Comments on: …and there but by the grace of science go I http://www.lostlaowai.com/blog/expat-stuff/china-expat-rants/and-there-but-by-the-grace-of-science-go-i/ No-nonsense China Expat & Travel Community Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:53:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ryan http://www.lostlaowai.com/blog/expat-stuff/china-expat-rants/and-there-but-by-the-grace-of-science-go-i/#comment-7400 Ryan Mon, 01 Oct 2007 09:46:56 +0000 http://www.lostlaowai.com/commentary/blog/2007/09/29/and-there-but-by-the-grace-of-science-go-i/#comment-7400 One of the many memories burned into my grey matter from my life as a teacher in this country is when a student told me a joke/riddle involving a polar bear. The solution/punchline was a complex math equation. They were like 12. @Steven: Weird ad. According to the site: <blockquote>JesusOfPictures.com brings you the oldest pictures of Jesus ever discovered. There is no true way to confirm what Jesus Christ looked like while he was alive on earth. Our beast [sic] means of viewing the true face of Jesus is by relying on the oldest depictions of him. As you will see by viewing the pictures of Jesus on this site, the worlds concept of what Jesus looked like has not changed very much.</blockquote> Oddly, in all the pictures Jesus looks as Caucasian as can be. PS: Put the screenshot on our servers and linked the image - that image hosting site is gay ;-) One of the many memories burned into my grey matter from my life as a teacher in this country is when a student told me a joke/riddle involving a polar bear. The solution/punchline was a complex math equation.

They were like 12.

@Steven: Weird ad. According to the site:

JesusOfPictures.com brings you the oldest pictures of Jesus ever discovered. There is no true way to confirm what Jesus Christ looked like while he was alive on earth. Our beast [sic] means of viewing the true face of Jesus is by relying on the oldest depictions of him. As you will see by viewing the pictures of Jesus on this site, the worlds concept of what Jesus looked like has not changed very much.

Oddly, in all the pictures Jesus looks as Caucasian as can be.

PS: Put the screenshot on our servers and linked the image – that image hosting site is gay ;-)

]]> By: Steven http://www.lostlaowai.com/blog/expat-stuff/china-expat-rants/and-there-but-by-the-grace-of-science-go-i/#comment-7396 Steven Sun, 30 Sep 2007 17:33:23 +0000 http://www.lostlaowai.com/commentary/blog/2007/09/29/and-there-but-by-the-grace-of-science-go-i/#comment-7396 Thanks for your input, jeremy. the conditions in Chinese schools and universities certainly can be overcrowded to the point of being inhumane. but then, nurturing individuals is not really the point! there's a hilarious Google ad right next to my blog right now. it says: "Rare Pictures of Jesus Find free jesus pictures. Free Jesus Christ pictures online!" WTF!? a screenshot as proof is here: <img src="/commentary/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/jesuspictures.jpg" /> I really didn't know that any actual verifiable images of jesus existed, let alone "rare" ones! Thanks for your input, jeremy. the conditions in Chinese schools and universities certainly can be overcrowded to the point of being inhumane. but then, nurturing individuals is not really the point!

there’s a hilarious Google ad right next to my blog right now. it says: “Rare Pictures of Jesus
Find free jesus pictures. Free Jesus Christ pictures online!” WTF!? a screenshot as proof is here:

I really didn’t know that any actual verifiable images of jesus existed, let alone “rare” ones!

]]> By: Jeremy http://www.lostlaowai.com/blog/expat-stuff/china-expat-rants/and-there-but-by-the-grace-of-science-go-i/#comment-7394 Jeremy Sun, 30 Sep 2007 05:31:21 +0000 http://www.lostlaowai.com/commentary/blog/2007/09/29/and-there-but-by-the-grace-of-science-go-i/#comment-7394 Steven, Nice points. The education system in the US, especially large swaths of the South, is screwed up from refusing to teach science - Chinese students do work their asses off and in cramped conditions to boot - which prepares them for a life of work conditions that most Americans couldn't begin to understand (see any college graduates in America living 8 to a tiny dorm and working for a couple hundred $US per month? anyone?). The cream of the crop of Chinese students also deservedly snap up some excellent jobs. However, for all of the <a href="http://www.thechinaexpat.com/the-advantages-of-chinas-education-system-the-implications-for-you/" rel="nofollow">advantages to China's education system</a>, there are still <a href="http://www.thechinaexpat.com/whats-wrong-with-chinas-secondary-education-system/" rel="nofollow">a ton of things wrong with education in China</a> - and as the situation stands now there is no way I would let my (future) kids go through it, at least not beyond the elementary level. Rest assured I wouldn't send them to a fundamentalist school in the States, though. The greatest point that you emphasize is that America, and Europe, needs to wake up and respond to the challenges presented by the newly educated workers of the developing world. Highly talented employees are willing to work for a fraction of what current US and European workers of more and more similar abilities make. Steven,

Nice points. The education system in the US, especially large swaths of the South, is screwed up from refusing to teach science – Chinese students do work their asses off and in cramped conditions to boot – which prepares them for a life of work conditions that most Americans couldn’t begin to understand (see any college graduates in America living 8 to a tiny dorm and working for a couple hundred $US per month? anyone?).

The cream of the crop of Chinese students also deservedly snap up some excellent jobs.

However, for all of the advantages to China’s education system, there are still a ton of things wrong with education in China – and as the situation stands now there is no way I would let my (future) kids go through it, at least not beyond the elementary level.

Rest assured I wouldn’t send them to a fundamentalist school in the States, though.

The greatest point that you emphasize is that America, and Europe, needs to wake up and respond to the challenges presented by the newly educated workers of the developing world. Highly talented employees are willing to work for a fraction of what current US and European workers of more and more similar abilities make.

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