By Peng Zhihua, Certified Educational Psychologist
A brand that endures for many years and remains steadfast is no easy feat. It requires a long period of refinement, building a solid reputation among users to become a well-known name. Because of this, people tend to trust their quality and prefer them over other brands. For example, when purchasing daily necessities or electronic products, consumers usually opt for well-known brands or buy from large, reputable stores.
Parents naturally wish for their children to succeed and often desire them to attend prestigious schools. This is understandable, as some believe that such schools have a glorious history or that they generally offer better resources, learning environments, and facilities. Prestigious schools often boast superior faculty and peer groups as well. However, some parents’ motivations are driven by vanity, hoping that their children attend elite schools to showcase their status among friends and relatives.
When choosing a school for their children, some parents go to great lengths to secure admission to prestigious schools—such as using relatives’ addresses within the school district, falsely reporting addresses, or renting mailboxes from strangers—to increase their child’s chances of acceptance.
Based on years of experience, I have distilled a key insight into school selection: “A prestigious school is not necessarily a good school, and a good school may not be the right fit for your child.” Parents need to consider carefully. Indeed, some renowned schools once had excellent standards, but due to changes in management, faculty, curriculum, and other factors, their current quality may not match their past reputation. Therefore, parents should pay close attention to whether the chosen school’s standards can be maintained.
Furthermore, a school with prestige and strength may not align with the child’s abilities and interests. Parents should evaluate the school’s curriculum, subjects offered, school culture, and emphasis on extracurricular activities to see if they match their child’s talents and personality. For example, if a child has a strong talent in the arts, parents should ensure that the school provides ample opportunities for artistic development.
Building a child’s confidence is also crucial. If a child’s abilities are not particularly outstanding, forcing them into a highly competitive, prestigious school might not be beneficial. Consider whether a child who excels in a regular school or ranks at the bottom of a prestigious one will develop more confidence. Some parents believe that being in a highly competitive environment with top-performing peers can motivate their children to strive harder. This may work well if the child has an active and positive personality. However, for more passive or low-confidence children, such an environment might have adverse effects.
