Why do people hate Kumon?

Answer 1

The same reason many people hate math or school in general- because it is difficult and sometimes frustrating. Adversity is not a comfortable state. Intelligence and intellect are not easily won.

Kumon provides a supportive and caring environment to push kids gradually out of their comfort zone without making them too uncomfortable to a point where they develop a negative aversion to math and such. It is based on a Japanese style of teaching and learning. Some parents think it's a great idea to follow this model and expose their children to learning that is modeled on a country that is among the leaders of the world in terms of scientific and technical successes.

Criticism of Kumon may include the idea that it is too strict or too formulaic, or too "one-size fits all" for different kids, that the books are cheaply produced but expensive, it doesn't fit into the American cultural context, etc. The company has tailored its approach to focus on individual student needs and teach them at their level, however, and seems to provide precisely what public school systems lack- individual attention that picks up at each students threshold and then pushes them further along.

This is from their website: http://www.kumon.com/AboutKumon.aspx

( I do not work for Kumon or know anyone that works for Kumon. My bias is that I think well of any service that aspires to the goals that Kumon does, and achieves some of the things that it does for children who benefit from it almost certainly more than they would have without such a service)

Answer 2

Lots of people do. (trust me)