belboz on 5/10/2009 at 04:12
It might explain why those americans rich enough, bring their kids to the uk to get schooling, if the schooling back home is so bad. But then they end up spelling uk english and not us english, which might actually be slightly confusing when and if they go back home. Plus they'll probably end up understanding irony and double and triple meanings for some words or phrases like 'back passage' or 'dump' and that 'shag' is not a dance in the uk.
PeeperStorm on 6/10/2009 at 02:33
Quote Posted by belboz
It might explain why those americans rich enough, bring their kids to the uk to get schooling, if the schooling back home is so bad.
Right. Because there aren't any good private schools in the US that cater to non-pretentious non-anglophiles. :rolleyes:
MorbusG on 6/10/2009 at 08:23
I think I remember something about that the PITA tests got trashed in the public in here atleast, so I wouldn't put that much weight on them.
And considering that the US has not only one or two of the worlds top uni's, but a bucketload of them, the lower-level schooling can't be all that bad on a larger scale.
CCCToad on 7/10/2009 at 00:14
Thing is though, When studying at the Georgia institute of technology, it was pretty obvious to me that the foreign students had a superior level of academic preparation to graduates of the US public school system. Ditto for homeschoolers.
SubJeff on 7/10/2009 at 00:28
As I understand it its because UK A levels are higher than US high school grad exams. I'm told that German requirements for uni are tougher than they are here in the UK, with upto 6 A level equivalents required instead of our 3. Don't know about the rest of Europe.
And if don't even talk about Chinese students - their high school exit exams are like year one BSc/BA exams, at least. Funny thing is kids start school later in life there.
daniel on 7/10/2009 at 01:59
Quote Posted by CCCToad
Thing is though, When studying at the Georgia institute of technology, it was pretty obvious to me that the foreign students had a superior level of academic preparation to graduates of the US public school system. Ditto for homeschoolers.
Really? I thought everyone was about on par concerning academic level, but everyone I hung out with was pretty smart. I want to say because I had a private school education and went to a college prep high school it was easier, but my bro had the same and he dropped out and joined the Air Force after his second year.
I think the main problem is discipline of children. Kids can get away with a lot of shit- being disruptive in class or slacking off completely, and teachers can't do much about it. They need to learn education is a privilege, and as such, it should be taken away if you can't or refuse deliver.
Another problem is teachers who hide behind the Teacher's Union - if teachers can't properly do their job they should be fired as well. Some teachers are getting paid and doing nothing because the schools aren't allowed to let them go.
CCCToad on 7/10/2009 at 02:05
You have a good point, but I consider the development of good study skills as a key part of academic preparation, and American student's study skills were lacking compared to students of other nationalities.