Wait... Her students are too what?!?!?!

30 April 2012

Today, I read an article that I found to be really surprising. Before I explain what happened, I want to preface that Spanish teachers--like American teachers--just want the best for their students. They want their students to learn, discover, and succeed. What I'm going to write about is an administrative issue--which is a whole 'nother ball game.

There was a Spanish teacher working in a Spanish school in Andorra (If you aren't familiar with Andorra, it's a tiny country between France and Spain). She had a really good year with her students. They can now add, subtract, read, and almost write. Did I mention that they are 4 years old?

Spanish children learn things like reading and writing a lot earlier that American children, but most don't know how to do all of these things when they are four. Admittedly, Spanish is an easier language to learn to read and write since it's written exactly as it is pronounced.

A Spanish official thought that this was too much. He said that the students have "too high a level for a public school" and recommended that the teacher be removed from her current position.

Of course, this has caused an outrage with the students' parents, parents in general, and teachers.

You can read the full article here.