作者：武汉英中    来源：本站原创  点击数：6497  更新时间：2013-02-06

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《福布斯》2月13日报道

一位西方教师在中国问道：“学生们在申请美国大学时为什么要作假？”

中国学生直截了当地回答：“竞争太激烈了，加上父母的压力。有人帮我写申请信，还有人替我参加SAT考试。”

“你不怕被抓到吗？”

“没那么容易被抓到，美国大学在地球的那一边。所有人都作假。但是学生们不敢在高考中作弊，如果被抓到，处罚非常严厉，未来无从谈起。”

这样的对话揭示出中国人在申请美国高校时令人遗憾的态度，申请中的作弊行为是美国和其它国家面对的一个复杂问题。尽管作弊猖獗，尤其是在东方国家，但它提供了一个在全球提升商业机会和人性标准的机会。通过改进全球价值体系，我们可以从根本上杜绝作弊现象，恢复美国高校申请制度的诚信本质。

Zinch中国是一家社交网络，它让中国学生可以方便地寻找美国大学和奖学金计划。这家研究机构发布的报告显示，中国人在申请美国大学时的作弊现象极为猖獗，部分原因在于学生父母急功近利的思想和受利益驱使的中介机构。90％的介绍信是假的；70％的论文不是申请者自己写的；50％的高中成绩单是假的。中国学生一般会在以下5大类文件中作假——介绍信、论文、高中成绩单、财力证明和获奖记录。

人们常问我到底是谁导演了这出戏。作为一个美籍华人，我认为东方和西方均有责任。在这出大学申请作弊的大戏中，主要演员包括以下：

急功近利的父母。这些人成长的年代里，人们普遍关注自己在“关系”网中的位置是否稳固；有没有抄近路的方法。不惜一切代价为子女的未来筹划，并且保护脸面，是他们行事的主要动力。在美国受教育，尤其是名牌大学的一个学位，不但提高了父母的社会地位，还拓展了孩子的职业前景。

嚣张的“招生”中介。据Zinch中国提供的数据，申请美国高校的中国学生中，大约80％会使用中介。这其中当然有专业、高效的咨询机构，但也充斥着大量不道德的交易。后者充当论文的影子写手、代为填写申请表格、制作虚假的成绩单和推荐信。他们与地方中学官员们保持密切的关系，目的是迎合客户的需求，获得大笔利润。有些中介甚至还与美国高校有联系，他们不但向学生们收取中介费和部分所获得的奖学金，还向那些低级别的美国高校收取佣金。

压力巨大、绝望又无助的学生。他们既不知道，也没有准备好选择正确的价值观、信仰、技能（尤其是在彰显个人能力的英语写作、会话和创造性思维测试中）和课外活动。

亟待改进的小学和中学的体制。然而长久以来的传统，包括一成不变的决策者和所谓的专家无法在朝夕之间改变。教师的水平依然很低，而且缺乏必要的培训。了解内情的西方人看到未受任何培训的中国教师教孩子们学英语时，不禁起了一身鸡皮疙瘩。目前占据主流地位的依然是死记硬背、无止境的考试，以及“不许挑战权威”。这样的教育体制扼杀了创造性，只会培养出制度化的线性思维模式。学生们缺乏社会生存技巧，他们从不参加有意义的课外活动，而这正是美国高校入学申请所必需的。中国中学从不配备思想指导教师，更不用提具备资历的人员了。当然，这样的现状也说明有巨大的改进空间，目前整个亚洲还鲜有类似的迹象。未来几年，私立的教育机构和中介依然会填补学生、父母着眼海外的市场空缺。

那些不十分优秀的美国大学。这些学校，占据了美国官方认可的4000多所大学中的大部分，为了提升学校收入，他们不顾一切地在市场上推销自己。很多学校的资源匮乏，师资薄弱，于是只好降低入学标准。可以理解的是，这些学校也是企业，需要盈利，所以有时候在收入与诚信产生矛盾时，采取了睁一只眼闭一只眼的态度。很多学校都在中国和其它国家使用“招生中介”机构。

亚洲，包括中国的价值体系与美国截然不同。前者是建立在一个复杂的关系网中，在这个网络中，一个人能贡献、获取多大的利益。营造一个良好的关系网需要付出长期的努力。西方价值观是建立在单纯的知识和技术上，你可以和一个昨晚在酒吧碰到的陌生人立即做起生意。

很多中国人对于作弊行为没有内疚感，只要这些行为不是针对亲近的家人、朋友和关系网中的重要角色。在过去三十年的“经济增长奇迹”中，关系和贿赂屡见不鲜，很多中国人因此认为在某种程度上，想要成功就必须要作弊。所以，很多中国父母“自然而然地”忽视了某些原则，甚至也有明知不可为而为之的。

这是东方糟糕的一面。一个巴掌拍不响，让我们再看看西方的问题。

美国最近也出现了大学申请的作弊丑闻，包括非法雇佣他人参加SAT考试。更新鲜的是美国大学教员的作弊事件。美国大学校长负责监管复杂的学校机构，他们天文数字的薪水引起了世界各国的侧目。

