2011-11-18 11:21 Ecns.cn Web Editor: Zhang Chan

(Ecns.cn)--"Tiger mother" Amy Chua sparked worldwide controversy for her "cruel" way of educating her two daughters after publishing the book "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother" in the United States earlier this year. Amy's parenting techniques became the center of heated discussion around the globe, but her example is no longer an isolated one.

Not far away in Hong Kong, Xiao Baiyou, a man who calls himself the "wolf father" has also made waves across China in recent days for the strict rules he applies to his four children. If they fail to meet his standards, Xiao says he is not afraid to beat them, for example.

Although controversial, Xiao's parenting methods have led to three of his children being admitted to China's prestigious Peking University. As for the youngest child, who majors in violin and is in her second year of senior high school, Xiao expects her to go to the Central Conservatory of Music, the best in the field.

Beating children is not as simple as many people think, according to Xiao. "You need to adopt a very scientific way, which means you need to know when, how and where to beat the kids," said Xiao. "In my family, there are clear home rules and punishment measures, and the kids need to know what is right and what is wrong, and which part they did wrong."

In Xiao's opinion, all children have three natures: animality, humanity and sociality. Before the age of 12, the animality in a child plays a vital role, therefore corporal punishment will help teach them to remember what is right and what is wrong, he said.

But after age 12, humanity and sociality become important, which means that corporal punishment is no longer appropriate. After the humanity forms in the child, Xiao begins using lectures to educate his children.

Xiao's methods were not a self-invented, but inherited from his mother, who received little education and often beat him when he was young. For Xiao, without the beatings, he would not have been among the top students admitted to Jinan University in Guangdong, or the successful businessman he is today.

Xiao said he believes that kids who grow up in China should use the Chinese way to educate. When his kids were little, he required them to memorize classic ancient works by famous Chinese thinkers, for example. Now, his children are excellent in character and learning, he said.

In 2009, two of Xiao's children enrolled in Peking University. This summer, another daughter also followed in their footsteps. Xiao's youngest daughter is expected to major in the Guzheng, a traditional Chinese musical instrument.

Xiao's children were once against their father's methods. The oldest son even thought of running away from the family after his father forbid him from growing plants after he failed to get a good mark on a test. But now, all of his children say they understand their father.

"The atmosphere in our family is very good. We are very united and help each other in study and in life," said the family's oldest son. But the understanding of the children has not erased concerns and doubts from the outside world.

An editorial in Beijing News doubted if admission to Peking University was really something to brag about. Two of Xiao's children have Hong Kong IDs, while the other has acquired American citizenship, making it less challenging for them to take the college entrance examination.

China Youth Daily also wondered if an offer from a famous university was enough to prove one's success. If so, it would be a tragedy for education in our country, since many graduates from Peking University are also at the lowest level of society, according to the article.

Some say it is all a publicity campaign for Xiao's new book "Therefore, Peking University Siblings" and his private school, reminding people of the "tiger mother" and her book, which was widely shared by media and the public.

Whatever the father's reasons for using his way of education, it cannot be adopted by everyone, said an education expert. The situation and background of kids vary, and if parents only see the result of this parenting method, and use it blindly, the impact may be negative.