The National Curriculum is not funny and it's not clever
The major difference between the British and Swiss educational systems is to be seen in the eyes of the teachers. The one is content in the knowledge that he or she can teach, to a certain extent, what they want while the other teaches under the knowledge that he or she has specific material that has to be systematically drilled into their pupils little heads.
There are of course certain requirements which teachers in Switzerland need to carry out and certain subjects such as sciences allow less leg-room. Nevertheless, the freedom of choice in an educational system, if utilised correctly, promotes free-thinking amongst the pupils. A good teacher will even ask the pupils what, for example, they would like to read in class. They will give the pupils a short summary of books that they think are worth reading and will also encourage pupils to come up with their own suggestions.
All of this smacks of democracy in action and no country is more democratic than Switzerland. Young, Swiss adults display a maturity which young Brits lack. When I was at school I remember my geography teacher constantly getting her knickers in a right educational twist, fretting over the fact that if we didn't learn what she had been told to teach us then it would be her fault.
Like so many things in Britain, the educational system is going downhill like Eddie the Eagle. Ten years ago studying art or psychology at university was considered Mickey Mouse. Now it's all Mickey Mouse. Red brick shit-house universities are laughed at by Erasmus students spending a year on our little, lazy booze-island.
Comments
It's very true in what you say about Swiss Kids being better behaved or mature than Brit kids at school..
My school was closed down because of the violence towards teachers/pupils and vandalism at the school. British schools are more like war zones now days. Kids (that's if they even show up at class) turn up at their classes and do nothing but throw chairs through the windows or attack their teachers physically..
It's a shame really because if that's my Generation..what is the next generation going to be like?..
A Brit Friend of Germany; May 8, 2006 5:37 PM