I was on (S. Korea) discussing the causes of flourishing and democratic dysfunction. I urged Koreans to raise their happiness by giving their children far less homework and hagwon, far more time to play and sleep.
Conversation
Take care of the 🐘 to much focus on the rider! How did it go?
1
Thank goodness someone has! I taught there two years in public elementary and those poor little kids were exhausted. I would routinely see children as young as 6 hopping on the bus at nighttime to go to hagwons in the next town.
2
Korean hagwons are the ultimate educational prisoner’s dilemma. Most parents know it is causing harm but the neighbors’ kids are studying until midnight so they do the same.
4
I worked in Seoul for a Korean company once. My manager was very interested in where I learned a particular set of IT skills. He could not believe I was self taught, that in the US we can follow our own interests and that a hagwon is not the only way.
2
It's tragic how many cultures and individuals don't recognize the virtue of moderation. A little work, a little play. A little seriousness, a little silliness. Balance. It's a self-evident good that so many people have tricked themselves (or been tricked) into thinking is bad.
2
Do you tend to get asked different questions when you’re in an foreign country?
interesting that the country predicted to be the richest soon also has about the lowest birth rate in the world. Similar to China's.
Show more replies