Assignment 3 Why kids care more about achievement than others (ZhengQian and Rizhao)

Summarise in 100 to 150 words, the reasons why children value achievement more
Summary: A new study conducted in the name of The Making Caring Common Project at Harvard's Graduate School of Education has shown results indicating that, out of 10,000 surveyed middle and high school students, almost 80 percent had ranked achievement or happiness over the caring of others. The prevalence of such a trend can be traced back to the rhetoric gap between the values that parents attempt to inculcate into their children, and the behaviour of parents themselves. However, studies have proven that empathy is the key to a child's increased levels of happiness and success, as it activates the moral reasoning and characteristics which the child needs to maintain satisfactory relationships with others. Also, as discerning and perspective creatures, children can easily identify the meaning that parents wish to convey through their behaviour. Therefore, parents should make the extra effort to help their children, be it through encouraging them to view the world from multiple perspectives, or making them pitch in to household chores, or doing meaningful deeds for others on a consistent basis.
Do young people in your society care more about achievement than helping others? If so, why do you think that is happening in your society and how do you think we can inculcate in them the importance of helping others?
Reader Response: The young people in my society seems to care more about achievement than helping others.Singapore is a meritocratic society. With the increasing acceptance of skilled foreign talents into our society, Singapore is becoming more competitive than ever in terms of jobs, social standing, salaries and work environment. Everybody aims for a high paying white collar job capable of promosing them a life of comfort, and the main criteria for such jobs is based upon one's achievements in life, as the notion that achievement is equivalent to one's capabilities is a widely regarded one. As such, despite claims made by parents that development of moral character is an essential part of their children's growth, when faced with the social pressures of our meritocratic society, it eventually boils down to the primary concept of one's achievement in life being of utmost importance. This is a result of the belief that one's achievement is reflective of one's capability, happiness, social standing, and it is merely the nature of parents to react in favour of achievement over empathy, as achievement being equivalent to one's success and comfort in life is the general consensus.  But as the studies in the articles have stated, empathy, and in general one's moral character, defines who you are and determines your standing and image in the eyes of the public. Generally, empathetic, morally upright individuals will receive the acceptance and respect of peers and those whom they have extended a helping hand to. Not only will they be welcomed with open arms in society, they will receive the feelings of gratitude from those whom they have helped, and feel a sense of joy and meaning, resulting in increased levels of happiness with life. Therefore, the development of empathy and character in children should be piroritised over pure achievement, as no amount of achievement can ever cover up for one's lack of principles and morals, and trouble is inevitable. Parents and teachers alike should encourage children to participate in more community involvement projects, as these provide learning opportunities for children regarding the plight others may faced, and in the process of helping them, they will gain a meaningful insight into lthe many woes of life and understand how they can contribute to other's life, and as a result understand the need to be more empathetic.