thepracticeoffamilyeducationhasexistedsincethebeginningofmonogamousfamilies.Throughlong-termfamilyeducationpractice,peoplegraduallyaccumulateexperience,understandthelaw,andconstantlyupdate,soastobuildacertaintheoreticalsystemandformanewdiscipline.Chapter3DifferentFamilyEducationinALittleReunionandBoyHood3.1DifferencesinFamilyEducationConceptsIntheeyesofChineseparents,childrenshouldstudy,getintoagooduniversitywhentheygrowup,andgetagoodjobaftergraduation.Inorderfortheirchildrentohaveabetterfutureandinorderfortheirchildrentobecomeagoodperson,parentsoftenplaneverythinginadvance.Thiskindofprogramisakindofrestrainttothechildactually.Thiskindofrestraintcanweakenchildren’sindependence.Asaresult,whensomeChinesechildrengrowup,theyhavegreatdifficultiesinlivingindependentlyandevenlosetheirindependence.IntheTVseriesALittleReunion,Songqian’saffectionforherdaughterQiaoYingziisevident.InordertostudyforQiaoyingzi,SongqianresignedfromthebesthighschoolinBeijingandwenttoatutoringagencytobeatutor,soastoaccompanyQiaoYingzitotheuniversityfull-time.ShemadealayeroftransparentglassinQiaoYingzi’sroom,whosepurposeistoobserveQiaoYingzi’slearningsituationandalwaysmasterherlearning.Chinesefamiliespayattentiontotheyoungorderly,superiorandinferior.Eldershavetherighttoteachtheyoung,sothatthechildlearnswhattosaytowhomandwhere,withoutbeingabletoexpresswhatisreallyonhismind.Itisalsodifficultforparentstoknowtheirchildren’sthoughts,sothechildrenandparentsgraduallyappearbetweenthegap,orevenunabletocommunicate.Nowwiththeimprovementofmateriallife,thechildrenareinaspecialposition.Theelderstakecareofthemineverypossibleway.Theygivethemallthegoodthingsandhelpthemdoeverything,sothatthechildrengraduallylosetheirabilitytotakecareofthemselves.Asaresult,children’sabilitytobecreative,overcomedifficultiesandliveindependentlyisslightlylowerthanthatoftheUnitedStates.InALittleReunion,QiaoYingzi’stargetuniversityisNanjingUniversity,andSongQianbelievesthatNanjingUniversityistoofarfromhome,sohestronglychangedQiaoYingzi’sgoaltoPekingUniversityattheoathmeeting,whichmadeQiaoYingzibitter.Undersuchforcedoppressionforalongtime,QiaoYingzigraduallygotdepression.Onthecontrary,Americanfamilyvaluesofeducationfocusmoreongeneraleducation,andthepurposeofeducationistoenablechildrentoliveabetterindependentlife.Americanfamiliesgenerallybelievethatthegrowthofchildrenmustrelyontheirownstrength,teachthemhowtofacethedifficultiesinlife,paymoreattentiontocultivatethechildren’sabilitytosurviveinvariousenvironments.Beforeprimaryschool,Americanstudentstendtoexercise,includingphysicalexercise,willpowerbuilding,theabilitytoovercomedifficulties,physicalfitness,intelligenceandsoon.Intheprocessoftheirowngrowth,theyexploretheirpotentialandspecialty,andformastrongindependentlivingabilityandself-restraintability.TheAmericanfamilypursuesequalityforallpeople,andfamilymemberspaymoreattentiontofreedomandfairnessingettingalongwitheachother.ThemovieBoyHoodfullyembodiestheaboveconceptoffamilyeducation.Inthefilm,whenthefathermeetsmasonandhissisterSamanthaforthefirsttime,hetakesthembowlingtogether.Masonalwaysmissedtheball.Theballalwaysdeviatedfromthefairway.Hepoutedandaskedforasafetyfence.Fathertoldhimthatguardrailisforchildrenandlifeisnotaguardrail.Thefatherwantedhissontobeclear,andlearningtofacethemusicwasthefirststeptolearningtosurvive.3.2DifferencesinFamilyEducationModesAmericanfamilyeducationisdeeplyinfluencedbyAmericansocialculture.Oneofitsimportantcharacteristicsistoemphasizethatchildren’sfamilyeducationshouldconformtochildren'snatureandcognitiverules,anditisanexcellentmodeloffamilyeducationtopermeatethrougheverybitoflife.Forexample,inBoyHood,thefatherandmotherdidnotintervenetoomuchaboutMasonandhersisterSamantha’sprematurelove.Theyrespectedthechildren’sself-selectionandthoughtitwasanormalphenomenonofadolescence.Wemustgothroughthenecessarystagesofcorrectlyhandlingtherelationshipbetweenthesexes.WhenMasonwascampingwithhisfather,heeventoldhimhowtowinagirl’sheart.MasonbrokeupwithhisgirlfriendSheenatheyearhegraduatedfromhighschool.HetoldMasonthatpuppyloveinhighschoolusuallydidnotworkoutwell,andthathehadtolistentohisheartandfocusonbeinghimselfsohecouldfindabettergirl