I am an American living in Australia (with my Australian partner). I am not a teacher, but these were my experiences as a student at a low-income elementary school (from Kindergarten for 5-year-olds up through Grade 5 for 10-year-olds) in the 90s in Atlanta: • Class size of ~32-35 students and no TA. My elementary school had around ~800-1000 students (for comparison, my high school had ~3500). • Lunch was provided in a large cafeteria. Teachers generally did not stick around for this. • No recess or breaks. Instead, we had daily PE class, which the teacher was not involved with (we were handed over to the PE coach). • Students were expected to be quiet and obedient. (However, some teachers really struggled to control the class and things could get out of hand, so most teachers tended to be quite strict and dealt with problem students by sending them out if the classroom to ISS, or in-school suspension.) • Tests and exams were common, but not overwhelmingly so. (I understand they are much more frequent now.) • Compared to the schooling experiences of various Australians I know, we were exposed to more advanced math and English material at a younger age, and a higher level of achievement was expected of us. Even my low-income school was more academically challenging in math and English than my partner's very expensive and highly reputed private school. • The higher expectations were coupled with more tools that aid learning, such as a bigger focus on phonetics and sentence diagramming. (On the other hand, some of the things we learned with mindbogglingly bizarre; our teachers were forced to try to teach us matrix math, for example - I think this was around 5th grade? - which was something we never grokked and never used again. To those who don't know what matrix math is: in most places, this is usually taught at the university level AFTER calculus, if it is taught at all.) • History class was much less focused on "great men" and memorizing dates (compared to my partner's schooling) and more focused on social history and broader shifts. On the other hand, it was also much more focused on local history, with little effort to connect to a broader worldwide context. Much more insular. • Literature class was less focused on "great literature" and much more focused on improving reading fluency and cultivating an interest in reading (compared to my partner's literature classes). Less classic literature, more Goosebumps. Also lots and lots of creative writing. Literature class was taught like art and music: it was meant to be fun and relaxed. • Science class was abysmally poor (compared to what my partner got). It was very dry and taught out of a textbook. No experiments, no equations to solve, etc. - just rote memorization of facts. Just extremely bad and perpetually everyone's least favorite subject. (This did improve at higher grade levels, but it was honestly a waste of time at the elementary level and poisoned students' attitudes toward it.) • We were exposed to more technology. For example, even though most people had little exposure to computers in the 90s, we were already using them (e.g., to type stories on and then print out for literature class) starting in 1st grade, whereas my partner did not touch a school computer until until high school - even though his school was very wealthy and could have easily afforded it. My school was poor, so the hardware we got was very outdated even at the time (Apple II computers and dot matrix printers), but it was considered non-negotiable than children should grow up comfortable with SOME kind of technology that vaguely resembled what would become commonplace in the future. • All classes (math, English, science, history/social studies, etc.) happened at the exact same every single day. All were taught by the same teacher, except for PE and music. (Speaking of music class, a funny similarity with Australia: learning to play the recorder in 4th grade.) • Gifted students were never moved up a grade (as happened with my partner). Instead, there was more separation of students into different classrooms by ability: classes for students not fluent in English, classes for students with different learning disabilities, classes for students of different giftedness levels, etc. • No uniforms. No fees. Free transportation via school buses (but you're waking up extra early to catch it). Textbooks and other supplies (other than consumables, like paper and pencils) were provided for free. Breakfast and lunch could be purchased inexpensively from the school, or provided for free to low-income students. I don't know how widespread these trends were, and I also don't know how much they hold up today. I actually think the biggest differences between American and Australian education is at the tertiary level, however - something that has potentially major implications for Australians interested in immigrating to US. Most importantly, an Australian Bachelor degree takes just 3 years (as opposed to 4-5 years in the US) and is not recognized in the US unless the student has an Honours degree (which is classified as just a regular Bachelor's degree in the US). An employment visa to the US requires a Bachelor degree, so this education difference presents a major immigration barrier for many Australians.

It's also not KIDS that say what's on their mind in Australia, it's AUSTRALIANS that say what's on their mind, period... 😂

Hmm, I don't know what you're talking about with the short session at recess of eating in class with the teachers. Not here in Tasmania... Never. That is just absolutely WEIRD lol. Never heard of such a thing

Students in new Zealand rude disrespectful brats

You gotta love that sunny, well-kept Melbourne neighborhood!

