Mathematics Education in Britain: An American Viewpoint

Before I embarked on my year of teaching in England under the auspices of the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program, I had envisioned classes composed of English choirboys, colleagues teaching in academic gowns, and breaks in the day for morning coffee and afternoon tea. Although the tea break is still very much a part of the school day, “choirboy” students and academic robes are still to be found at only a very few schools. The reality was closer to Sidney Poi tier's experience in the movie To Sir with Love, with students challenging the teacher's authority at every possible opportunity. Nevertheless, I grew personally and developed professionally during my year of teaching abroad. My wife and I made new friends and explored a fascinating country. I was able to observe and become part of a foreign school system, and I tried to understand and analyze that system's approach to education. This article discusses some of the differences between the American and English systems and offers recommendations on the basis of my judgments about their relative merits.