British education system among the worst in the world

[MikeH]

Depends how many beers he's had...

[Egbert]

I must have missed the beer inspired posts.

[MikeH]

That was IRL.

[Tuberski]

As most of you should already know, the British have been heavily criticized for their education system, and how they are "more like prison facilities" than "learning institutions".

Why would most of us know this? Most of us aren't from England. Most American experience with British schools is Hogwarts, which is pretty ****ing awesome.

ACK!

[Al B. Sure!]

This is like Drixnak talking 'bout socialism.

No it's like me talking about Europeans.

British people have a weird education system, I'm sure.


However, in Philly, at least, a uniform policy was instituted in public schools a decade ago. I'm sure other major city public school systems have similar policies.

[MikeH]

It's not that different to the US system, some things are just called different names.

[OneFootInTheGrave]

may not be that different to teh US system, but it produces better results.

[ColdWizard]

New member (11 posts), do be gentle old chap.

[Riesstiu IV]

Is it true that British children are forced to choose between learning the spellcasting or alchemy at a young age? And isn't Quidditch too much of a distraction for students?

[Cort Haus]

There's another good reason for school uniforms apart from discipline, which might be described as, for want of a better word, fashion.

Children can put huge amounts of pressure on each other to conform to various social 'norms' and trends, and clothing, often expensive, can be part of this. Poorer parents who aren't in a position to easily keep up with this can find that the demands will likely conflict with the need for economic essentials, and the possible consequences of this are all-too-obvious.

School uniform, which should and can be reasonably priced, is therefore a leveller.

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

I don't agree with that argument. It was still the case in the 1970s (when I started school) that uniforms were the preserve of upper or middle-class schools. Growing up in coal mining country, my schools had no uniforms. That meant kids had one set of clothes which they wore all day, which is handy if you're skint.

Unless your kids wear school uniform outside of school too, it's going to work out more expensive imposing uniforms.

[Cort Haus]

I think things have changed since the 70's, Laz.

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

But the fact that clothes still cost money hasn't.

[Cort Haus]

Nice way to completely ignore my point.

From the Times Educational Supplement:

Some parents are relieved that a school is deciding to introduce a uniform as it removes competitive dressing and the constant pestering of their children for the latest and most expensive fashion item. Children from poorer families are also relieved as they don't have to embarrass their parents by asking them for new clothes all the time to attempt to keep up with the "haves".

http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=2131232

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

I think you'll find that, unless you're lucky enough to have kids who want to wear school uniform all day, seven days a week, they'll still want the flash gear as well. It's a daft argument.