Annotation 2 (Draft)

The Predicament Urban Middle-Class Families Encounter: 

Parents Are Not the Best Teachers (Common Wealth No.419, 2009)

Nowadays, we have fewer and fewer children every year in Taiwan. The author, Sherry Lee, thought children get what their parents give them too much to lack the basic ability of living. For example, she once visited a kindergarten, and saw a five-year-old child sitting on the chair to wait for the teacher taking off his shoes. After 20 minutes, the teacher shouted her orders to the boy; then, the boy unwillingly took off his shoes by himself.  "The new generation generally lack the spirit of adventure, ability of distinguishing between right and wrong and discipline. Also, they delay to grow." she wrote.

In 2007, nuclear families, single parent families, grandparent-breeding families are over 50% in Taiwan. In contrast with cooperation which extended families have, those are in the lonely upbringing environment--because when parents are both busy, no one can help them take care of their children. Apparently, the change of the family structure brings new problem about education.  

Nearly 40% parents spend less than three hours to get along with children who age 6 to 12 years old. Parents and children only have greeting but do not know the details of life with each other. Parents are learning models to children; however, they are overwhelmed by work. Many families are like a desert lodge; parents are so busy to be "p.m. parents." Parents and children become lonely travelers who have less conversations and eyes intersection.