Why is British education system so inferior?
British education is one of the worst in the developed world. Languishing in 26th place in OECD league tables.
Out of the top 10, East Asian societies make up the first 8.
A new series on BBC brings Chinese teachers into the British classroom.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b065661d/are-our-kids-tough-enough-chinese-school-episode-1
After watching it myself, i wasn't sure why the British children had such appalling and degenerate attitudes to learning? I wasn't sure if it was the government, who effectively abolished discipline in the classroom in the 60s; or the teachers, who play social experiments on pupils with bizarre student centric learning techniques; or the culture itself, which seems to have exhausted itself after centuries of excellence.
Whatever it is, British state education and the attitudes of pupils are seriously inferior to many of its European counterparts, and almost third world in comparison to east Asian societies.
I can probably exclude the private system from this, i am talking about state education only. But why is it so bad?
Out of the top 10, East Asian societies make up the first 8.
A new series on BBC brings Chinese teachers into the British classroom.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b065661d/are-our-kids-tough-enough-chinese-school-episode-1
After watching it myself, i wasn't sure why the British children had such appalling and degenerate attitudes to learning? I wasn't sure if it was the government, who effectively abolished discipline in the classroom in the 60s; or the teachers, who play social experiments on pupils with bizarre student centric learning techniques; or the culture itself, which seems to have exhausted itself after centuries of excellence.
Whatever it is, British state education and the attitudes of pupils are seriously inferior to many of its European counterparts, and almost third world in comparison to east Asian societies.
I can probably exclude the private system from this, i am talking about state education only. But why is it so bad?
(edited 8 years ago)
*gets poporn*
We start too early, so kids are forced into the classroom when they're not mature enough and as a result they do not tend to enjoy it. As a result, education is seen as a burden to kids, rather than something that's ultimately good for them.
I would be careful with placing Chinese style teaching on a pedestal.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/Asia/china/7027377/Third-of-Chinese-primary-school-children-suffer-stress-study-finds.html
http://www.newrepublic.com/article/120794/chinese-education-system-prizes-intense-hard-work
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/Asia/china/7027377/Third-of-Chinese-primary-school-children-suffer-stress-study-finds.html
http://www.newrepublic.com/article/120794/chinese-education-system-prizes-intense-hard-work
Posted from TSR Mobile
(edited 8 years ago)
Original post by datpiff
Indeed. Actually I would say other european countries like finland, switzerland and the netherlands have a much more enviable education system which is more holistic and less strict as the chinese one.
Original post by datpiff
sorry duplicate post.
I like how you get repped for this post instead of the one with content relevant to the thread
On topic: I think lack of discipline is a problem in British state schools, but the Chinese have got it too far the other way round. As has been said - and as is the case on so many issues - we should look to (some of) the Scandinavian countries for guidance.
(edited 8 years ago)
My problem with teaching in the UK is that in the schools based in poorer areas standards are low due to teachers actually already giving up on pupils.
Pupils who perform well in these schools and want to pay attention are also disrupted too much and disruptive kids aren't dealt with fast enough.
We also in the UK don't invest enough in teaching and young people. Teachers and teaching assistants are paid low wages for the job they do. Youth Workers and Social workers should also work closely with schools
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Pupils who perform well in these schools and want to pay attention are also disrupted too much and disruptive kids aren't dealt with fast enough.
We also in the UK don't invest enough in teaching and young people. Teachers and teaching assistants are paid low wages for the job they do. Youth Workers and Social workers should also work closely with schools
Posted from TSR Mobile
(edited 8 years ago)
Students centric learning was forced upon teachers. By the time they realise it does no good, it is a bit late. You now have a generation of teachers who were taught that way so naturally they teach their students that way.
Another problem in this country is the general attitude towards education. In countries like China, you got looked down on if you don't have an education to a certain standard. In the UK, people are almost proud to say " I was never good at Maths, I can't do Maths, I didn't like school, I didn't like my teachers etc".
There are too many other problems.
Another problem in this country is the general attitude towards education. In countries like China, you got looked down on if you don't have an education to a certain standard. In the UK, people are almost proud to say " I was never good at Maths, I can't do Maths, I didn't like school, I didn't like my teachers etc".
There are too many other problems.
Original post by nts24
Students centric learning was forced upon teachers. By the time they realise it does no good, it is a bit late. You now have a generation of teachers who were taught that way so naturally they teach their students that way.
