The Origin of OurScool Kids

Hello parents! I'm Ryan. During my studies in the UK and the US, I deeply realized how culture, family, and schooling profoundly shape a child's life.

I still remember in our classes, each group was required to present viewpoints and insights on educational theories or case studies. Even though all students were future educators, not "everyone" could articulate their thoughts clearly. Most students were bold enough to ask questions, challenge traditional concepts, and express their ideas—and most of these students were from Western countries. We from Asia, although able to clearly articulate our views when writing academic papers, often struggled in the classroom to express ourselves clearly or voice our insights aloud, despite having many insightful ideas.

I began to wonder: Is this phenomenon normal? Why does this disparity exist?

The reason may stem from the Asian education system, where our classrooms tend to emphasize discipline, obedience, and rote memorization, with less focus on developing critical thinking and expressive abilities. Children raised under this system are often taught not to question authority easily and not to voice differing opinions aloud. Even though bilingual education in Taiwan has been developing for years, in my classroom I still often encounter children who "don't know" how to systematically construct their thoughts, are "uncertain" about how to express ideas logically, or "don't understand" how to make good use of available resources for learning.

At the same time, I also began to realize that the best way to cultivate skills such as critical thinking, communication, and logical reasoning is to start from a young age. These skills not only enrich children's ideas in learning, but also bring significant value to their everyday lives. We hope that through our articles, parents can engage in dialogue with us and discuss ideas on raising children together.

During my time as a university lecturer, I also observed that issues like discrimination, war, and interpersonal conflict often stem from a lack of understanding of others. Once there is a lack of understanding, prejudice and fear easily arise. I believe that if people could put themselves in each other's shoes, it would be of great help in fostering mutual understanding. When we are willing to learn about and respect other cultures, we can better explore the world.

To achieve this goal, we have based our course content, teaching methods, and curriculum design on the following core competencies: "Cultural Awareness," "Logical and Critical Reasoning," "Problem-Solving Skills," and "Critical Thinking." We hope that while children explore the world through language, they also nurture a heart that respects diverse cultures.