Just as an FYI ….not ALL classes are only 22 to 24 students. I work in both primary and high schools in Western Australia and previously Tasmania as well as my son doing all his schooling like me back home in Queensland. They all averaged 30 ….some 28 some up to 32. ☺️

In our school (in Wales) there’s birthdays on classroom Wales and leavers hoodies with children’s names on and parents can record sports day etc but are asked not to upload anything online and to try to only focus on their own child

Would love to see a comparison between England and Wales 😅 particularly early years

Parents!-your children aren't your friends. Teachers!-your students aren't your friends. Lets have some boundaries between adults and children and between adults at work and children in school...........

From my experience teaching in Queensland and then for 6yrs in the UK in the early 2000s I preferred the UK curriculum which was set out more specifically for you than over here. The over concentration on marking was stupid in the UK and where you teach will dictate how well behaved the kids are. I taught in very poor socio economic areas where the behaviour was horrendous (parents as well as kids are disrespectful) and then in better social areas where the behaviour was much more respectful with really positive parental involvement. Avoid London schools if you want to keep your sanity! I found it really easy to get continuous full time work in the UK, but in Aust. it's almost impossible.

A big difference is that blue stuff behind you, above the houses. We don’t have that in the UK

Bells? Nothing changes does it? Good training for the public service. Nothing else. The kids are pulling your leg if your a relief teacher. They are always rude, forever, towards the relief teacher. They wouldn't say anything to their regular teacher.

iphone by far the better option. and cheaper as it is multi-functional

how about behaviour ? im a secondary teacher planning to relocate as here in uk behaviour is ....

I heard this from a friend in Oz and they said children due show less respect for teachers. Talking in assembly is not on really. Shows that of respect and discipline. I love the fact that children in the U.K. still wear uniform too.

i feel like the lack of respect for adults by kids in australia ia a generational thing. when i was at school it was a big no no to talk back or question someone in authority, especially at primary school age. these days i find kids have fewer manners than they once did.

Most Aussies have very little knowledge of the mechanics of English and aren't especially articulate without using filler words and cliques in their sentences. Reckon our education system is watered down, for sure.

I worked in Grade 1 at a Primary School in British Columbia, Canada in 1997 on the one year teacher exchange programme. It was the best year of my career. Similar experiences to you - less pressure. More resources. Specialist teachers for computing, music and PE. Smaller classes. Excellent training opportunities. Pupil start age for school older so more emotionally mature and ready for the challenges. Time off given to teachers for extra duties like for parents evenings, so could take a break during the day. More parental involvement. School buses could be used for educational visits. There was no religious education as such. It was a humanist approach, teaching children how to respect each other, other cultures and the environment. Reports were bullet points on one A4 sheet written every term, not 4 page rambling essays written in the final term here. Inspections were carried out by seconded teachers who ‘accredited’ a schools improvement plan and provided monetary resources for the area of improvement - not judgemental but supportive. I enjoyed the school intercom system. Thanks for your exploration of Australian schools. I really enjoyed watching it!

I'm a teacher in Ireland but trained in England 25 years ago. Really enjoyed this video, thank you

Really interesting as a South African teacher. We sound like we fall in the middle of these two countries.

Why film why he is walking. Very off-putting

think its changed since i went to school!

In Aus my year 3 child told me that with maths each child can select their own difficulty. "spicy" seems to be the standard, but there are also lower levels like "mild" if you feel you struggle. He tries "hot" or "extra hot" when he finds the basic "spicy" maths too easy. I guess this is a way to let kids move at their own pace.

I think it should be pretty easy for a teaxher to get a visa to live in Australia! We need more of them!

In Austria, as the children enter the classroom, they say good morning to the teacher and shake the teacher's hand

I hate the disrespect in Australian classrooms. Teachers are bored, counting days and pupils are arsewipes.

When I was in UK the unions were much stronger and the competition between unions meant that you could pick the one that was more powerful in your school. At the time there was a 'one meeting per week' policy. I work in an Aussie school where there are between one and two meetings per week plus directed professional learning time virtually every week.