4000多所美国大学相互激烈地竞争生源，每所学校都要挣钱，都要维持生计。中国学生当然包括在内，他们宁愿与中介分享收入。

美国最优秀的学校遇到的作弊现象会少很多，他们有足够的时间和经验来识别作弊者，并把他们列入黑名单。遗憾的是，美国大部分高等教育机构（通常学费昂贵）的入学标准并不严格，为什么？还是为了钱。他们需要更多的收入，而这些收入一般都来自国内富裕家庭的学生和国际学生。

如果美国的教育机构出于盈利和“多样化”的目的，把目标对准中国学生，那么他们应当积极帮助这些外国学生在校园里适应过渡期。来自亚洲发展中国家的学生或许起点比较低，但他们学习的速度很快。一旦掌握了知识，他们会迅速向海外传播。

所以，这不仅仅是中国的问题，也是美国的问题。这个事情说起来相当严重，我们希望它不要继续恶化。有些人预测美国的大学泡沫就要破裂了，因为西方人的创造力已经快枯竭了。

让我们再从另一个角度仔细观察中国。我最近一次访问中国时，一家公司的CEO说：“中国的经济依然迅速发展，但价值观的建设远远落在后面。”这真是一语中的。

这句话说明，中国和亚洲的教育市场有一个绝佳的机会，就是训练学生（和父母）形成高质量的价值观、非学术性的社会生存技巧，以及切实的大学入学准备，以便在申请优秀高校和博取广阔前程时占据优势。这些机会已经被著名的私人教育机构和高校入学准备培训机构所抓住了，比如中国的新东方和艾维麦克斯。

我非常拥护一个理念，就是把亚洲的纪律与美国的创造性结合起来，这样的组合可以让学生的智商和情商同时得到提升。儿童的早期训练非常关键，这其实是我的公司ThreeEQ的重要使命之一。通过对儿童早期的努力塑造、发展其社交技巧和创造力、树立合乎伦理的价值观，全世界的学生都可以发挥最大的学术潜能，在最优秀的学校中深造，成为二十一世界的商业和政治领袖。

领导力源于强大的价值观。在2010年福布斯全球CEO大会上，乔治敦大学的董事长、美国橄榄球大联盟前任主席Paul Tagliabue说：“最重要的是价值体系、技能、供给和需求。服务他人是核心价值所在，激情永远不可缺少。”福布斯杂志的出版人Rich Karlgaard曾经引用硅谷一位成功的CEO的话：“在乐观看待生意之前，我会乐观看待价值。”



原文：

“Why do students cheat on U.S. college applications?” asks a Western teacher in China.

“Competition is too crazy. Tremendous pressure from parents. An agent [hired by parents] wrote essays and [hired another student to] take the SAT for me,” the outspoken local Chinese student replies.

“Aren’t you afraid of getting caught?”

“Not easy to get caught. U.S. universities so far away. Everyone cheats. But students don’t cheat on the Gao Kao [China’s higher-ed entrance exam]. If caught, very severe penalties; future gone.”

This dialogue reveals an unfortunately common attitude in China regarding US college admissions. Cheating on college apps is a complex problem confronting the US and other parts of the world. Although cheating seems rampant, especially in the East, the situation represents a wonderful growth opportunity for business and humanity globally. By improving value systems globally, we can tackle the root causes of cheating and restore integrity to the US college applications system.

A research report in 2010 by Zinch China, an online social networking and research business that matches Chinese students with colleges and scholarships, reveals pervasive cheating on US college apps in China, driven in part by hyper-competitive parents and aggressive agents. 90% of recommendation letters are fake; 70% of essays are not written by the applicant; and 50% of high school transcripts are falsified. Chinese applicants typically cheat in five major categories: recommendation letters, essays, high school transcripts, financial aid applications, and awards.

People have asked me recently about who specifically are the bad actors. As an immigrant Chinese American, I empathize with both the East and the West. Although ethical actors exist on both sides, the college app cheating ecosystem includes the following actors:

•Extremely competitive, eager parents who were raised and worked in eras when protecting or enhancing their positions in “guanxi” networks (local Chinese-style relationships) and cutting corners was commonly acceptable. Doing anything for their single child’s future and not losing face are motivating forces. An American education, especially a degree from an elite US university, boosts parental social standing and strengthens children’s career prospects.

•Overly aggressive “recruiting” agents. According to a Zinch China report, about 80 percent of Chinese students applying to US colleges and universities use agents. There are ethical, effective consultancies and agents that take a higher road, but unethical agents abound. The latter ghost-write essays, fill out applications, and falsify transcripts or recommendations. They may work with local high school officials to keep clients happy and revenues flowing.Some of these agents often misrepresent or hide their affiliations with client US colleges and universities. These agents not only receive payments from their client parents, but some also get a portion from any scholarships awarded to their client students as well as commissions from lower-tier US colleges/universities for successful recruits.

•Stressed or helpless (and desperate) students who didn’t know better or were ill-prepared and didn’t or weren’t able to start early enough to pick up the right values, beliefs, skills (especially in self-reflective English essay writing, conversational English, and creative and lateral thinking), and worthwhile extracurriculars.

