Gmail / 11. Conventional schooling in Belarus
.doc11. Conventional schooling in Belarus: problems and ways of their solution
“Men are born ignorant, not stupid;
they are made stupid by education.”
Bertrand Russell
Of every family the future of their kids is the most important question. Parents are ready to spend enormous sum of money for the education of their children.
Choosing a school is of an exceptional importance. Because our decision will influence the march of events and will be a turning-point in the life of our kids. That’s why we have to choose the school where we would like our children to study and to what sphere of life we want to dedicate their life very carefully. But what are the criteria for the good school? How not to mistake while choosing one? Schools have for many years set out their purposes, often in clear and helpful statements of aims and objectives.
Conventional school is designed to enable everyone to pursue the subjects that they are good, and at the same time to encourage social cohesion. But there are those who believe that the conventional school system (comprehensive system) holds back the very bright children on whom the community will depend heavily in the years to come for the inventiveness, decision-making ability and intellectual endurance which enable a country to compete successfully in a world of advanced technology. However, there has never been any conclusive evidence that the comprehensive system does hold back the very intelligent pupils.
The reality is nowadays parents more often give their preference to private schools, choosing the name of the school but not its teaching methods. Because even if you come at the interview and there will be a choice between a boy or a girl graduated in Cambridge but not very talented, and another boy or girl who finished one of the comprehensive schools but who is a real smart boy/girl, there a slight possibility for the 2nd one to get the job, because Cambridge speaks for its name. So, the graduate from Cambridge gained some kind of social advantage attending this University.
Parents prefer private sector because don’t approve the idea of mixed schooling of conventional schooling and also think that mixed-ability classes do not make the best provision for the most and least able children.
That’s why parents choose to opt out of the State system and send their children to private school. And now private education has become one of Britain’s liveliest growth sectors. The result is that fee-paying schools throughout the country are full, and many have long waiting lists. Parents choosing private school hope o give their children a good start in life.
17. Conventional schooling: problems and ways of their solution
For every family the future of their kids is the most important question. Parents are ready to spend an enormous sum of money on the education of their children.
Choosing a school is of an exceptional importance. Because our decision will influence the march of events and will be a turning-point in the life of our kids. That’s why we have to choose the school where we would like our children to study and to what sphere of life we want to dedicate their life very carefully. But what are the criteria for the good school? How not to mistake while choosing one? Schools have for many years set out their purposes, often in clear and helpful statements of aims and objectives.
School’s mission is to promote intellectual growth in students through a meaningful education. However, the possibility of schools to reach the set up target depends on the approach they take to fulfill educational goals and reach high academic standards.
The reality nowadays shows that parents more often give their preference to private schools, choosing the name of the school but not its teaching methods. Conventional schooling presupposes traditional forms of educating students through a teacher-centered approach, relying on lecturing as a way of transmitting information and test examination system as a way of knowledge control. This type of schooling exists in Belarus. It should be mentioned that Belarus has a highly developed system of education, as evidenced by such statistical indicators as adult literacy rate (99.8%) and ratio of employed population who received basic, general secondary or vocational education (98%).
However conventional schooling has become nowadays the subject of multiple critiques. There are those who believe that this type of schooling does not well reveal children’s potential, moreover it stifles curiosity and kills motivation. Children are regarded as just numbers. Due to the big numbers of students in classes and limited amount of time it is next to impossible for teachers to find an individual approach to each student and to create high motivation for the subject. In their turn, some teachers, due to low salaries, lack incentive and inspiration to give off their best.
Truancy, lack of interest and important extra-curricular activities, lack of financing and of new modern equipment are the issues that Belarusian conventional schooling faces today and that demand thorough consideration and resolution.
Among the ways of improving the situation is to make education more learner-centered based on the pedagogy of cooperation where the learner shares the responsibilities for decisions in the learning process; it minimizes pressure upon students and give them more freedom to express their thoughts and opinions, puts the emphasis on creative thinking. This approach shortens the amount of students in each classroom and thus establishes a contact with each child, creates the atmosphere of trust.
Teachers are to respect the views of students and by no means to penalize them for the views different from the accepted norm. Thus the key targets of conventional schooling should be the development of personality and also the creative thinking.
On the whole, schools, parents and the state should integrate in order to build an educated society.