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I like the sound of that.

It places focus on a single test that often has little relevance to future studies, though.

No, I mean I like the sound that they were meritocratically governed. What they considered merit might have been whacky, but in the end I can't really judge given how successful the East has been throughout history and in our lifetimes.

Some of the punishments they meted out were barbaric, though. I think it was still legal until about a hundred years or so ago for Death by a Thousand Cuts to be used as an execution method in China?

I like the sound of that.

It places focus on a single test that often has little relevance to future studies, though.

Sorry, are we talking about contemporary American secondary schools or historical Chinese civil service?

I like the sound of that.

It places focus on a single test that often has little relevance to future studies, though.

Sorry, are we talking about contemporary American secondary schools or historical Chinese civil service?

Historical Chinese civil service, as well as contemporary Chinese college entrance exams ("gaokao").

I'm pretty sure Point Breeze was being ironic.

One characteristic of Singapore's education system that I take pride in is that regardless of race or religion, as long as the student works hard and achieves exemplary academic results, (s)he can get into the "elite" schools. For example, Raffles Institution, perceived by the majority of our student population as the most prestigious school, is actually secular and accepts students of all races according to their Primary School Leaving Examination results. One doesn't even have to be Catholic or go to church to attend catholic schools here. So as a Singaporean student, to be extremely competitive is actually understandable and relatable.

Ah heck care Raffles! St Gabriel's is where it's at!

Also, yes, that is one part of our education system that I'm proud of. I'm not proud of the fact that educational qualifications have become so important that if you don't have the paper have fun living a life of abject poverty, or that the stress involved is toxic or that the standards are so impossibly high outside tuition is basically a necessity and those without the money to afford it are fucked, or the fact that those with learning disabilities (like, say, dyslexia) are treated like retards or that mother tongue is a mandatory subject even if English IS YOUR FUCKING MOTHER TONGUE!

I'm sorry, I shouldn't rant. As a white guy living in Singapore I can honestly say that racism is alive and well. It's just that you can rise where in other countries you could not.

Hell, it's just practical to learn the majority language of the place you're living in.

As for the rest, Sapphiron would better be able to respond.

EDIT: Also, people sure have a lot to say about race relations! Why is it not something Americans speak of then? I mean, I know that I can't judge an entire country based on the responses here, but so far people have talked about race in quite a respectful yet real manner in this topic. Does that not happen when you talk about race in the same way you've done here as you would in the place you live?

Hell, it's just practical to learn the majority language of the place you're living in.

As for the rest, Sapphiron would better be able to respond.

EDIT: Also, people sure have a lot to say about race relations! Why is it not something Americans speak of then? I mean, I know that I can't judge an entire country based on the responses here, but so far people have talked about race in quite a respectful yet real manner in this topic. Does that not happen when you talk about race in the same way you've done here as you would in the place you live?

As I said before, people are much more comfortable believing we live in a post-racial society than they are with engaging in a critical discussion on race. We self-segregate so well that I've heard white people say they go out of their way to avoid conversations with black people as much as possible. Not out of any overt racism, but because they've never had a meaningful conversation with a black person and would just like to keep it that way.

Up until very recently with the rise of Black Lives Matter, most whites loved in total ignorance of how blacks live their lives in America (myself included, I was one of those "colorblind" folks until I came to college).

Part of that can also be attributed to the fact that white people will also go out of their way to not mention race for fear of being called racist...

I believe this clip is also relevant: https://youtu.be/5dhjwWhlk5Q