news: exposure to music, drinking & gambling best path for scholars

Here's some practical child-rearing advice:

--
Thursday August 9

Smoking, Singing Whiz Kid Tops School Exams

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Encouraged by his mother, a
Hong Kong teenager smoked, drank, gambled, ***sang
karaoke*** and played video games all the way to 10
straight As in the territory's most competitive
examinations.

[*** Note: the Mozart Effect]

Chan Kwan-kit scored 10 As in the Hong Kong
Certificate of Education Examination, which
determines whether students can continue with
pre-university courses or have to leave school.

``If I had to do nothing but study to get my
grades, then I'd rather not get them,'' he was
quoted as saying in the Chinese-language Sing Pao
newspaper on Thursday.

He was one of a record 17 students who notched up
10 As this year but his approach to studying made
him stand apart from the other industrious
students.

Kwan-kit says he has smoked for three years and
*** frequented karaoke bars -- even during his exams.
*** He is an avid pianist and member of the school
choir. ***

[*** Note: the Mozart Effect]

Nonetheless, he still finds time to study, is
taking classes in accounting and German this
summer, and hopes to win a scholarship to Harvard
University.

His mother, who sells newspapers, introduced him
to drinking, card playing and the popular Chinese
gambling past-time mahjong. She told the newspaper
*** it was important to expose children to new things
at the right time. ***

``He said he wanted to go into business. If that's
the case, then drinking and gambling may become
part of his life. I don't want him to know nothing
else but studying,'' the mother said.

The qualifying examination puts enormous pressure
on Hong Kong teenagers who have to fight for a
limited number of pre-university places in
government-assisted schools.

This year, there are just 24,300 places for 49,900
students making the grade. Those who don't score
high enough have to start looking for jobs, find a
place in costly private schools or go overseas to
study.

A 16-year-old girl, who apparently could not bear
the pressure, leapt to her death on Tuesday, a day
before the results were released.

[This poor girl's parents obviously did not
understand the importance of the Mozart effect:
Kids who play piano, drink and gamble and party
do much better academically and are more creative
than those who don't. Parents take note!]