22 years, 8 months ago

Using Summer to Spring Ahead for the Fall

TIMES STAFF WRITER Timothy Yu shuffled his feet, looking a little embarrassed by the question. Parents, said Kathleen Rhee, who founded Fullerton Tutors 15 years ago, “want their children to be prepared and be confident in the next level.” Unlike students at other summer schools who are, for the most part, studying to catch up, Timothy and his classmates are looking to be ahead of their peers come fall. The Korean education culture, with its heavy emphasis on academic success, “has led to productive students,” Park said, “but in terms of creativity and critical thinking, they’ve lagged behind.” Korean parents on both sides of the Pacific are beginning to wonder whether they are driving their children too hard, she said. Still, she said, when she sees other parents filling every free hour of their children’s time, “I get scared that I am not doing enough.” Timothy and his sister don’t attend hagwon during the school year, Yu said. And early last school year, Yu made a deal with her son that “if he made two honor rolls, he didn’t have to go to summer school.” Timothy made three, Yu said.

LA Times
Summer Children Parents Students School Academic Korea Korean Fullerton Timothy Rhee Brem Fullerton Tutors

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