Another problem in this country is the general attitude towards education. In countries like China, you got looked down on if you don't have an education to a certain standard. In the UK, people are almost proud to say " I was never good at Maths, I can't do Maths, I didn't like school, I didn't like my teachers etc".
There are too many other problems.
Another problem in this country is the general attitude towards education. In countries like China, you got looked down on if you don't have an education to a certain standard. In the UK, people are almost proud to say " I was never good at Maths, I can't do Maths, I didn't like school, I didn't like my teachers etc".
There are too many other problems.
Shame based cultures bring different problems, like using Japan as an example high suicide rates and mental health issues
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The chinese send their children half way around the world for our education system. Their education system is very rigid and only teaches you how to follow.
I would put more of the reason on the culture. In places like South Korea parents spend huge time and resources on their kids. Here parents tend to just shout at the school when things dont go well.
Look how much teachers can earn at the top in south korea its millions.
Look how much teachers can earn at the top in south korea its millions.
OECD tables are an attempt to compare vastly different educational systems across a wide range of cultures.
That's impossible.
So they rely on a narrow range of standardised tests.
And those tests do not favour the English education system.
Before accepting any results from league tables, check out the basis on which the tables have been constructed? OECD tables are flawed.
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That's impossible.
So they rely on a narrow range of standardised tests.
And those tests do not favour the English education system.
Before accepting any results from league tables, check out the basis on which the tables have been constructed? OECD tables are flawed.
Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by noodlesoups
British education is one of the worst in the developed world. Languishing in 26th place in OECD league tables.
Out of the top 10, East Asian societies make up the first 8.
A new series on BBC brings Chinese teachers into the British classroom.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b065661d/are-our-kids-tough-enough-chinese-school-episode-1
After watching it myself, i wasn't sure why the British children had such appalling and degenerate attitudes to learning? I wasn't sure if it was the government, who effectively abolished discipline in the classroom in the 60s; or the teachers, who play social experiments on pupils with bizarre student centric learning techniques; or the culture itself, which seems to have exhausted itself after centuries of excellence.
Whatever it is, British state education and the attitudes of pupils are seriously inferior to many of its European counterparts, and almost third world in comparison to east Asian societies.
I can probably exclude the private system from this, i am talking about state education only.
Out of the top 10, East Asian societies make up the first 8.
A new series on BBC brings Chinese teachers into the British classroom.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b065661d/are-our-kids-tough-enough-chinese-school-episode-1
After watching it myself, i wasn't sure why the British children had such appalling and degenerate attitudes to learning? I wasn't sure if it was the government, who effectively abolished discipline in the classroom in the 60s; or the teachers, who play social experiments on pupils with bizarre student centric learning techniques; or the culture itself, which seems to have exhausted itself after centuries of excellence.
Whatever it is, British state education and the attitudes of pupils are seriously inferior to many of its European counterparts, and almost third world in comparison to east Asian societies.
I can probably exclude the private system from this, i am talking about state education only.
Yep. Agree with all of the above. Perhaps look towards the stricter education models of France and Germany, rather than Scandinavia like some suggest above - We want Britain to be great again, not a bunch of effeminate saps without personality. Chinese pupils work harder but perhaps it is going a little too far. We can learn a lot from them though. Australia could be worth looking at. We are failing our young people and need to get real and dump the time-wasting, outdated educational theory like student-centric learning. There is too much undermining of the authority of teachers. While many schools have a healthy ethos there are many which lack a fundamental ethos of respect for the teachers and the knowledge they are passing on. Without that you've got no starting point. State schools generally need to push and challenge pupils more so they are not left under-developed and ill-equipped for the next stage in their lives. Schools across the board need to guarantee their pupils, a holistic subject curriculum too, which fosters e.g. independent reasoning skills, the basic '3Rs', the humanities, ethics, the sciences, music and not least of all, sport.
(edited 8 years ago)
Original post by noodlesoups
After watching it myself, i wasn't sure why the British children had such appalling and degenerate attitudes to learning?
You and I both. BTW, did you notice how pleased the headteacher was that his pupils were misbehaving?
Original post by Llamageddon
The chinese send their children half way around the world for our education system.
Let's hope they don't watch this documentary then, or they'll probably stop doing that.
Original post by llys
Let's hope they don't watch this documentary then, or they'll probably stop doing that.
Let's hope they don't watch this documentary then, or they'll probably stop doing that.
Original post by Llamageddon
our system teaches you to lead. Theirs to follow.
Are you sure? It seems to me that hundreds of thousands of people being shepherded into universities without much thought and little information is something that is not characteristic of leaders but more that of followers.
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