.TheyarenotashystericalastheirChineseparents.Americanfamilyeducationseldomusescoercivemethodsanddogmaticmanagementmethodstoforcechildrentoreceivefamilyeducation.Americanparentscanlistentotheirchildren’sheart,understandwhattheirchildren’sbehaviorisoutofhispsychology,andonthebasisofunderstandingandtolerance,theyusethemethodofgoodguidancetoregulatetheirchildren’swordsanddeedsandthoughts,andtalkwiththeirchildreninsteadofsimpleandroughcriticism.Thedidacticfamilyeducationintheeast,especiallyinChina,maynotbeeasilyunderstoodandacceptedbychildren.Forexample,inALittleReunion,QiaoYingziandhisgoodfriendFangYifanplayedverywell.QiaoYingzioncefeltsadbecauseofherrelationshipwithhermother.FangYifanhuggedQiaoYingzitogivehimcomfort.ThisscenewasseenbyhermotherSongQian.SongQianfranticallycalledherex-husbandQiaoWeidongandFangYifan’sparentstoquestionthetwochildren.Inanycase,thetwochildrenexplainedthatSongQianwasnotreluctanttotakecareofher.Later,QiaoYingziwassenttoandfromschooltomonitoritontime.Thismovefurtherintensifiedtherelationshipbetweenmotheranddaughter.IfSongQianadoptstheeducationmodeofAmericanparents,shecantalkwithherchildreninaheart-to-heartmanner,withagentletone,withfactsandreason,andletthechildrenknowfromtheinsidethatthereissomethingwrongwiththeirbehavior,itwillbemoreconduciveforthechildrentocommunicatewiththeirparentsbetter,andtheirheartswillbefullofsunshine,soastogrowbetter.3.3DifferencesinFamilyEducationContentsThecontentoffamilyeducationinChinaandtheUnitedStatesisdifferent.AlthoughChinesefamilyeducationemphasizestherealizationofthecomprehensivedevelopmentof“morality,intelligence,physical,beauty,andlabor”,inpractice,familyeducationhasbecomeanextensionofschooleducation.Manyparentsfocusonintellectualeducationbecauseoftherequirementsofexam-orientededucation,andrelativelyneglecttheirdevelopmentandexerciseofchildren’slivingability.Inparticular,theyneglectthecultivationofpsychologicalqualitiesandideologicalqualities,resultinginmanychildren’sabilitytoresistfrustration.Theincreasingnumberofadolescentswhohavecommittedsuicideduetothepressureoflearninginrecentyearsillustratesthispoint.Forexample,inaplotintheTVseriesALittleReunion,SongQiancalledFangYifanandLinLeiertoherhousetoconstantlybrushphysicalpaperswiththerdaughterQiaoYingzi,andthensheexplainsfromeachperson’squestionsituation,whichcanbeseenthatChina’sfamilyeducationisalsoservingtheexam-orientededucation.AnotherexampleisthatJiYangyang’sparentsgaveuptheirjobsinthethirdyearofhighschooltoaccompanytheirchildrentothecollegeentranceexamination.Duringthewintervacation,teachersofvarioussubjectswerespeciallyinvitedtocometohishomeforone-to-onetutoringbyhisparents.However,duetohisdissatisfactionwithhisfatherformanyyears,JiYangyangdidnottakethelessonssoseriously.ThisalsoreflectsthatJiYangyang’sparentsneglectedtocultivatetheirchildren’spsychology,andtheirfamilyeducationalsoservesforexam-orientededucation.ThefamilyeducationintheUnitedStatesisrichincontent,payingattentiontothecomprehensiveandcoordinateddevelopmentofchildren,especiallythepsychologicalqualityeducation,whichiscalledthereal“qualityeducation”.Atthesametime,Americanparentsattachgreatimportancetofrustrationeducation,andoftenencouragetheirchildrentoparticipateinavarietyofcompetitionstoinspiretheirchildren’scourageandconfidencetocompetewiththestrong,enhancetheabilitytoresistsetbacks,butalsohoneastrongwill.InBoyHood,forexample,MasonpaidforatriptoAustintovisitthecollegewherehissisterSamanthawent.Althoughthemotheralsogavesomemoneytospare,butwhenthemothergavethesparemoney,sheclearlystatedthatitisbestnottospenditandreturnittoherwhenshereturns.Duringthevisittotheuniversity,Mason’sgirlfriend,Hina,whentalkingwithhersisterSamantha,alsorevealedthattheuniversity’svariousexpensesmustbebornebyherself,andshecouldgetridofherparents’restraintaftershebecameindependent.Inhissenioryearofhighschool,Masonwonasilverprizeinaphotographycontestandwasacceptedbyauniversityandawardedascholarship.Butintheconversationwiththeteacheralsomadeitclearthathewantedtousethesummerjobtoearnmoremoneytopayforthevariousexpensesoftheuniversity.Thus,itcanbeseenthatAmericanfamilyeducationfocusesonchildren’sindependentabilityandsurvivalability