|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
|
 Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 4:20 am Post subject: Cameron wants Korean education system in UK |
 |
|
| Quote: |
Mr Cameron said: "Finland, Singapore and South Korea have the most highly qualified teachers, and also some of the best education systems in the world, because they have deliberately made teaching a high prestige profession.
"They are brazenly elitist - making sure only the top graduates can apply. They have turned it into the career path if you've got a good degree.
|
He wants the UK to follow suit. What do you reckon? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Wishmaster
Joined: 06 Feb 2003
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 5:59 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Who? Better yet, who cares... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Sadebugo1
Joined: 11 May 2003
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 5:59 am Post subject: Re: Cameron wants Korean education system in UK |
|
|
| edwardcatflap wrote: |
| Quote: |
Mr Cameron said: "Finland, Singapore and South Korea have the most highly qualified teachers, and also some of the best education systems in the world, because they have deliberately made teaching a high prestige profession.
"They are brazenly elitist - making sure only the top graduates can apply. They have turned it into the career path if you've got a good degree.
|
He wants the UK to follow suit. What do you reckon? |
I can't speak for the other two countries, but he actually needs to visit Korea before he makes such statements. In Korea, the average scores are so high because the weaker students are pushed into commercial/vocational high schools and never take these exams. Furthermore, success in school (and exams) doesn't seem to be translating into success in the globalized world for Koreans. That's because of the educational system that emphasizes rote memorization over creative thinking. If I'm not mistaken, even the Korean government is concerned about this.
Sadebugo
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/ |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 6:35 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| Who? Better yet, who cares |
Whatever country you come from, I don't care about your politicians either, yah boo! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Savant
Joined: 25 May 2007
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 6:46 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Mr Cameron, of course, has great experience in knowing what it is like being in the "elitist" group. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Thiuda
Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Location: Religion ist f�r Sklaven geschaffen, f�r Wesen ohne Geist.
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 7:36 am Post subject: Re: Cameron wants Korean education system in UK |
|
|
| Sadebugo1 wrote: |
| I can't speak for the other two countries, but he actually needs to visit Korea before he makes such statements. In Korea, the average scores are so high because the weaker students are pushed into commercial/vocational high schools and never take these exams. Furthermore, success in school (and exams) doesn't seem to be translating into success in the globalized world for Koreans. That's because of the educational system that emphasizes rote memorization over creative thinking. If I'm not mistaken, even the Korean government is concerned about this. |
Other countries also stream stream students according to ability. Germany, whose scores are lower than those of Korea, has three streams, Hauptschule, Realschule and Gymnasium, and only students who have attended the Gymnasium and passed the university entrance exams (Abitur) are eligible to study at university. Finland is the same.
I'll have to disagree with you when you say that educational success hasn't translated in economic success in the globalized world. In a paper entitled "Economic Growth and Human Development in the RoK, 1945 - 1992," Jong-Who Lee writes,
| Quote: |
"[] Korea has achieved a remarkable record of high and sustained economic growth and human development. It is noted that economic growth and human development have been closely related and interacted with each other throughout periods of high economic growth.
First of all, human capital is considered one of the major factors in explaining Korea's remarkable economic growth. The contribution of human capital to growth goes beyond that indicated by conventional growth accounting because the abundant well-educated human resources have been playing a key role in the absorption of advanced technology
from developed countries and thereby bringing about Korea's high levels of technological progress. |
Certainly the fact that Korea is now the 10th largest economy in the world seems to indicate a certain measure of success.
I think that rote learning gets a bum rap. What's so bad about rote learning? We've all had to learn the alphabet and how to spell, multiplication tables and lists of world capitals and consequently we've got (one hopes) a large base of general knowledge to draw on. Rote learning doesn't preclude creative nor critical thinking, these are separate skills that need to be emphasised in addition to rote learning. The way I see it, rote learning is very appropriate in early age, during one's elementary and middle school years, whereas creative and critical thinking ought to be taught increasingly in high school and university. The problem in Korea isn't the rote learning in primary and secondary school, but the fact that universities completely fail to foster creative and critically reflective individuals. But then, Cameron isn't talking about tertiary education, so maybe Britain will be able to unite the best of both educational traditions. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Wishmaster
Joined: 06 Feb 2003
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 8:47 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Actually, your stats are outdated. Korea is not number 10. I believe they are 13th(Brazil passed them). And Eddie, I'm glad I don't know your politicians. Any politician that thinks the South Korean education model should be adopted by their country is not someone I want making decisions for me. No thanks. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Konglishman
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 8:59 am Post subject: Re: Cameron wants Korean education system in UK |
|
|
| edwardcatflap wrote: |
| Quote: |
Mr Cameron said: "Finland, Singapore and South Korea have the most highly qualified teachers, and also some of the best education systems in the world, because they have deliberately made teaching a high prestige profession.
