Hello Everyone! 🙂 It has been a quiet week here in Nottingham. Been busy with readings and research for an upcoming paper. Have you ever been researching and just get lost in a rabbit hole. One research article after another. For this 1500 word essay, I have read enough articles and books to write a whole thesis on the topic of theory of mind. It is funny when people wonder how to understand another person (which is what theory of mind is). It is quite simple. You ask. It is not as complex as people think it is and it is also more reliable than reading body language and facial expressions (Some people can mask their emotions easily).
This week’s speaker spoke on primary and secondary education here in the UK. His name was Ben and he has a Ph.D from Oxford University, but has chosen to become a school teacher at a independent high school in Nottingham. I originally thought the curriculum would not be that different from the US, since we all need to learn the basics of all subjects. Not is not entire the case here. Students specialize in their field of study early in life. For instance, Ben has students that state exactly what they will be studying at age 11. That is crazy! From there, they will focus in their field of study and diverge from that topic. So if a 11 year old student says I will study molecular biology, that will be what they focus on until the graduate and go to college/university. I could argue for most students in the US that most do not even know what they will be studying their first year of college, let alone at age 11.
Aside from the early specializing age, the curriculum is structure to prepare students for their standardized exams. There are these entrance exams for all primary and secondary schools, regardless of whether it is an independent (private) or state school. The ones for independent schools are more difficult because they are privately funded and are more rigorous. This is where a major issue arises. State schools are not bad schools, it just that many of them are struggling schools that get passed on from one owner to the next. Students that are attending these struggling state schools come from lower class families. The independent schools are fee paying school and trust me, the fees are outrageous. Ben, who teaches at an independent school admitted that he could not afford to send his children to the school he teaches at EVEN with his 20% off staff discount. That really makes a statement.
I am not saying that independent schools should be banned by any means, but I think the government should put more focus on the struggling state schools, to encourage and motivate the students. It is hard to staff teachers at those school because the students there view education in a bad light and so do the parents. Some people blame the parents for not encouraging their children to work harder at school. But, I personally think it needs to be acknowledge that not all families have that luxury. When the main priority of the parent is to work for a pay check that barely cover basic necessities, education may be the last think of their minds. Therefore, teachers should take an active role in helping ALL children, regardless of their background. When it is difficult to staff a school with motivating and encouraging teachers, that affects the students the most. Therefore, I believe that government resources should be focused on equipping schools that creates an environment for curiosity and learning. If more resources are going towards schools that are already doing well, that does not create equal opportunities for all students.
There is much more to say about the issue of primary and secondary schools in the UK and I could go on forever. If you have the time, I definitely recommend looking into the topic, because it really makes you think. Some of the issues relate back to the US. One major aspect I appreciate from the US educational system is the opportunity to learn and explore multiple subjects. That really creates a well rounded education.
Nottingham Adventures 