Tiger Mother

Il libro della Tiger Mother, Amy Chua, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother (Penguin Press), la mamma cinese, docente di Yale, che spinge con ogni mezzo le figlie a ottenere il primo posto a scuola e nella musica, sta suscitando una vasta eco in America (e anche in Italia). Oggi sul New York Times si pronuncia David Brooks, e rivolta il caso: la signora Chua proteggerebbe le figlie dall'affrontare vere prove sociali: "I have the opposite problem with Chua. I believe she's coddling her children. She's protecting them from the most intellectually demanding activities because she doesn't understand what's cognitively difficult and what isn't.

Practicing a piece of music for four hours requires focused attention, but it is nowhere near as cognitively demanding as a sleepover with 14-year-old girls. Managing status rivalries, negotiating group dynamics, understanding social norms, navigating the distinction between self and group - these and other social tests impose cognitive demands that blow away any intense tutoring session or a class at Yale. ... 
I have the opposite problem with Chua. I believe she's coddling her children. She's protecting them from the most intellectually demanding activities because she doesn't understand what's cognitively difficult and what isn't.

Practicing a piece of music for four hours requires focused attention, but it is nowhere near as cognitively demanding as a sleepover with 14-year-old girls. Managing status rivalries, negotiating group dynamics, understanding social norms, navigating the distinction between self and group - these and other social tests impose cognitive demands that blow away any intense tutoring session or a class at Yale". nyt.