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. Whether Confucian, or not, Asian American parents have distinguished themselves from other parents in shaping their children's education. Dong has seen how San Francisco's magnet Lowell High has garnered more and more interest from Asian American parents who rely on its academic reputations. They scout out the best school. They make sure the elementary and junior high schools are feeder schools to Lowell.