,whileChinesefamilyeducationcultivateschildrenwhoaretoodelicateandhavelesssurvivalabilitythanAmericanchildren.3.4TheCognitiveContextofRelevanceTheoryThepurposeoffamilyeducationintheUnitedStatesistotrainchildrentobe“socialbeings”withtheabilitytoadapttovariousenvironmentsandsurviveindependently,whichhaslowexpectations.Therefore,Americanparentscantreattheirchildren’seducationmoreeasilyandmaximizethepositiveelementsintheirchildren'spersonality.InBoyHood,forexample,Mason’sinterestsarestronglysupportedbyhisfamily.Masongrewupspray-paintingabandonedwallsoutsideand,asateenager,tookasummercampgraffiticlassandcallediturbanart,evenspray-paintingthewallsofhisroom.Therewasnoobjectionfromthemother.Becausehismotherknewthatdoodlingcouldfostercreativityandimaginationinchildren.Thiswasobviouslyagreathelptomasoninhisfutureartisticcreation.Masonbecamefascinatedwithphotography,andhissecondstepfathergavehimacameraforhis15thbirthday.Familiesandteachersdidtheirbesttogivesupportandencouragement.Hisfatheroftensaidtomason,“Ibelieveyou.”“Youthinkyouarespecial.”Theteacheralsosaidhehadatalentandauniquewayoflookingatthings.Finally,inhissenioryearofhighschool,hewonasilvermedalintheTexasstatephotographycompetition.Thus,thepurposeofAmericanfamilyeducationistodevelopthepotentialofchildrenandletthemdevelopfreely.Bycontrast,thepurposeoffamilyeducationinourcountryistotrainchildrentobe“talents”whowillbepromisinginthefuture,haveagoodcareerandliveaprosperouslife.Tothisend,Chineseparentsaresoconcernedabouttheirchildren’sacademicperformancethattheyneglecttheirchildren’stalentsandlimittheircreativity.Forexample,inALittleJoy,FangYifanwholeheartedlywantstotaketheartisticroute,becausehisdancingisverytalented.ButFang’smother,whoalwaysopposeddancing,thoughtitwastoorestrictiveforthefuture.FangYifan'smotherevenlearnedthatFangYifan'ssimulationresultswereverypoor,andshetookFangYifanintothemake-upclass.FangYifanwasorderedtotakeculturaltuitionandopposedtotakingtheartisticpath.ThisledtoFangYifanwhoisalwayscheerfularguingwithhismotherforthefirsttime.ThisfullyreflectsthepurposeofChinesefamilyeducationistohopethatchildrencanstudyverywell,getintoagooduniversityandfindagoodjob.Chapter4ReasonsoftheDifferencesonChineseandAmericanFamilyEducation4.1DifferentCulturalBackgroundsAmericansvalueindividualityandtheirvalueorientationisbasedonindividualism.Theyfocusontheirowninterests,advocatepersonalimprovementandfindtheirtruevalue.ThisisthecoreofAmericanculture.AnAmericanscholarpointedout:inademocraticsociety,everycitizenhashisowngoals,whichishisown.Inafamily,theindividualisthemostbasic,independentofotherfamilyrelationshipsanddoesnotdependonothers.Therefore,intheAmericanfamily,parentstendtoseethemselvesandtheirchildrenastwoseparateindividuals.“Self”includesnotonlyparentsbutalsochildren.Tocarryoutchildren’sself-worth,parentsshouldrespecttheirchildren’swishes,interestsandhobbies.However,Americanparentsvalueenjoyingtheirlives.Theydonotgiveupgoingtothecinemabecauseoftheirchildren.TheChinesepayattentiontogeneralproperties.Oneoftheirmostimportantideasisthespiritofcollectivism.Inotherwords,itmeanstakingthingsasawhole.Itstressestheimportanceofthecollectiveovertheindividual.TheChinesebelievethatone’slifeisrelatedtoothers.Fromancienttimestothepresent,theconceptof“self”isderivedfromtheresultofcomparisonwithothers.InChinesesociety,thevalueofanindividualcoexistswiththatofothers.InChinesefamilies,whileparentslosethemselves,theyalsofailtorespecttheirchildren.4.2DifferentEconomicPatternsAmericanproductivityisadvanced.Itscommodityeconomyisboomingandtherearemanyopportunitiestofindjobs.Peoplehaveafiniteamountofstressintheirlives.Moreover,theUnitedStatesisasocietyofcompetentpeople,wheresystemsareinplaceandworkersarefreelymobile.Theyhavealotofopportunitiestochangejobs.ThatmeanstherearemanydifferentjobsforAmericanstochoosefrom.IntheeyesofAmericanparents,aslongastheirchildrencanstandinthesociety,nomatterthelevelofwork.Moreover,thecommodityeconomyischangingfromminutetominute,andsoarejobs.Asaresult,parentsneverthinkthattheirchildrencanliveasmoothlife.Therefore,thepurposeofAmericanfamilyeducationistofocusontrainingchildrentobe“people”.Itseemsthatthislooksmo