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It depends on where you live in USA, Not so much in Canada. main difference in Canada in based on province you live in. In most of the USA you will get mediocre education, since it is not system that is designed to produce "smart" kids, but rather it is 2 tier system. -1 for wealthy and 2 for poor. How would rich people have quiet and hard working employees if all in the USA are smart?
I can imagine that Russian system was or still is different since socialist system had different needs in regard to education. If you want your kids to have good education in USA, buy or rent in wealthy hoods so your kids can attend best public schools, or pay private.
It depends on where you live in USA, Not so much in Canada. main difference in Canada in based on province you live in. In most of the USA you will get mediocre education, since it is not system that is designed to produce "smart" kids, but rather it is 2 tier system. -1 for wealthy and 2 for poor. How would rich people have quiet and hard working employees if all in the USA are smart?
I can imagine that Russian system was or still is different since socialist system had different needs in regard to education. If you want your kids to have good education in USA, buy or rent in wealthy hoods so your kids can attend best public schools, or pay private.
They have a video for Canada: OECD TV - Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (http://www.viewontv.com/oecd/031207_pisa2006/index.php?lang=ca - broken link)
direct link to web page (http://www.oecd.org/document/12/0,3746,en_2649_201185_46623628_1_1_1_1,00.html - broken link) with 2009 PISA/OECD links to all results
There are important facts for US ex-pats to know about the Ontario/Canadian Public Elementary School system that are difficult to understand until you experience them. We have learned thru experience that the Ontario Public School system curriculum and academics is weaker than and up to 1 1/2 years behind the US/Michigan system. (Comparisons were made primarily to the Michigan Curriculum due to our particular needs).
Indeed, our experience in the Oakville Public Schools, an affluent and educated community, has been the only disappointing factor in our ex-pat move to Canada. Upon arriving and experiencing the Oakville public schools we have learned that the Ontario elementary curriculum is behind the Michigan curriculum. Our children spent the 2007-08 school year in Oakville in a highly rated school based on Ontario’s EQAO tests. It was apparent within the first month that the Ontario Curriculum is approximately one to 1 ½ years BEHIND the Michigan curriculum and the school we came from. This surprising discovery led us to dig deeper into a comparison of the Ontario schools and ultimately to pull them out and put them into a Private School we felt better matched the US education/curriculum.
There are important facts for US ex-pats to know about the Ontario/Canadian Public Elementary School system that are difficult to understand until you experience them. We have learned thru experience that the Ontario Public School system curriculum and academics is weaker than and up to 1 1/2 years behind the US/Michigan system. (Comparisons were made primarily to the Michigan Curriculum due to our particular needs).
An interesting book has recently been published by Michael Zwaagstra (a Canadian author) titled.. What's Wrong with our Schools and How to Fix Them.
I find it hard to believe that the "curriculum" is "1 to 1 1/2 years behind." You are generalizing and making it seem as if the Ontario curriculum parallels the Michigan one except they teach 4th grade material in 5th grade. I highly doubt that is the case. Can you provide some more particulars?
I find it hard to believe that the "curriculum" is "1 to 1 1/2 years behind." You are generalizing and making it seem as if the Ontario curriculum parallels the Michigan one except they teach 4th grade material in 5th grade. I highly doubt that is the case. Can you provide some more particulars?
I am currently moving the other way, from Ontario to the US (NJ) and I have been comparing the math curriculum between my son's school and the one he will likely attend in the US (grade 6) and they are learning the exact same material. I have not read that link, yet, but I intend to since what is being said in this thread just doesn't seem to match what I am finding, at least in the two areas I am comparing.
So that link is just for a blog forum stating other people's own personal experiences...no facts?
Quote:
I feel that the application of new schools of thoughts in our Ontario public school district (such as no penalties for late work, banning/discouraging spelling/vocabulary tests for elementary children, lack of memorization of math facts) leave children with fundamental weaknesses as they move on thru elementary school.
That is SO not the case at my son's London, Ontario school. He is docked points for late work all the time , has times tables, and weekly spelling/vocabulary tests.
Quote:
Ontario - Our Grade 6 child had one novel study for the entire year.
My grade 6er has done two independent novel studies this year, plus the class has worked on group novel studies and many, many reading comprehension exercises.
Spelling prior to the start of grade 3 is not emphasized at our school because of the belief that emphasizes word patterns, roots and meanings rather than relying on word lists is a better way to work on early language skills. Btw, my son was first in our school's spelling bee last year and went on to the regional championships.
So that link is just for a blog forum stating other people's own personal experiences...no facts?
To be perfectly clear, the link the member provided a few posts back leads to a blog posting by that very same member in which she further expands on her opinion that the Oakville public school system is inferior to the public school system in the area of Michigan from whence she hailed.
So, yes, the link is for a blog forum stating personal opinions with little or nothing in the way of corroboration.
My own inquiries into the curriculum differences between Ontario and New Jersey also point to the fact that they closely mirror each other. NJ is known for having one of the best primary education systems in the U.S.... I doubt Michigan's is so much better that students are one full grade level ahead.
It depends on where you are in the US. Even urban SD's like say Buffalo, can have some very good schools and have some bad schools. So, offerings can be more of a factor than money, as some good schools can have it's share of poor students.
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, has times tables, and weekly spelling/vocabulary tests.
