Here's What China Gets Right About Education, And What The US And Europe Get Wrong

[bhikkhu]

3. Though I've never been to China or Europe, I agree

...having heard over and over from my kids how they can't do something or other because "I'm not good at it". Every time, I tell them that people who are good at things have worked long and hard at, without exception. Yet all my illustrative stories and explanations later, it seems to have not made a dent in my household.

I can only think that the whole idea is picked up from and reinforced by their peers, teachers, and other adults. In any case, it frustrates me no end to see them limits themselves so much before they have even tried anything, and perpetually bail out of anything effortful because they think it should be easy, if only they were talented.