On Amy Chua's "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother"

A new year had barely started when on January 8, 2011, The Wall Street Journal published what may well have become its most controversial article of the year. Entitled “Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior” it began by reminding Western parents of the common stereotype of the Asian prodigy child by stating, “A lot of people wonder how Chinese parents raise such stereotypically successful kids. They wonder what these parents do to produce so many math whizzes and music prodigies...”

The author, Yale Law School professor, Amy Chua, then proceeded to uncover the Asian-prodigy secret, explaining how she had raised her daughters. The things her daughters were not allowed to do included attend a sleepover, be in a school play, watch TV or play computer games, choose their own extra curricular activities, get any grade less than an A, not be the top student in all subjects, or play any instrument other than the piano or violin. Furthermore, playing an instrument in the Chua family meant practicing about three hours on school days, not to mention weekends and holidays, which were regarded as extra time to get ahead of their peers.

But it was the story of a piano piece called “The Little White Donkey” that officially branded the article controversial. Chua told how she had forced her seven year-old daughter to practice a piano piece late into the night, without breaks for dinner, water or even the washroom. The practicing was punctuated by Chua yelling threats and her daughter tearing up the sheet music, only to have it taped together again. But, as far as Chua was concerned, such matches between herself and her daughter, which only increased in frequency and virulence, were ultimately worth it, because there was a world full of other prodigies out there who her daughters must work tirelessly to rival.

The article provoked plenty of response, and doubtless served its purpose in promoting Chua's book Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. The responses streamed in from the horrified, who declared Chua's methods abusive, from the, well... abusive... who sent Chua death threats, the heartily commendatory, and the apologists who reminded everyone that the memoir had an element of self-parody. Many acknowledged that too many youth have lost the work ethic of other generations and cultures, which had to struggle against greater odds to succeed. But most still expressed a need for a balance of parental discipline and drive with self-expression, independence and freedom.

But few, of course, have examined this vigorous drive for success from a Christian, and more specifically, Adventist, perspective, which I here aim to do.

Firstly, the Bible seems to support a rigorous work ethic. The writings of Solomon are filled with condemnations of slothfulness and injunctions of parental discipline for foolish youth. Solomon also enjoins his readers, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” In another verse he assures us of the success which will attend such efforts, “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.” Certainly Biblical Christianity is a high incentive for the diligent improvement of time and talents.

But Christianity also raises the concern of pride inherent in constant competition to be the best. The apostle Paul instructed the Philippians, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Certainly this would preclude the attitude Chua espouses that it is a failure when someone else comes out above you. The Christian recognizes that their worth comes, not from what they can do, but from their status as a child of God. Yet this will produce in them a spirit of love to God and others which will produce diligent, but unselfish, effort.

The Christian also cannot seek success at all costs because there is only one thing which is worth the giving up of all else. “Our Redeemer is the pearl so precious that in comparison all things else may be accounted loss.” Christ Object Lessons p. 115

Violin virtuoso, Jaime Jorge, is an example of someone pushed towards excellence by his mother, yet with higher principles than self aggrandizement. At the age of nine, standing before a panel of accomplished judges, he was given the opportunity to go abroad to study music and represent Cuba through his music. But with one condition - that he would declare he did not believe in God. “Instantly,” he said, “I remembered my parents telling me that 'it is better to obey God, rather than men'. I knew what my response would be.” Doubtless, his parents who had sacrificed much to give him a musical education, were proud to know that their son had also developed such a strong faith and independence of mind. He had his priorities straight, and God later opened the way for him to minister to others through music, while making his faith a central part of his performances.

In conclusion, Ellen White stated in Child Guidance p.164 the reason that the Christian must strive for excellence. “Our first duty to God and our fellow beings is in self-development. Every faculty with which the Creator has endowed us should be cultivated to the highest degree of perfection, that we may be able to do the greatest amount of good of which we are capable.”


Note:
The didactic tone of this post stems from this being a badly-edited version of a school essay. Despite my apparent confidence, I'm the last person in the world who should write with any authority on this subject. I'm a struggling Christian, a lazy daughter and student and a mediocre musician. But I still have an opinion and now you've read it. ;) To show the irony of this post, maybe I'll post my essay on "How to Cultivate Laziness " - a topic on which I have much expertise. However, I don't have any readers, so...