Let's get straight to the point: Why is it so difficult to teach mathematics, physics and chemistry in high schools in China, but most of the top scientists are Westerners?
From elementary school to high school, China's education system is like a never-ending machine, pushing students forward step by step. It sounds cool to teach and test, but is it really the right way to train top scientists?
China's college entrance examination can be described as a national knowledge arena, and mathematics, physics and chemistry have become a nightmare for many students. Western countries are more relaxed, and their education is more focused on cultivating students' innovation and critical thinking.
For example, the K12 education system in the United States, that is, compulsory education from grade 1 to grade 12, mainly cultivates students' basic abilities and interests. Students are not subjected to much academic pressure at this stage.
These students go to college, especially those that are members of the AAU (Association of American Universities), and the professional education here really begins. In such an environment, students are encouraged to explore, discover, and innovate.
On the other hand, China's 985 and 211 universities are well-known, but their curriculum design and teaching methods are often stuck in cramming education. In such an environment, students are strong in taking exams, but they are not able to innovate and conduct independent research.
Not to mention, the difficulty of the textbooks and courses of established universities such as Moscow State University is even more daunting. This is a difference in the way of education, a collision of two educational ideas.
China's high school students study for the college entrance examination, and the course content is unimaginable, and the exam is even more difficult. But when it comes to college, this so-called "advantage" no longer exists.
How do Western universities, especially the top ones, teach? Professors are better at simplifying complex concepts so that students can easily grasp difficult points to understand. This teaching method is more conducive to cultivating students' independent thinking and innovation ability.
China's education system also stifles students' creativity to some extent. If we were all dealing with exams from childhood to adulthood, how much time would we have left to really think about the mysteries of science and explore the unknown?
Western students have more opportunities to go to the laboratory and participate in actual research projects, and their education is not just about book knowledge, but more about practical exploration.
Coming back to our question, why are most of the top scientists Western? Western education focuses more on cultivating an independent and innovative spirit, while Chinese education is more about producing students who can pass exams.
In China, the high-pressure and test-oriented nature of the education system has indeed produced a large number of highly academically capable students, which is not the same as being able to innovate in science. Scientific innovation requires the courage to question the status quo and dare to challenge existing theories, which are lacking in exam-oriented education.
In Western universities, especially research universities, students are encouraged to question, to explore, and to innovate. For example, Harvard, MIT, and other institutions emphasize students' ability to think independently and solve complex problems.
The research environment in the West is also more open and free. With abundant funding and a variety of research projects, scientists are able to explore a wider range of fields.
On the other hand, although China's research environment has improved in recent years, it is still limited in some aspects, such as the unfair distribution of research funds and the limited research direction.
Chinese students excel in subjects such as mathematics, physics and chemistry, but this excellence is more the result of exam-oriented education. The innovation, critical thinking, and research environment required by top scientists,
China's education system has not yet been fully optimally configured. This is why, even though China's high school education is extremely rigorous in mathematics, physics and chemistry, most of the top scientists are still from the West.
So, we really need to reflect on whether our education is for exams, or for future innovation and development, and should we introduce more innovative elements into the education system to cultivate talents who can really contribute to science and technology?