scrubbedexpat091

All my high school teachers had been teaching since the 1960's and early 70's and were just waiting to retire.

In History in my senior year all we did was watch videos based very loosely on actual events.

The early to late 90's were not a good time to be in California school system.

Juliew

I have to agree with this quote. I worked as a teacher in England for four years and I am now back teaching in BC. Although there are some poor teachers here, the majority are pretty good. Teachers in BC have more control over the curriculum in comparision to British Teachers. This allows teachers to choose subject materials that are more relevant and interesting to the student body.

I also need to make a comment on the standards of education. Many on this website claim that the British students are more advanced; however I really question this. Many of the British students studying in BC that I have met find themselves behind their Canadian peers. One student I was talking to yesterday at a very good high school in BC suggested that our Public schools are comparable to the British private schools. I believe that this particular school is. She had just finished her GCSE's when she arrived in Canada. She entered as a grade 11 student and commented that the BC Biology curriculum was really tough and that she didn't feel well prepared. She attended an exclusive private school in England. I have also met primary students that have had to take learning support to catch up with their Canadian peers. Thus, although these may not represent the majority, I believe the education system is pretty good.

ann m

I've commented on this before - but I relate it to the younger grades. A child that has done 2 or 3 yrs of British education is likely to be much further ahead on some basics than his Canadian peers who may only be in their first or second year of formal education. It's not a dig at the standard of education (which I quite like in most respects) - merely stating the obvious - they start a year later here. But as I mentioned above, I think by the time you are heading for grade 6/7/8 here, the gap becomes negligible and then I think the Canadian pupils overtake the Brits, especially on Maths and as you have suggested, perhaps sciences too.

A bright British 7/8/9 year old will be going back a considerable chunk on arrival here (I think, or that is my experience anyway). An average or lesser able pupil (is that PC?) may benefit from repeating some basics. But a 14 yr old British arrival may have to knuckle down considerably for a while

immichaelcaine

Sounds like:
(1) Typical teenager brain chemistry.
(2) Homesickness.
(3) Passing the buck.
(4) Time to get a GF/BF.
(5) Time to walk it off . . .

soft-hearted

I wish good luck


Hard life

snoopster

I think that there are obviously good schools and bad schools, good teachers and god-awful ones just like anywhere in the world (including the UK!) Your son obviously went to a creative forward thinking school in the UK, but unfortunately isn't having the same experience here in Canada.

Before we emigrated, our children went to a fabulous school (I'm biased maybe because I taught there! But it was acknowledged as such by the LEA) which had an enriching, creative curriculum and very dedicated staff. When we were in the final stages approaching our 'landing', hubbie and I came over and researched the schools here in the area where we wanted to live in some detail. We visited the school, talked to staff, looked on their websites etc and when we found 'the one', we made up our minds to live in the catchment area. We were lucky to find a fantastic school with lots of creative learning, a great balance between the academic and the arts subjects, and a strong personal and social education philosophy (which is one aspect which I think Canadian schools seem to do much MUCH better here). Result? Happy children who love school every bit as much (and more so in my sons case) as they did in the UK.

With respect to the whole UK/Canada age group ability question, this is one that could run and run. Sure, the early years are out slightly, but because children start formal education later here (a much healthier thing in my opinion), and formats and learning methods are different - I prefer the UK early literacy program of phonics teaching, which makes early reading much easier. However, there is a better balance of subjects here (PE is everyday, as opposed to a couple of hours a week in the UK, music is specialist taught and done very well, with a higher profile on the timetable) and more emphasis is given to personal and social development, teaching the children how to deal with social issues, friendship problems, interaction and co-operation, and building relationships, which is soooo important, and shows in the more socially aware, respectful and polite youth in Canada, who in general, have a greater ability to communicate and conduct themselves in public than young people in the UK.

There are strengths and weaknesses in both countries education systems, but on balance, I prefer it here, and look forward to teaching over here when I get the chance!