How the Russian school struck an American
In Russia, surprisingly much for foreign guests. The education system, especially school, is no exception. Despite the widespread myths that school education in the West is supposedly better delivered than in Russia, life proves the opposite - Russian students have much better training when comparing “equal” schools, rather than elite schools in London or Washington and schools in Russia outback.
American educator Warren Bergson traveled to Russia on a business trip. He visited a number of secondary schools - not only in Moscow, but also in the Tambov region, Krasnodar Territory. And he was struck by the differences between the Russian school and the American.
In a Russian school, students study a whole set of compulsory subjects, while in the USA, in addition to several compulsory disciplines, the rest are taught by choice, according to the interests of the student. It is this difference between the two education systems that explains the more versatile and broader horizons of Russians. A graduate of a Russian school has an idea of a wide variety of sciences, while an American has only an idea of those that were chosen during the training.
But no less than the organization of the educational system, the American guest was struck by the life of the Russian school. Everything seemed unusual to Warren. Let's start with the teaching staff. The Russian school is 99% “female kingdom”. This happened many decades ago. Russian men left school after World War II and never returned to it.
The vast majority of our compatriots remember a maximum of three to four male teachers for the entire school. As a rule, this is a “standard set” - military instructor, physical education instructor, Trudovik plus some other “subject”.
There are many more men in an American school. And it's not just about salary. It’s just that Russia has long regarded the profession of a school teacher as a “female” one. Male teachers are and are taught very well, but they are very few in percentage terms. And they quickly get out to leadership positions, move to the apparatus of education departments, ministries.
But, despite the small salaries, Russian teachers try to look respectable. The American was struck by how spectacular many of them are, how tastefully dressed. And this despite the fact that among teachers, nevertheless, middle and older ages prevail.
Warren was very surprised at the lack of school buses in Russian schools. In fact, there are school buses, but in rural schools or schools serving large areas. In a large city, a bus is not needed, since children from nearby yards study at the school, who reach it in ten to fifteen minutes even without a bus.
No less surprised the American colleague and the Russian school cafeteria. In schools in the United States, meals are organized on the basis of a self-service cafe. A schoolboy takes a tray and puts what he sees fit. True, the cost of such food for a Russian layman would have seemed "biting" - $ 1,5 for breakfast, $ 2,5 for lunch. In Russia, students are content with what they are given. But many schools have already introduced the practice of self-selection of products.
But in the American food system, as Warren himself noted, there are also disadvantages. Having visited Russian schools, the American guest was amazed at how slim and athletic the overwhelming majority of Russian schoolchildren are. In the United States, a huge number of high school students are already overweight, right down to obesity. In Russia, such children are much smaller. It is possible that the organization and the nature of food in school canteens also influence this.
- says Warren.
American educator Warren Bergson traveled to Russia on a business trip. He visited a number of secondary schools - not only in Moscow, but also in the Tambov region, Krasnodar Territory. And he was struck by the differences between the Russian school and the American.
In a Russian school, students study a whole set of compulsory subjects, while in the USA, in addition to several compulsory disciplines, the rest are taught by choice, according to the interests of the student. It is this difference between the two education systems that explains the more versatile and broader horizons of Russians. A graduate of a Russian school has an idea of a wide variety of sciences, while an American has only an idea of those that were chosen during the training.
But no less than the organization of the educational system, the American guest was struck by the life of the Russian school. Everything seemed unusual to Warren. Let's start with the teaching staff. The Russian school is 99% “female kingdom”. This happened many decades ago. Russian men left school after World War II and never returned to it.
The vast majority of our compatriots remember a maximum of three to four male teachers for the entire school. As a rule, this is a “standard set” - military instructor, physical education instructor, Trudovik plus some other “subject”.
There are many more men in an American school. And it's not just about salary. It’s just that Russia has long regarded the profession of a school teacher as a “female” one. Male teachers are and are taught very well, but they are very few in percentage terms. And they quickly get out to leadership positions, move to the apparatus of education departments, ministries.
But, despite the small salaries, Russian teachers try to look respectable. The American was struck by how spectacular many of them are, how tastefully dressed. And this despite the fact that among teachers, nevertheless, middle and older ages prevail.
Warren was very surprised at the lack of school buses in Russian schools. In fact, there are school buses, but in rural schools or schools serving large areas. In a large city, a bus is not needed, since children from nearby yards study at the school, who reach it in ten to fifteen minutes even without a bus.
No less surprised the American colleague and the Russian school cafeteria. In schools in the United States, meals are organized on the basis of a self-service cafe. A schoolboy takes a tray and puts what he sees fit. True, the cost of such food for a Russian layman would have seemed "biting" - $ 1,5 for breakfast, $ 2,5 for lunch. In Russia, students are content with what they are given. But many schools have already introduced the practice of self-selection of products.
But in the American food system, as Warren himself noted, there are also disadvantages. Having visited Russian schools, the American guest was amazed at how slim and athletic the overwhelming majority of Russian schoolchildren are. In the United States, a huge number of high school students are already overweight, right down to obesity. In Russia, such children are much smaller. It is possible that the organization and the nature of food in school canteens also influence this.
The Russian school is very different from ours. I can’t say that it is much better or worse. She is just different. But your scientists, musicians, athletes know the whole world. So education is delivered as it should,
- says Warren.
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