Calm and order
Houston Chronicle - October 2, 2000
By Paige Hewitt
There are at least two things at the new British School of Houston that are sometimes hard to find in American schools - quiet and courtesy. There is no hum in the hallways, no buzz in the classrooms. The teachers, all of whom are British and hold at least a master's degree, speak softly. Even the 3 and 4 year olds - who officials say are in "formal schooling, not day care' - wear uniforms and work quietly in small groups. That calm and order may be a testimonial that things are off to a jolly good start at the British School, which opened September 11 at the old Northwest Academy campus on Watonga Blvd. in northwest Houston.
It is the third traditional British school in the United States, following similar programs in Boston and Washington Dc. Officials say their instruction offers a more rigorous base curriculum than American schools, as well as instruction in traditional British games such as soccer and rounders. Officials also plan to form a cricket team.
Most of the school's 75 students are British, with parents working in the energy industry; the remainder are American or from other countries. Headmistress Grainne O'Reilly Askew, a 39 year old from London recently strolled around her classroom, prompting students to talk about their work. One little girl looked up at the headmistress and said, "Good morning, Miss Askew".
O'Reilly Askew squatted down to the girl's level, caressed her check and said," Hello my darling." In the hallway during class time, as O'Reilly Askew was explaining how British school place "an enormous emphasis on good behavior", a girl who appeared to be about 11 or 12 was making an extra effort to be quiet while digging for something in her locker.
The headmistress briefly excused herself from the conversation and complimented the girl on her "sensible behavior".
"We go out of our way to catch the children doing something good," O'Reilly Askew said after returning to her conversation. "Good behavior and good manners are a huge part of British education". But courtesy is not the lone distinction between American and British schooling methods.
"We do have a very, very different system," O'Reilly Askew said. "We start with the younger children. It is not a case of doing more or better. It is the case of doing different... It's about deepening and broadening children's knowledge".
The British School's curriculum which is the academic foundation used by England's public schools (called private schools in America), call for "nursery education" to begin at age 3 or 4.
Children begin full day schooling, or "reception class" at 5. Year One is for 6 year olds, Year Two fro 7 year olds and so on. While youngsters are grouped by age for social development, they are given schoolwork according to their ability. For example, a year three "numeracy" class would be composed of 8 year old students working on different math assignments based on their skill level, all within a highly structured environment. "The curriculum comprises the three core subjects: math, English and science" O'Reilly Askew said.
"They are taught those every day so that the children are absolutely proficient in those subjects, because we consider them to be the gateway to everything else. We expect our children to learn through investigation and experimentation. We do not encourage a great amount of rote learning. We expect them to hypothesize and to create".
British schooling also can appear more "highbrow" than American education. For example, British youngsters begin learning Shakespeare as early as Year Three. "England has such rich history", O'Reilly Askew said. "We are very lucky that we have a really far reaching historical culture in terms of the written word. We expect our children to be articulate, not only in the spoken form, but the written form".
Juliet Moore Tapia, an assistant professor in curriculum and instruction at the University of Houston, said there also is a great difference in what British schools expect from older students. She said Americans might view the later years in British schools as akin to college preparatory schools. At the age of 16, for instance, British school students begin specializing, moving from "O" (or ordinary) level subjects to "A" (or advanced) level subjects such as French or history, Moore Tapia said. Students who do well in the advanced work typically move on to college. Students who do not master the more rigorous subjects often enter the work force.
"British schools specialize in depth" she said. "Higher education is different, too. When you go to a university at the age of 18, you know what you're going to study, and you study that subject in depth. At the end of three years, you come out with a degree. There are no general studies". There are other significant differences between American and British schooling.
British curriculum calls for all students to wear uniforms and to receive religious instruction. Although the British School of Houston does require uniform, it has not incorporated religious instruction into its curriculum. "We are hiring the cream of the crop" she said. "It's not just about being intellectual - they must have an understanding of the craft of teaching".