Public Schools the real bullies in educations
I started teaching in 1973 in Nukualofa Tonga,
I did not know what I was doing so I followed what ever other teacher was did, writing notes on the board so the students copy them. It was private school following the exam based English education system. Homework and grades did not matter as long as you past the test at the end of the year. If you past the exam you move to the next grade. I did not like the system, I did not feel it was a way to gain knowledge...just cram for a test.
I did enjoy the students, the teachers, the culture and that I was learning new thing by interaction and teaching. I would recommend the experience to anyone it was a real eyeopener and it changed my life.
One thing about a private school was that it became a privilege, which many families struggled to pay for. A lot of kids in Tonga never went beyond elementary education in those days. The result was that the kids were motivated, they felt proud and honored to be at the school and they had a lot of pride. They came to school well groomed, they helped with school maintenance, grounds work, and cleaning. The students were essential to the full functioning of the school..
This was the one and only time I worked in a private school, but there were benefits of respect and pride in education there, from both students and faculty.
