HyperEducation

After-school learning, academic competitions, and the perceived failure of our best schools to educate children have created an education arms race that young people are caught up in, starting from elementary school. In his book HyperEducation, Pawan Dhingra explores this growing world of high-achievement education, which has given birth to after-school learning centers, spelling bees, and math competitions. This is a world where immigrant families strive to beat other Americans to become the head of the class, putting in hours of studying and testing in order to gain a foothold in the supposed meritocracy of American public education.

Even families and teachers who avoid after-school academics are getting swept up in this phenomenon. Enrichment centers like Kumon have seen a 194% growth since 2002 and target children as young as three. Dhingra uses over 100 in-depth interviews with teachers, tutors, principals, children, and parents to delve into why people participate in this phenomenon and examine how schools, families, and communities play their part. He moves past "Tiger Mom" stereotypes and addresses why Asian American and white families practice what he calls "hypereducation" and whether or not it makes sense.

By taking a behind-the-scenes look at the Scripps National Spelling Bee, other national competitions, and learning centers, Dhingra shows why good schools, good grades, and good behavior are seen as not enough for high-achieving students and their parents. He also explains why the education arms race is likely to continue to expand. Beyond soccer leagues, music camps, and drama lessons, young people are now immersed in a highly competitive educational culture.

作者简介

PawanDhingraisProfessorofAmericanStudiesatAmherstCollege.Heistheauthorofmanybooks,includingLifeBehindtheLobby:IndianAmericanMotelOwnersandtheAmericanDream.HisworkhasbeenfeaturedintheBostonGlobe,theWashingtonPost,TheNewYorkTimes,Salon,thePBSNewsHour,andthedocumentary,BreakingtheBee.--Thistextreferstothehardcoverediti...