Page 10 - link magazine

10
EDUCATION MATTERS
How the other half over the water live Primary and

Westlea headteacher Neil Griffiths spent his Easter holidays making the latest of several working visits to the secondary schools
United States. In the first of two articles for The Link, he gives a personal view of the education system there. work together on
Having recovered from the usual technology
bout of fearofflymg,I departed the
aircraft to the tone of the now A week of technology during June
expected farewell of "Have a nice brought together work by pupils
day," and entered the Fantasy State from all the West Swindon primary
of Florida, characterised by its very schools and visits by children and
own Disney World and life-style to parents from across the area.
which almost anyone could become The exhibition held at
accustomed. Greendown School aimed to show
The first week of my visit was off the work being undertaken in
spent in Tampa, a very modern readiness for the introduction of
high-tech city with an American technology in the national curri-
Football stadium into which it culum from September.
appeared you could fit most of West Paul King, Head of Technology
Swindon with ease and a at Greendown, described the event
MacDonalds on every street corner. as a first in trying to show how
With the initial child-like technology has to be integrated
excitement of having picked my Presenting the British system to American teachers from the age of 5 through to 16
very own orange and grapefruit quarter of ours, homes comprise of for choice when choosing a W.C. years. "We set out to break down
from the tree over, I was then taken the standard three 'en-suites,' I was programmed to work over barriers between primary and
to the apartment which was to be customary balcony and gadget in two large city secondary schools, secondary schools and there was
my 'home' for four days. filled kitchen. (I was particularly a primary school, a kindergarten some marvellous work put on
With land in plentiful supply and taken with their waste-disposal (nursery school) and spend time display by the primary schools. We
house prices sta nding at probably a systems!). One is also usually spoilt with staff of a local University arranged for a bus to bring classes
Education Department. in from each school, and lots of
The imagination and creativity parents have visited.
LEARN TO DRIVE displayed in the construction of "Each school transferred a small
many British schools is sadly group of pupils and a teacher to
WAIM Ir lacking in most American work at Greendown for a session.
MODERN L. ALAN COLIC educational establishments. Most They fitted in very well and there
resemble the social services offices was a lot of interest from the
DRIVING 0793 - 872244 or traditional English bus stations! secondary aged students."
TECHNIQUES INDIVIDUAL TUITION On arrival at one of Tampa's Brookfield teacher Ruth Randell-
Established in West Swindon in 1978 many large primary schools, I was Sly thought the event was very
greeted by a very welcoming useful. "The exhibition has been a
secretary who was dealing not only good way of finding out how other
with my intrusion into the school, primary schools have been
but also with dinner money, approaching the national
sweatshirt orders and a child with curriculum. It's been a good
a bleeding nose! I suddenly felt exchange of ideas."
Whether its for aboat. caravan, or frailer.
quite at home. As a spin-off from the event,
BRITANNIA TOWING CENTRE
But there the comparisons ended, Greendown artand design teachers
Unit 16, Station Industrial Estate, Swindon
Can Help! as little in an American school are talking with colleagues in local

* Towbars for Cars, Vans & Light Vehicles resembles that in its English primary schools to arrange another
* Seat Belts (Kangol & Britax Approved) counterpart. Schools on the whole exhibition of work for later in the
* Gild Safety Seats are very much larger with the year.
Tel: 0793 613147, 0793 488622
average primary school having 500
plus pupils. Staffing ratios too are Driving Murtle the Turtle round a
0 vastly different with approximately course of obstacles with the aid of a
two and half times the teaching touch keyboard and computer power,
staff, three times the administrative Andrew Sneddon, Judith Randell-Sly
support and enough caretakers and and Ross Mathams from Brookfield
cleaners to keep any house proud School. A technology project taken to
home-maker content for a decade. Greendown for a day.
Funding for schools intheUnited
States is clearly given far greater
R.K. GARDEN SERVICES priority than considered necessary
by this present government. The
I
I I
budget provision for photocopying
in the school I was spending the
Professional Landscaping Service day in totalled £8,000! This almost
Turfing • Patio Laying • Fencing matches the entire budget with
Fixed rate regular garden maintenance which I am provided to run a school
- to cover costs of all educational
Special offer for 6 weeks - top quality paving materials, from a desk to a pencil,
slabs at reduced prices every book, toilet tissues, cleaning
materials, stamps and telephone.
512287/772516 Oh, how the other half-live! Well,
Home Yard now that I have got that moment of
envy out of my system, what about
Mobile: 0836 229887 the American education service.
We also supply gardening materials direct to your garden. Next month Neil concentrates on the
atmosphere in the typical classroom.

'I,