Upfront
Argument Essay:
China's
Cram Schools
Every high school student in China studies as much as
possible for the gaokao, a
college-entrance
examination. To us, the gaokao
may
seem like our own SAT, but it is much more difficult and the only
thing that matters for Chinese students to get into college. Nearly
every high school students in China study furiously, cramming for the
gaokao
for three years. These extremes make it unfair that a single test
determines a student's fate in life.
The
gaokao
requires intense concentration and perseverance from Chinese
students. Many high school students attend “cram schools”, where
they spend most of their time studying frantically for the gaokao.
One
student, who attended Maotanchang High School, practiced
relentlessly, taking multiple practice tests over the course of his
high school years. “ 'If you connected all of the practice tests
I've taken over the past three years,' he said, 'they would wrap all
the way around the world.' ” (pg. 13) This kind of studying is
hardly seen in America, and proves just how important the gaokao
is to high school students in China. The same student “... had
spent the previous three years, weekends included, stumbling to his
first class at 6:20 in the morning and returning to his room only
after the end of his first class at 10:50 at night.” (pg. 13) The
pressure of the gaokao
is
on every student's mind in China, and the only way to pass the test
is to study as much as possible.
The
gaokao also
gives rural students severe disadvantages. It is much, much harder
for students from small villages or towns to be able to get into
college, let alone a good university. Many villages “...have poor
schools and few well-trained teachers.” (pg. 14) Students from
poor rural areas would not be prepared for what could be on the test.
On the other hand, wealthy city families are in more of a safe zone
and have choices when facing the gaokao.
“Wealthy urban families can hire private tutors, pay for test-prep
courses, or bribe their way into the best city schools.” (pg. 14)
This gives them a distinct upper hand, as well as the fact that urban
students have many more allotted college-admission spots than rural
students.
The
gaokao
is not just risky for the students that take it, but for the
teachers, and possibly the local towns of high schools as well.
Maotanchang High School is located in Anhui province, two hours from
the nearest city. “The local government has shut down all forms of
entertainment. This may be the only town in China with no video
arcade, billiards hall, or Internet cafe.” (pg. 15) This is a
result of the determination of Maotanchang High School of eliminating
any distractions for its students. The teachers there are very strict
as well, and “...dole out lessons, and frequently punishments, with
military rigor; their job security and bonuses depend on raising
their students' test scores.” (pg. 15) As stated, the teachers
have a risk of losing their jobs of their students do not do well on
the gaokao.
This is why the students need s little distractions as possible, not
only for themselves, but for their teachers as well.
Every
year, over 9 million students in China take the gaokao.
Some don't succeed. All the difficulty and stress of cramming for the
test sometimes causes students to commit suicide as well. Therefore,
the reader can see that having the fate of millions of students
riding on one test is unfair.