The Two Million Minutes Blog

Chinese Tech Mogul Gifts $10M to US Engineering College

A Chinese businessman is giving University of California, Riverside, $10 million for clean-energy research, the largest single donation by an individual in the university's history.

"The goal is to invent all-electric vehicles so efficient and convenient that they will replace gasoline-powered vehicles," he said.

Winston Chung is the inventor of the rare-earth lithium yttrium battery, which his Shenzhen, China-based Winston Global Energy manufactures.

I guess it goes without saying that Chung would have a near global monopoly on the manufacture of the power systems for any inventions created by the U.S. researchers.

Hey, if Chinese engineers aren't quite capable of the creative R&D required to boost one's company into a global empire, for a few million bucks American researchers will be happy to help grow a China-based company.

How U.S. Kids Spend Their Time

Joliet Central High School Starts 2,000,000 Minutes Freshman Campaign

Joliet Central High School in Joliet, IL, has begun a 2,000,000 minutes campaign to
raise awareness among their freshman about the importance of allocating their time in high school.

From their web site:

It is our goal in the Freshman Academy to ensure that each student makes the most of their two million minutes while enrolled over the next four years. Each team of teachers in the Freshman Academy has recognition buttons that will be given to students who are exemplifying the motto “Making the Most of My 2,000,000 Minutes.”

Reminders throughout the year will count the minutes that have passed and inquire as to whether the students are, indeed, making the most of their two million minutes as Steelmen at Joliet Central High School.

From the coordinating teacher, Robin English:

Thank you for impacting me as an educator and all of my students!

Parenting Dichotomy - Western v. Asian Values and Their Role in Education

Parenting is the "third rail" of the U.S. education debate. In a desire to avoid giving offense, the role of parenting in K-12 education is rarely discussed.

Studying the facts, however, makes it clear that Asian children - even when born in the US - outperform other races in K-12 education. Asians are disproportionately represented
in science, math and music competitions; in enrollment in tech magnet schools; and in colleges of engineering and science.

It seems a legitimate, albeit very dangerous, question to ask:

Are Western/American students at a permanent academic disadvantage because of differing parental values?

Now Yale Law School professor Amy Chua has authored "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother" - a cleared-eyed examination of the sharp contrasts between the parenting approach of Asian and Western parents.

A Wall Street Journal article by Chau summarizes the fundamental differences:

1- "my Western friends consider it strict make their children practice their instruments 30 minutes every day. For a Chinese mother, the first hour is the easy part. It's hours two and three that get tough."

2- "What Chinese parents understand is that nothing is fun until you're good at it. To get good at anything you have to work"

3- "Once a child starts to excel at something — whether it's math, piano, pitching or ballet — he or she gets praise, admiration and satisfaction. This builds confidence and makes the once not-fun activity fun."

4- "Chinese parents can order their kids to get straight A's. Western parents can only ask their kids to try their best."

5- "Western parents are concerned about their children's psyches. Chinese parents aren't. They assume strength, not fragility, and as a result they behave very differently."

6- "Chinese parents believe that they know what is best for their children and therefore override all of their children's own desires and preferences."

7- "Western parents try to respect their children's individuality, encouraging them to pursue their true passions, supporting their choices, and providing positive reinforcement and a nurturing environment.

By contrast, the Chinese believe that the best way to protect their children is by preparing them for the future, letting them see what they're capable of, and arming them with skills, work habits and inner confidence that no one can ever take away."