--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ruth Stanislaus, principal of P.S. 971 in…" description: "\"“Ruth Stanislaus, principal of P.S. 971 in Sunset Park, whose student population is now a little over half Chinese, was taken aback when one mother of ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/kay-s-hymowitz-44541_quote_ruth-stanislaus-principal-of-p-s-971-in_810057.jpg" --- # Ruth Stanislaus, principal of P.S. 971 in Sunset Park… ![“Ruth Stanislaus, principal of P.S. 971 in Sunset Park, whose student population is now a little over half Chinese, was taken aback when one mother of a kindergartner—a five-year-old, mind you—announced in faltering English: “My son must go Harvard.” If, as sometimes appears to be the case…” quote by Kay S. Hymowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/kay-s-hymowitz-44541_quote_ruth-stanislaus-principal-of-p-s-971-in_810057.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/kay-s-hymowitz-44541_quote_ruth-stanislaus-principal-of-p-s-971-in_810057.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/kay-s-hymowitz-44541_quote_ruth-stanislaus-principal-of-p-s-971-in_810057.jpg) > ““Ruth Stanislaus, principal of P.S. 971 in Sunset Park, whose student population is now a little over half Chinese, was taken aback when one mother of a kindergartner—a five-year-old, mind you—announced in faltering English: “My son must go Harvard.” If, as sometimes appears to be the case, “Harvard” is the first English word learned by immigrant Chinese mothers, the second word is probably “Stuyvesant.” Remember”” [Kay S. Hymowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-s-hymowitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Immigrant parents often project elite academic aspirations onto their children, sometimes overlooking realistic pathways and the child's own interests. **In simple terms:** Parents push kids toward top schools, sometimes unrealistically. Key Takeaway Balance ambition with realistic guidance. Themes education immigration parental expectations aspirations cultural pressure Mood anxious hopeful reflective Type advice social commentary cultural analysis When to use this quote - college counseling - parent‑teacher meetings - career planning - community workshops Key Concepts social mobility identity formation family dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can parents support their child's dreams without imposing unrealistic goals? - What resources help families navigate educational choices? A Different Perspective High expectations can cause stress and limit exploration of alternative passions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Harvard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harvard/) [Harvard Appears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harvard-appears-245033/) [Harvard English](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harvard-english-245031/) [Immigrant Chinese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigrant-chinese-245034/) [Son Harvard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son-harvard-245032/) ## Related quotes > [About all some men accomplish in life is to send a son to Harvard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/about-all-some-men-accomplish-in-life-is-to-send-a-son-to-harvard/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [ It was at Harvard not quite forty years ago that I went into an anechoic \[totally silent\] chamber not expecting in that silent room… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/it-was-at-harvard-not-quite-forty-years-ago-that-i-went-into-an/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [“At Harvard I learned most uncomfortably that facts are facts. In Italy I learned that facts are the way you look at them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-o-faolain-2/at-harvard-i-learned-most-uncomfortably-that-facts-are-facts-in-italy/) [Sean O'Faolain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-o-faolain-2/) > [In 2002, Google began an ambitious project to digitize every book in the world. It was intended as a search project: type in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-darnton/in-2002-google-began-an-ambitious-project-to-digitize-every-book-in/) [Robert Darnton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-darnton/) > [I don't believe I'll ever get credit for anything I do in foreign affairs, no matter how successful it is, because I didn't go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/i-don-t-believe-i-ll-ever-get-credit-for-anything-i-do-in-foreign/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [“Holy freaking moly! Harvard really was well endowed!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-m-silber/holy-freaking-moly-harvard-really-was-well-endowed/) [N.M. Silber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-m-silber/) > [My undergraduate studies at Brown and graduate degrees from Harvard prepared me for a multifaceted career as an actor, entrepreneur and philanthropist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hill-harper/my-undergraduate-studies-at-brown-and-graduate-degrees-from-harvard/) [Hill Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hill-harper/) > [When one considers our nation's educational foundations - Harvard, Yale, Princeton and most of our respected institutions were originally Christian - it becomes evident…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-falwell/when-one-considers-our-nation-s-educational-foundations-harvard-yale/) [Jonathan Falwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-falwell/) > [The actions of the University in my case make it abundantly clear that the Administration's rhetoric about Harvard's desire to attract and retain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-geller/the-actions-of-the-university-in-my-case-make-it-abundantly-clear/) [Margaret Geller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-geller/) > [There's an interesting book about that called The Third Reich and the Ivory Tower, written by Stephen H. Norwood. It has a long discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-an-interesting-book-about-that-called-the-third-reich-and-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [According to a recent Harvard study, $6 trillion, when you include the ongoing healthcare expenses for our wounded soldiers, which is the least they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/according-to-a-recent-harvard-study-6-trillion-when-you-include-the/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [It's important to make clear to all the schools at Harvard the central role of the library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-darnton/it-s-important-to-make-clear-to-all-the-schools-at-harvard-the/) [Robert Darnton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-darnton/) > [While living in America when I attended Harvard in the early 1970s, I saw for myself the awesome, almost miraculous, power of a people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benazir-bhutto/while-living-in-america-when-i-attended-harvard-in-the-early-1970s-i/) [Benazir Bhutto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benazir-bhutto/) > [Today, at Harvard, any student with the currently fashionable color of skin is given rights denied to students of the currently unfashionable color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-capp/today-at-harvard-any-student-with-the-currently-fashionable-color-of/) [Al Capp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-capp/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) ## More by Kay S. Hymowitz > [“In 2008, Kalin was invited to lecture the Masters of the Universe at Davos. In April 2015, Etsy debuted an IPO; it was only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-s-hymowitz/in-2008-kalin-was-invited-to-lecture-the-masters-of-the-universe-at/) [Kay S. Hymowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-s-hymowitz/) > [“what was once associated with deafening, dangerous, and stultifying work could now be admired as historic creations and greeted with reverential, if only quasi-informed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-s-hymowitz/what-was-once-associated-with-deafening-dangerous-and-stultifying/) [Kay S. Hymowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-s-hymowitz/) > [“You can eat wonderful food in a junked train car on plebeian plates served by waitresses more likely to start dancing with the bartender…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-s-hymowitz/you-can-eat-wonderful-food-in-a-junked-train-car-on-plebeian-plates/) [Kay S. Hymowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-s-hymowitz/) > [“If the port made New York, the Irish made the port,” writes James T. Fisher in On the Irish Waterfront.15 Many of the dockworkers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-s-hymowitz/if-the-port-made-new-york-the-irish-made-the-port-writes-james-t/) [Kay S. Hymowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-s-hymowitz/) > [“Brownsville has a greater concentration of public housing projects than anywhere in the United States.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-s-hymowitz/brownsville-has-a-greater-concentration-of-public-housing-projects/) [Kay S. Hymowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-s-hymowitz/) > [“A Pew study found that only about a fifth of respondents believe that Chinese Americans and whites get along very well. Even fewer say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-s-hymowitz/a-pew-study-found-that-only-about-a-fifth-of-respondents-believe-that/) [Kay S. Hymowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-s-hymowitz/) > [“It’s no secret that mainstream American habits are not always leading kids to educational and life success. In Sunset Park, Chinese kids are part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-s-hymowitz/it-s-no-secret-that-mainstream-american-habits-are-not-always-leading/) [Kay S. Hymowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-s-hymowitz/) > [“But by the late twentieth century, with more Americans going to college, making more money, and, thanks to more affordable airfares, traveling to Europe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-s-hymowitz/but-by-the-late-twentieth-century-with-more-americans-going-to/) [Kay S. Hymowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-s-hymowitz/) [Explore all 9 Kay S. Hymowitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-s-hymowitz/) ## More Harvard quotes > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Today, at Harvard, any student with the currently fashionable color of skin is given rights denied to students of the currently unfashionable color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-capp/today-at-harvard-any-student-with-the-currently-fashionable-color-of/) [Al Capp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-capp/) > [While living in America when I attended Harvard in the early 1970s, I saw for myself the awesome, almost miraculous, power of a people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benazir-bhutto/while-living-in-america-when-i-attended-harvard-in-the-early-1970s-i/) [Benazir Bhutto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benazir-bhutto/) > [It's important to make clear to all the schools at Harvard the central role of the library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-darnton/it-s-important-to-make-clear-to-all-the-schools-at-harvard-the/) [Robert Darnton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-darnton/) > [According to a recent Harvard study, $6 trillion, when you include the ongoing healthcare expenses for our wounded soldiers, which is the least they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/according-to-a-recent-harvard-study-6-trillion-when-you-include-the/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [There's an interesting book about that called The Third Reich and the Ivory Tower, written by Stephen H. Norwood. It has a long discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-an-interesting-book-about-that-called-the-third-reich-and-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The actions of the University in my case make it abundantly clear that the Administration's rhetoric about Harvard's desire to attract and retain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-geller/the-actions-of-the-university-in-my-case-make-it-abundantly-clear/) [Margaret Geller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-geller/) > [When one considers our nation's educational foundations - Harvard, Yale, Princeton and most of our respected institutions were originally Christian - it becomes evident…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-falwell/when-one-considers-our-nation-s-educational-foundations-harvard-yale/) [Jonathan Falwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-falwell/) > [My undergraduate studies at Brown and graduate degrees from Harvard prepared me for a multifaceted career as an actor, entrepreneur and philanthropist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hill-harper/my-undergraduate-studies-at-brown-and-graduate-degrees-from-harvard/) [Hill Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hill-harper/) > [“Holy freaking moly! Harvard really was well endowed!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-m-silber/holy-freaking-moly-harvard-really-was-well-endowed/) [N.M. Silber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-m-silber/) > [I don't believe I'll ever get credit for anything I do in foreign affairs, no matter how successful it is, because I didn't go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/i-don-t-believe-i-ll-ever-get-credit-for-anything-i-do-in-foreign/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [In 2002, Google began an ambitious project to digitize every book in the world. It was intended as a search project: type in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-darnton/in-2002-google-began-an-ambitious-project-to-digitize-every-book-in/) [Robert Darnton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-darnton/) > [“At Harvard I learned most uncomfortably that facts are facts. In Italy I learned that facts are the way you look at them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-o-faolain-2/at-harvard-i-learned-most-uncomfortably-that-facts-are-facts-in-italy/) [Sean O'Faolain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-o-faolain-2/) > [ It was at Harvard not quite forty years ago that I went into an anechoic \[totally silent\] chamber not expecting in that silent room… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/it-was-at-harvard-not-quite-forty-years-ago-that-i-went-into-an/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [When I left Harvard Pilgrim, it had been ranked first in the nation by U.S. News and World Report for customer satisfaction for six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-baker/when-i-left-harvard-pilgrim-it-had-been-ranked-first-in-the-nation-by/) [Charlie Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-baker/) [Browse all 627 Harvard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harvard/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Ruth Stanislaus, principal of P.S. 971 in Sunset Park, whose student population is now a little over half Chinese, was taken aback when one mother of a kindergartner—a five-year-old, mind you—announced in faltering English: “My son must go Harvard.” If, as sometimes appears to be the case, “Harvard” is the first English word learned by immigrant Chinese mothers, the second word is probably “Stuyvesant.” Remember”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kay S. 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