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  My school is in a catchment which has a large number of SE Asian and Chinese ethnic children. Its not just about the way they teach or learn in those countries, although the teaching methods do seem highly effective.  Its also about the discipline  which such children show.  Many children from Chinese families will line up at the classroom door and wait to be recognized and invited into the classroom before they enter. When they do enter they will bow slightly to me ( and expect me to return that as acknowledgment) before they  go to their seats. All this is done in silence and with a  genuine smile.

English children would do well to learn that as it promotes a business like attitude in the classroom. I have found that even though many of the students are ESL, they do very well in lessons, are often quick studies and have bumped my GCSE and A level grades. I am most happy to teach them. If Gove can find a way of bringing in that culture generally, best of luck to him, but  I think it could be the right way to go.

jabed:

Its also about the discipline  which such children show. 

jabed:

airy:

jabed:

Its also about the discipline  which such children show. 

Parental expectation is important, possibly more so than any teaching method.

 

I can accept that. One thing children will ask me to put on their report is to say they " work hard". They do not necessarily want me to say they are good or , make contributions in class but just that they are hard working.  For their parents this means a lot and will please them.

Give me a class or willing Chinese pupils any day. I am luckier than most in that my English students are generally better behaved than in many schools ( comparison being to other schools I have taught in). Given the right attitude my best students keep up very well with the Chinese but as I said, it is all about the business like attitude which actually allows me to teach.  In many schools just getting order in the classroom is an achievement , let alone teaching.

(Repeating my earlier point), but seems relevant to repeat it here....I think the studies, which I came across on courses 20+ years ago, about setlling the Vietnamise boat children into the USA are relevant. What research determined was the culture of the families: the high involvement of the family including grandparents in the children's work, and the value that education was the ticket to future prosperity propelled these children . They were considerably outperforming the US-born children, despite hardships. But I doubt Mr Gove can recreate that culture in the UK. It would more likely theoretically arise in the course of time, if, say, the UK went into a long downward spiral and had to dig its way back out, after living standards had collapsed. I don't think that kind of culture can be imposed from the top.