Friday 16 October 2009

Get 'em young

From this BBC article:

"So why do English schoolchildren start at five, when almost everyone else in Europe starts later? Apart from the Netherlands and Malta, the only other education systems beginning at five are Scotland and Wales (with Northern Ireland even earlier at four).

The origin of such an early start, introduced in 1870, had little to do with education, says the Primary Review report. Entering full-time education at such a tender age meant reducing the malign influence of Victorian feckless parents - it was about child protection and social conditioning rather than learning."


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