I agree with the general sentiment here, which is that the author makes some good points, and supports them badly.
I'd like to call out an issue with his reference to rote memorization and how Asian nations approach education, because in my experience, they're getting it wrong to the other extreme. Overexposure to rote memorization leads to automatons who can remember to do steps 1-7 when X occurs, but have no idea what to do when X+1 occurs. Memorization and drill-and-kill has its place, but so do analysis, critical thinking, and applied knowledge. My professional encounters with Asian-educated workers strongly suggest a general lack of the latter.
Also, I dispute the idea that "strict is better than nice," Refusing to accept less than a student is capable of is not being mean, and accepting less than they're capable of is not being nice, because you're not doing them any favors. That said, there are other ways to get your point across than being verbally abusive and poking kids with a pencil. Rather than, "Who eez deaf in first violins!?", the instructor could simply say, "Someone in first violins is out of tune." I had a vocal music teacher who got it right... he expected perfection, he made us practice until we got it right (and refused to perform a piece of music that wasn't), and he would point out any mistakes... WITHOUT calling out individuals, being verbally abusive, or poking anyone. The group was heavily booked during the holiday season, and made a lot of money. And if he died today, there would be a chorus to sing at his funeral that could drown out Mr. K's symphony orchestra.
The best teachers mix high standards and corrective feedback with appropriate praise and a genuine personal connection with their students.
Which leads me to "praise makes you weak." How on earth are children expected to develop resilience and confidence if they don't internalize a message that they have the abilities they need to succeed? And where will they get this confidence unless they get external validation? As I said, though, the praise needs to be appropriate.