Agree w some other commenters that its generally australian culture plus generational differences that cause young people to ask for justification. I think there is inherent respect (ie treat people kindly) but 'respect' when its used as a label for authority, isnt assumed now. Young people consistently ask for information and autonomy, and it makes sense in a world where they are inundated w social media and unchecked biases in almost all information presented to them

Just to let you know Australian schools are different from state to state so the rules are different from what you said NSW is more like the uk teaching basing all schools on Melbourne standards .

You should try teaching in Norway. Australians are very stuffy and controlling by comparison.

Coming from the UK as a kid and entering the Aussie school system I felt dumbed down. Please stay!

You were doing well up until 2:30, but eating in the classroom? Absolutely NOT the norm in Australia. Exceptions are sometimes made on very bad weather days.

Ok...I am an Aussie teacher who taught in the UK for 5 years. The biggest negative in the UK was the need to do so much in case of an OFSTED visit, including the marking. Which makes you question, what do the kids get out of that? Overall, I felt the UK curriculum was more structured and better. Their maths curriculum was great. I loved their religion education that taught children about all religions. It leads to more tolerance. I didn't like teaching English in the uk. The whole structure expected (for OFSTED) lacks real flow. I like the flexibility to teach in your own style in Australia. Teaching History in the UK was an absolute dream! I also liked that stationery and text books were all provided for each child. No child is disadvantaged. It was sad the level of security needed in UK schools. Edit - it was sad that I had students in the uk who had tutors for their STATS exams.

I fully agree with how low linguistic and maths expectations are here in Australia. It is ridiculous. My kids are years ahead with about 20 minutes a week of international curriculum from home. It is a joke. It make sme sad for the kids.

I’d say most schools now in UK don’t do much marking. Ofsted made it clear they’re no longer interested in it. Most schools I know do live marking with the children.

I think the eating with the teacher thing is to make sure the kids eat their lunches. They didn't do it for the first year when my kids were at primary school and the number of times my daughter came home with her lunch still in her bag and she excuse was that there was a game happening or she was doing something and didn't have time. I went to primary school in the UK for a couple of years and I found it a huge culture shock, good and bad things, but I found the teachers were harsher on the kids.

Hey, go on benefits. Teach them that they come from the work that has come before them. War is a video game and they’re fine. Don’t argue, your future is a camp in North Korea.

So busy learning how to teach the ‘new generation’ because the parents are worried about their children not being taught ‘their ways’.

Off ten vs offen. Who’s getting edjakated now? No 1.

Brilliant. Great encapsulation of your range of experiences. Have taught in Melbourne 40 plus years, both Primary and Secondary. I wish you well. Surely by now you will be permantly employed.

In Australia, it's Half and hour for lunch without duties

Come work up in a remote indigenous community, for a different experience again.... plenty of work where I am🙂

My daughter lives in London but I wish she’d come home and work in Melbourne. I’m sending her this video.

After teaching Primary School for nearly forty years, I relaxed and tried to really enjoy my time in the classroom. I’d let my students know that it was our home away from home and that we needed to care for one another. I tried to make sure that we all had a good laugh every day, and didn’t take ourselves too seriously. I loved teaching and am happily retired after 40+ years, but some days I’d really love to be back on the job…minus the admin!

Yes they do have teacher aides in Victoria!

Very informative. I have taught vocational education for many years, which I know is quite different, but I do not have many good memories of primary and secondary education in the UK. (College was good) But talking to a rather opinionated and rude kid the other day, I am pleased that I don’t teach at that level. She believed that the whole point of going to school was to meet friends, not learning stuff, and would argue any point with me, showing little respect or appreciation.😮

I honestly thought it was broke here.

22 children... I can only laugh. Here in South Australia I have 30 students.

Where are you teaching now Australia or the Uk?

Found this very interesting. I think Australia followed British education culture for a long time. I went primary school in Queensland in t 0:19 he 1960s and silence was a thing. In my government school (years 1-4) corporal punishment was in force. Maths was very important. Racism was rife. Switched to private school year 5 and grammar was a thing. And we learned either French or German ( very Eurocentric). Funny thing is I can still read French aloud phonetically even f I don't t understand it all!