This may sound racist, but I assure you I am not. But I do think there are CULTURAL differences that tend to lie on racial lines. One major cultural difference I see is the emphasis different cultures place on education. Why is it that so many Asians tend to do well in school? I assure you it is NOT because we're smarter.. which we're not. It's because of the (over)emphasis on education in Asian culture. Take a trip to any far east country some time. From richest to poorest, nearly everyone there puts tons and tons of emphasis on education. In fact, I think it goes too far, and children are far too overstressed.
Here in the US, I think it is very possible that cultural values.. specifically insufficient emphasis on education, is a contributing factor to the statistically poor educational performance of blacks and latinos. I mean, I know some very academically successful black and latino people (again, the best way to destroy a stereotype is to have someone as a friend) who for some reason had decided as children to put a great deal of effort into education. I also have some bright childhood black friends who ended up in gangs and other such crowds and stopped doing well at school.
Among poor people in the Asian population, there are far more people who fall into the former category.. people who decide that since they are poor, they'd try to do better through education. And I think this is in large part due to their parents' emphasis on education.
Notice I've never said money isn't a factor. I do definitely believe it's easier to do better in school if you're NOT poor.. since you don't have to have an afterschool job, try to support your parents instead of go to college, etc. But more Asian poor people do well academically than black and Latino poor people, and I think it's cultural, not genetic. I see no other explanation for that.
So again, it comes down in large part to parental support.
cultural differences and education (Score:1)
One major cultural difference I see is the emphasis different cultures place on education. Why is it that so many Asians tend to do well in school? I assure you it is NOT because we're smarter.. which we're not. It's because of the (over)emphasis on education in Asian culture.
Take a trip to any far east country some time. From richest to poorest, nearly everyone there puts tons and tons of emphasis on education. In fact, I think it goes too far, and children are far too overstressed.
Here in the US, I think it is very possible that cultural values.. specifically insufficient emphasis on education, is a contributing factor to the statistically poor educational performance of blacks and latinos. I mean, I know some very academically successful black and latino people (again, the best way to destroy a stereotype is to have someone as a friend) who for some reason had decided as children to put a great deal of effort into education. I also have some bright childhood black friends who ended up in gangs and other such crowds and stopped doing well at school.
Among poor people in the Asian population, there are far more people who fall into the former category.. people who decide that since they are poor, they'd try to do better through education. And I think this is in large part due to their parents' emphasis on education.
Notice I've never said money isn't a factor. I do definitely believe it's easier to do better in school if you're NOT poor.. since you don't have to have an afterschool job, try to support your parents instead of go to college, etc. But more Asian poor people do well academically than black and Latino poor people, and I think it's cultural, not genetic. I see no other explanation for that.
So again, it comes down in large part to parental support.