HKI parents quickly realize the difference between the Hong Kong and American educational systems. Education in Hong Kong concentrates on academic achievement. Knowledge and competition are the main foci. There are many regulations. Students are required to wear uniforms and share the same style of haircut.
Academic competition is encouraged.
The student's rights and selfhood are honored, while the Hong Kong system involves tighter control. Hong Kong students are amazed by how American students can just walk out of the class in front of the teacher without appropriate excuses. To the HKI, such acts are disgraceful to the whole learning community. They even see this strange new sort of individualism coming into their homes, as their children request privacy from their parents, making the parents feel like the family structure is breaking into little pieces. Another struggle is the demand of parents to be involved in their children's schooling.