"They are brazenly elitist - making sure only the top graduates can apply. They have turned it into the career path if you've got a good degree.
|
He wants the UK to follow suit. What do you reckon? |
I have heard good things about Norway's education system, and I am under the impression that Finland is fairly similar to Norway with respect to their education system.
As for Singapore, my first hand knowledge of its education system fairly limited. However, I did interview for a job there and nearly got it. The school was very much focused on developing critical thinking through problem based learning. Honestly, I was quite impressed with the school. However, it should also be mentioned that this is very unique school in Singapore.
Finally, in the case of South Korea, perhaps, there might be some things to be learned such as some quick calculational techniques. But with that said, South Korea is the last place that I would want to use as a model of educational reform. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nickwils
Joined: 30 Apr 2007
Location: Asia
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 12:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| He is a cluless tool who is only familiar with the playing fields of Eton as a reference for education. A statement like that from that idiot come as no surprise... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Dude Ranch
Joined: 04 Nov 2008
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ED209
Joined: 17 Oct 2006
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 2:54 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Wishmaster wrote: |
| Actually, your stats are outdated. Korea is not number 10. I believe they are 13th(Brazil passed them). And Eddie, I'm glad I don't know your politicians. Any politician that thinks the South Korean education model should be adopted by their country is not someone I want making decisions for me. No thanks. |
You're not a Obama fan either. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Unposter
Joined: 04 Jun 2006
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 4:14 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Teachers were an elite group in Korea, most definitely amongst the highest educated, especialy if they are women. But, it is already starting to go down hill, mostly to changes in economy and somewhat do to corruption. Where my wife works, almost all the older generation teachers are SKY graduates. Now, well, they come much farther down the rung of the ladder.
BTW, graduating from elite universities does not make them great teachers nor great English teachers. They are amongst the best of Korea but that is the only fair comparison you can make. Their skills and ideas are only as good as the previous generation was able to educate them.
I think more highly valuing teachers is a pretty good idea, regardless of political stripe, but you better put your money where your mouth is or else it will only go so far... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
gay in korea
Joined: 13 Jan 2010
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 5:04 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Finland should not be mentioned in the same breath as Korea. Finnish students literally spend HALF the time Korean kids do in class/studying that Koreans do.
You could not have more different systems.
I don't actually know who the guy is, but I do know he doesn't know what he's talking about. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ippy
Joined: 25 Aug 2009
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 5:22 pm Post subject: |
|
|
curious how hed like to make it a high prestige job? Just this year two of my friends quit teaching in the UK because of stress of dealing with students. Retention rates in general are abysmal EVEN WITH the introduction of golden hellos (payable after i believe your first year of actual teaching if you sign up again). Does saying "this is a high prestige job" automatically make it a high prestige job or something? What could he be planning?
I cant exactly see corporal punishment returning any time soon, nor do i see parental rights being sacrificed, finally, i doubt the culture of information (league tables, inspections, et al) is going away any time soon, so whats left? Higher pay? I very much doubt it. Teaching, like nursing is a profession of love, "the reward is the satisfaction of infusing young minds with the spark of learning!!!" obviously. Only 'bad teachers' want money 
As ever, empty meaningless rhetoric with no thought into what he woudl actually do to make it a more high prestige job. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 6:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
South Korea has a high literacy rate.
Judging by the responses to this thread, perhaps its education system SHOULD be imposed.
Read the quote again. Nothing was said about copying the education system.
Google and read the entire article. He wants to improve teachers and teaching. That is it. He pointed to South Korea and other countries as examples of systems that only let the top performers teach. Not as a role model for the overall education system.
Nothing wrong with wanting the quality of instruction to improve. Of course you don't have to be among the elite to be a good teacher...but the odds are definitely better. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
