My view: Stephanie Smith

Chua had a similar upbringing herself. Chinese parents, she explains, see it as their responsibility to secure their child’s academic achievement above all else. The Tiger is a symbol of power and strength, inspiring fear and respect. The Tiger Mother assumes the right to control her child’s every moment, demanding the highest academic standards, no matter what the cost.

“That’s why the solution to substandard performance is always to excoriate, punish and shame the child,” she says. As well as school work, her children had to practise violin for two hours a night, under threat of their toys being given to the Salvation Army.

Her views have been met with furious, visceral outrage, both here and in the US. “This woman’s parenting style is reminiscent of Joan Crawford in Mommy Dearest,” writes one critic.

But is the proof in the prodding? Chinese-background students outperform students from other ethnic backgrounds just about everywhere in the world, including here in the UK at GCSE, not because they are more intelligent, but because they work harder.

Amy Chua is being honest about the pushing and the hard work, unlike some parents of academically successful children here, who pretend to have a relaxed attitude to education, insinuating that achievement is due to innate genius (by implication, inherited, although the parents in question are frequently insecure types who secretly feel they could have achieved more themselves). These are the parents who monopolise teachers, demanding to discuss homework, seating arrangements and how little Harry can be challenged more. They resent any attention another child gets and dismiss the achievements of other children as the result of “hot-housing”.

Amy Chua’s daughters have become high achievers, so what is so wrong with pushing children to do their best? As she says, many parents allow their children to watch hour after hour of reality TV, yet if they make them practise violin for two hours a night, they are branded a monster.

Shaming or severely punishing children who under-perform is unacceptable and Chua has been rightly criticised, and maybe shamed, for that. But there is also much to applaud in her parenting attitude and technique. I wish I had her energy and dedication. Most children wouldn’t want a parent like her but, as adults, they might revise that opinion. She may well be right that limiting choices as a child brings more choices as an adult.