Some attribute that to Confucianism, which ranks educated people high on the hierarchy. That value system still exists in many Asian countries, such as China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan and Vietnam. It's not just here. It stems from Korea. Parents compare their children with their friend's children in terms of education.
Education is embedded in the social fabric.
But other non-Confucian societies, such as India, Pakistan and the Philippines, value education as well. Education is associated with upward mobility, and in most Asian countries, education is a privilege. Dong believes the immigrant experience may contribute to the success of Asian American students. People come here for survival. The higher the generation, the less aggressive parents are with their kids.