THE STATE OF TEACHING

There are 2 main sorts here in Madrid: public and private… and I´ve done both - book me in for my nervous breakdown immediately!

Unlike the British system (and, I believe, the American) the primary state school system here is, as the Spanish would say, "special". "Special" is a euphemism in Spanish that means "weird".
The average primary school is very well-equipped – a 2 year old Computer Room, that no-one uses, ´cos half the teachers can´t use a computer.
From the age of 3, children have access to the latest educational teaching methods – "Open your book at page 22 and begin." Though what three year old understands the concept of 22? And begin exactly what?
From the age of 6, homework entails "Study what we have done in class for a test on Monday". How many 6 year olds know how to study? And what´s a test?
Spanish primary teachers have the general knowledge of a dustbin man (sorry to all street cleansers!) in Britain, the political correctness of a London taxi driver, and an insurance broker´s concept of child development.
Many of them are of the age when professional exams for teachers didn´t exist, and the thought of venturing outside Madrid (let alone Spain!) for your holidays is still anathema to them…
And God forbid that children should start looking at words and letters before the age of 6, that they should learn by discovering things for themselves, that they should experiment, that they should use their initiative, that they should think for themselves!
The greatest innovation in education in recent years has been the photocopier – throw a worksheet at a child to shut it up.
And school outings? There is a species of staff at zoos, farms and museums called "the Monitor" – these are young, enthusiastic, knowledgeable helpers who show and explain everything to the kids, while the teachers who brought them sit on their fat "gluteos", drinking coffees and being served lunch till it´s time to go home.
On the other hand, there is a new breed of young, enthusiastic teachers (who unfortunately were educated as above) that will soon drag Spanish education, kicking and screaming, from the 19th century into the 21st! They come to courses I run for Madrid Council, and will be the topic of my next diatribe…can you wait…?