From Good Morning America’s ongoing series about China:
Carol Wang and Emily Ellenberger live 7,000 miles apart, but the teenagers share many similarities. Both are focused, determined, sociable, determined and computer-savvy. Yet once the school bell rings, the differences between the two college-bound students’ educations are striking.
Carol’s school in China is sharply focused on math and sciences. In one day she takes math, two physics classes and three chemistry classes. In Emily’s school in Maryland, interest in these subjects is dwindling…
But at the end of the day, which student is smarter? Which system will produce the most successful generation of young adults?
The answers are debatable, but there is no denying Chinese motivation in the fields of math and science. In China, almost 40 percent of students study engineering, and more are entering the field. By contrast, only about 5 percent of American students currently major in engineering, and those numbers have been on the decline for the last 15 years.
More about the series here.