US teaching styles?

[metis]

Our public school system in the US to my recollection had little interest in teaching you how to think.

A lot of that has changed in recent decades such in my state of Michigan. Our state tests [MEAP] do try and encourage and reflect some creative and critical thinking and schools have responded accordingly.

 

[Father Heathen]

IMO. schools, instead of teaching you what to think, they ought to be teaching you how to think.
Maybe in college they start teaching philosophy but I think they can start much earlier than that.
Our public school system in the US to my recollection had little interest in teaching you how to think.

Teaching critical thinking should definitely be a priority.

 

[Augustus]

I suppose there might be a factory somewhere whose manufacturing process includes placing a spherical object through an elevated hoop.

Just like there is an illness waiting to be eradicated by someone reciting one of The Bard’s wittier rhyming couplets.

I’d say achievement in sports is at least as beneficial to the individual and society as many “proper” subjects.

(And by that I mean they all have value, not the others are useless)

 

[SomeRandom]

Just like there is an illness waiting to be eradicated by someone reciting one of The Bard’s wittier rhyming couplets.

I’d say achievement in sports is at least as beneficial to the individual and society as many “proper” subjects.

(And by that I mean they all have value, not the others are useless)

Whilst I will admit to sometimes wishing for more “eloquent” sportsman (referring to in this case, athletes in sports such as Australian football codes)
I think you make a good point of not pitting one type of achievement against the other.

That said, I think it’s worth looking at striking a good balance for the youth at the same time, in our culture/s

Australian culture is just as passionate about sports as our American brethren (perhaps a bit cooler minded than some soccer fans though. Well hopefully anyway lol.)
I do find it interesting that sports in our schools isn’t as highly regarded as it is in the states
(Do forgive my ignorance if I’m wrong. Merely going by sentiments expressed here and in media.)
By that I mean the culture in the schools and society itself.
I mean don’t get me wrong, there’s sporty jock types and the like. But it’s never a central focus for us like it seemingly is in the states
We have our own issues with school hierarchies, bullying and the like but that’s another discussion.

Perhaps because needing a sports scholarship for university/college isn’t actually a thing here. Like at all. University is, okay maybe not cheap, but fairly accessible to everyone. Sure we do not have Ivy Leagues here, but it’s not like your future literally rides on how well you perform in your school sports team

We certainly have sports for kids who are so inclined. But it’s all strictly extra curricular, including the programs run by the schools themselves

I think that’s healthy. It allows kids with sports talents to earn their achievements and feel accomplished. But it does not interfere with their studies at the same time. And if they need a little extra help in that regard, then I sincerely hope our system is at least adequately handling that. Always room for improvement, of course. Just being realistic.

Purely acentodal. But I had a girl in my grade who had recently emigrated from the states. A southern one if I’m not mistaken.
She commented once to me, in a surprised but impressed tone, that our school seemed to prioritise academia but still celebrated sports. Without that conflicting
At the time I don’t think I understood quite what she meant. I think I do now
(I actually went to a traditional Trades high school. As in a high school that has a long history of teaching the various trades to kids. Woodwork, metal shop etc. In hindsight, they were actually pretty balanced when it came to their focus on academic subjects. Never once did I think that one subject was unenthusiastically taught. Despite their focus of providing kids with Trades Apprenticeships. And indeed they are nationally recognised )

 

[lewisnotmiller]

For instance, Australia is apparently far more strict about teaching qualifications across the board. Regardless of subject and age range taught, all teachers must, by law, have a Masters Degree. The only thing that differs between them is their specific style of teaching.
Ie how strict they are, how much they engage with the class etc
Whereas that’s apparently not the case in the US? Is that correct? By that I mean the qualifications differ state to state and can be quite lenient in some areas. Is that true?

Hola...you don't need a Master's to teach in Australia.
(At least, not when you include 'regardless of age range)

You can do a Bachelor degree.

I had a Bachelor of Teaching (primary), and a postgrad Bachelor of Education, for example.

 

[SomeRandom]

Hola...you don't need a Master's to teach in Australia.
(At least, not when you include 'regardless of age range)

You can do a Bachelor degree.

I had a Bachelor of Teaching (primary), and a postgrad Bachelor of Education, for example.

Oh sorry I meant bachelors. Don’t know where Master came from lol