COMPARISON OF KOREAN AND CANADIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

CANADA

neighborhood and community schools are generally small

schools closed on weekends and after school

school day ends at 3:15

students go home for lunch or bring a lunch if they bus

there are two school boards, one for public education and one for separate school or Catholic education

private schools exist but are very expensive

religious groups demand government funded schools

few students attend private institutions after school or receive tutoring

two language “bilingual” education policy, though French is sometimes taught as a foreign language

classroom size is twenty to twenty-five

no physical punishment is allowed by teachers, but some schools allow the vice-principal to do so

principals and vice-principals often teach full or part-time

schools have some provincial, national, and regional autonomy, because of ethnic diversity, to a certain extent

schools are networking on the Internet

all schools are heated in winter

students do not do much school cleaning

school is empty and closed on weekends and after school except for occasional care-taking staff

teachers are teachers and students are students but students are very polite

parents sometimes give gifts to teachers

classrooms are multi-ethnic

are not too serious about math and science until higher grades

every school has an auditorium but few schools have cafeterias

assembly in the auditorium is not so regimented but does inculcate nationalistic feelings, singing national anthems, pledge of allegiances etc.

students do not study “traditional arts”

no elementary school alumni, except in rural areas maybe

students are bused to school if they can’t walk or if they go to a separate school

seldom any cash scholarships until high school graduation

shoes are worn in the school, but not winter boots

teachers can stay at the same school and teach the same grade indefinitely

art, music, and physical education and sports are very popular

there are school classes for gifted senior elementary students

students like to ride bicycles to school

I.Q. tested

suburban schools have grass and a few flowers, while city schools have no grass, only asphalt playgrounds

there are special schools for native people, especially in remote areas, in their own language.

schools in Quebec teach in French and some areas have a reaction against learning English

once school is over for the summer, students never go back to school

KOREA

- schools are either tiny and rural or huge and urban

- schools are open all the time

school day ends at 5:00 though younger ones leave after lunch

lunch is served in a big school cafeteria

schools are not divided by religious affiliation

no private schools except after school private ducation institutes, attended by a large number of students, the cost of which is a burden on parents and a stress on students

english taught as a foreign language but it’s not a bilingual government policy.

chinese characters are taught

classrooms average 35, small rural schools have combined casses

hitting with a stick and many other forms of punishment are at the discretion of the teacher, but some teachers don’t use it

principals and vice-principals carry out school functions and administration, but no longer teach

schools are subject to a national education policy

Internet connectivity just beginning

schools are often very cold in winter, using only one rotary heater and conserving on gas

students do a lot of care-taking in and around the school

there are classes on Saturdays and there is someone in the school all the time, even at night

teachers socialize more with students and receive more respect

parents give gifts to teachers, including money

koreans are an homogenous race

koreans are tops in math and science worldwide in grade 3 & 4. This school has 2 science rooms and a computer room

schools often have cafeterias to feed 800 or more, but no money for auditoriums and a stage

listen to marching music on the playground, as well as classical and traditional music

students study traditional music and cultural arts, and family-nation value systems

students loyal to school and to age group

students must walk, although public transport is now available

best students can win small cash scholarships to middle school

slippers are worn in the school, even in winter

teachers can stay in a school for a maximum of 5 years, then they must change schools. Teachers are given a grade to teach without a choice, though they can state a preference

I.Q. tested

no schools or special classes for the gifted, but only for the mentally challenged though best students are often grouped together.

few bikes at school as school is high and most live nearby and principals think it’s unsafe as indeed it might be

art, music and physical education and sports are very popular

school gardens are impeccable but schools have no grass

during summer, students often come to school for extra classes or events like 3 day camping and cleaning duties.

students bow and say hello to teachers whenever they see them, on the street or in the school

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