Schools - Success or Failure?

I had a great day teaching at School yesterday.  The group of  I am guiding have grown in number, since the last time I was in School.  That can only be a good thing, and at a manageable twelve in number, it is nothing I can't handle.

Teaching Spanish children, English, is an absolute dream.  To be honest, children as young as three years old are being taught languages; I am mentoring six to ten year olds, so by the time they are that age, they a pretty well versed in many aspects of the English language.  My group are a great bunch; even after a school day that starts at 8am and finishes, once my class ends at 6pm, they are still full of energy and life, eager to learn.  This does seem to be in stark contrast to that of their British counterparts.

Yesterday, we started off playing bingo, with one of the children calling out the bingo numbers.  He spoke the numbers perfectly, with all the class understanding, marking their cards accordingly.  Next we got to grips with their phonics, by matching pictures to words.  The Spanish do tend to pronounce English words differently.  So it is important to teach how to enunciate text correctly.  

Personally I am not fluent in Spanish, although I can at least, get by now!  Luckily I do not need to speak Spanish at any sort of level, to teach English here.  It is important, that from the moment everyone enters the classroom, that the whole lesson is conducted in English.  At first I found that hard, as I am sure the children did, but gradually over time, they will get used to the methods employed.  Funny enough, I actually did find myself speaking Spanish at several different points, without even knowing it.  So for me, it seems, I am also learning to speak Spanish, without even thinking about it! A successful day at School, something I am enjoying partaking in.  

After volunteering for 'Action for Children', my whole outlook towards the nature of youth, growing up and learning changed.  During my training, as a Mentor and Advocate, I had to go through an extensive coaching and guidance programme.  It was during this period, that I learned much about the vulnerability of kids and formed a view, about spending, at least part of my life, dedicated towards the education of children.  This has been the first instance, that I have been able to achieve my aim, that began in 2008, after volunteering for the charity!

I firmly believe that all children have the right to expect the same chances in life.  No one child should ever be at a disadvantage, because of their social circumstances. Just imagine all that potential, that each child has, never unlocked or utilised, because they had the drawback of poverty, a failing school or less investment and most importantly, because of where or who they were born to. For me, that is not acceptable.  The way to stop these inequalities, is to have the best teachers and education, that state can provide.  It does not mean throwing billions of €uro's at it. What it does entail, is high quality training for teachers, based on techniques, used by Countries, whose education is proven to be successful.  Spain, has an extremely efficacious and enlightened Primary system.  Something The UK, could do well to learn from.

The school I am teaching in, is modern, light, spacious, well organised and run. The children seem happy and well adjusted.  Who can blame them, when they are taught in such congenial surroundings.  When one looks at Britain's crumbling stock of schools and compares it to those in Spain, one is confronted with a reality of investment over cuts.  Spain does spend more per pupil than my home country, and it is noticeable, at least at the primary level.  Spanish children tend to attend school for far longer and their parents are far more dedicated and focused on their child's development!  

The teaching of languages is a priority in Spain. An ability to speak English, is taught from a very early age and parents are willing to spend their hard earned money on providing extra lessons for their children.  I do feel that British parents should take more of a role in providing the 'RIGHT' education for their kids.  A simple process of setting priorities, would create a generation, whose language abilities, are far, over and above those of their parents.  In The UK, we do need to learn more languages, especially in a World that is becoming smaller and less daunting every day.

​A few points to think about!  Education is important, so we best get it right.  Learning from the successes of others, is key to Britain's long term education programme.  The trouble is, back home, we have a short sighted view, usually only a Parliament long and that does not bode well for stability, harmony and long term goals.  

Could do better!

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