•Primary to secondary school systems that need significant improvement. Legacy systems, including longstanding decision makers and key recommenders, can’t change overnight. Unfortunately, teachers remain underpaid and lack adequate training. Westerners in the know get goosebumps watching under-trained or untrained local Chinese teachers teaching kids English. Learning by rote memorization, endless test prep, and “no-talk-back-to-teachers-or-authorities” are still the norm. This has stifled creativity and institutionalized linear thinking. Students lack social skills and do not participate in meaningful extracurricular activities that are necessary for US college admissions.Chinese high schools rarely provide guidance counselors, let alone quality ones. This issue also means enormous opportunities for positive changes, which are slowly or spottily happening in Asia. For years to come, private education service firms and recruitment agents will continue to fill the gap for students and their parents eyeing overseas.

•US universities and colleges that aren’t the super selective ones. These schools, which comprise the vast majority of the 4,000+ accredited colleges and universities in the US, compete (aggressively) to market themselves and recruit students for needed revenues. Many employ inadequate resources and methods for or simply set low standards in screening admissions. Understandably, these schools are businesses, and businesses need revenue. Some have turned a blind eye as it’s more important to boost revenue than to maintain integrity. A number of them use “recruiting agents” in China and other parts of the world.

The value systems in developing Asia, including China, are so different than America’s. The former is based largely on the high(er)-context relationships one creates and the benefits one can give or take from that relationship network structure. It takes longer to build good relationships. The western value system is based largely on low-context meritocracy. You can do business right away with a stranger you’ve just met at a bar last night.

Many Chinese don’t have any moral qualms about cheating, especially as long as it’s not within your close family and trusted friends within the guanxi networks. Many feel that the history of guanxi networks and even bribing often seen in the past three decades in China’s “economic growth miracle” mean that they at some points in their lives must cheat to succeed. Thus, many Chinese parents have simply been acting “normally,” ignoring or not even understanding that some actions might be unethical.

That is a shady part of the East, with a Western foot in it. There are two sides to a coin, so let’s look into part of the West.

College apps cheating in the US, including the illegal act of hiring someone else to take the SAT, has also surfaced lately. Rarer are cases of top US college officials (caught) cheating. But the astronomical pay of US college presidents, who do have highly responsible jobs overseeing their very complex organizations, have been raising eyebrows or ruffling feathers in their world.

4,000+ US universities and colleges compete (fiercely and many cordially) with their peer schools. But each has a business to run, money to make. This includes “recruiting” students from China and other parts of Asia, where their agents can get a cut of the revenue action.

The super-selective US schools typically encounter far fewer blatant cheating problems. They are relatively very well endowed and sophisticated enough to detect and weed out, and at times, blacklist the wild cheaters. Unfortunately, the bulk of the US higher education institutions (with relatively high admit rates) may have looser standards. Why? Again, primarily money. They need sufficient revenue, which often comes from full tuition payments by domestic students in very wealthy families, and international and out-of-state students.

If US institutions are to target Mainland Chinese because of the full tuition revenue and want to “improve diversity,” then they should more effectively assist these foreign students with adjusting to their new interim home. International students from developing Asia tend to have a slower start on a US university campus but many learn fast. And once they’ve learned, they are very good at exporting and applying their knowledge abroad.

So, it’s not just China or other parts of the world. It’s also a US problem, if not a world problem. A big one, and hopefully not an increasing one. Some have speculated that the clock is ticking towards a potential US college bubble burst, partially facilitated by western technology innovations.

Now let’s look closely at China from another angle. “China is expanding greatly in economics and wealth but the rate of improvement in its value system is still low,” commented a CEO peer during my recent visit to China. Bingo.

That comment confirms a superb opportunity that exists in the Chinese and Asian education markets to educate and train students (and parents) to adapt quality value systems, nonacademic and social skills, and tangible college prep skills to compete successfully for admissions to high-quality universities and bright futures. These types of opportunities are already being seized by reputable private education and college prep service firms in Asia like market leader New Oriental in China and up-and-comer IvyMax China.

I am a big fan of combining Asian discipline and American creativity. This combination enables students to enhance their IQs and EQs simultaneously. Training kids early is key and is a part of my firm ThreeEQ‘s mission. By training diligently from an early age, developing social skills and creativity, and embracing ethical value systems, students around the globe will be able to maximize their academic potential, attend premier universities, and emerge as business and political leaders in the twenty-first century.

Leadership starts with a strong value system. At the Forbes Global CEO Conference 2010, Paul Tagliabue, Chairman of the Board at Georgetown University and former Commissioner of America’s National Football League, advises: “What matters are value systems, skills, supply and demand, rewards. Service to others is core. Passion is a must.” Rich Karlgaard, Publisher of Forbes magazine, quotes a very successful CEO in Silicon Valley: “I optimized for value before I optimized for business.”

原文链接：http://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonma/2012/02/13/how-to-stop-chinese-kids-from-cheating-on-college-apps/