• Question: does more time in school affect our education?

    Asked by leeliebert to Suzi, Tim on 24 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Tim Fosker

      Tim Fosker answered on 24 Jun 2011:

      Hi @leeliebert

      Generally the evidence is that going to school really advances people’s learning. Someone would have to go to a very bad school for it not to help at all. Setting goals on what needs to be learnt and testing how much has been learnt are the keys to good education and school provides a really good place to do that.

      Some people are ‘home schooled’ and learn as much as others that go to school, but they spend as much time learning as children that go to school.

      I hope that helps answer your question.

    • Photo: Suzi Gage

      Suzi Gage answered on 24 Jun 2011:

      Hi @leeliebert
      I agree with Tim – school education, although we could probably pick holes in it, is really good, and definitely the best system we have. I feel lucky to have had the education I got in the UK.

      I also agree with Tim though that the hours that you put in are important – so home schooled kids as long as they put in the same hours as kids in school are likely to do just as well (although personally I think you learn a lot from being around other kids too – academically and socially, and they miss out on that).

      Hope this answers your question – what do you think?

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