When Chinese-style education system meets British teens

Voice from the Chinese and British netizens

The program captured the attention and triggered comments on social networks from netizens in both China and Britain. Some people agreed with what Strowger said, and emphasized the importance of happiness and independent thinking to the students.

Fletch Lives, a netizen from Liverpool, said: "Some parts are true but let's not forget how oppressive the Chinese education system is. Rather my kids grow up happy and free rather than as some robot who can play the piano at 4 years old."

Francis McGonigal from Birmingham commented that Chinese methods encouraged rote learning, instead of independent thinking.

Meanwhile, several voices agreed with the Chinese teachers. Hong Kong netizen Tuppence Worth made a comment on the Daily Mail website: "I agree all kids need more discipline. The tiger mothers and helicopter parenting just does not work. These kids coming into the work place are not prepared, they have absolutely no social skills at all (lack of play and socialization because of hours of tuition)."

A netizen from Glasgow said: "These Chinese teachers are only stating the truth. The pupils are merely a product of a society that is going backwards. Very little effective teaching and learning takes place in today's classrooms. The views of the head teacher in the article are illuminating and typical. That is why China has progressed so far economically and why we are where we are."

While a netizen from the United States wrote in his comment: "I'm neither a British nor a Chinese. I agree with the five Chinese's opinion. For me, I will never ever send my children to study in Britain."