Hungarian Education Not Superior, Exchange Teacher Decides

American education is falsely maligned. For years I had heard that European education was superior to American education. But after a year of teaching at an advanced secondary school in Hungary, I disagree.

The students at the Dual Language Gymnazium in Budapest were certainly more respectful than most students here. Each morning they rose to greet me with “Good morning,” something that doesn’t happen in San Diego. They were also fewer students in each class. And families were more close-knit than most American families.

But, over the course of my year in the Fulbright Teacher Exchange program, I also found that the Hungarian students generally lacked the independence, awareness and resourcefulness of students in advanced classes in San Diego. The Hungarian students took the same courses--math, science, language, etc.--as college-bound students in the United States, but the learning seemed to be rote. Students became book-wise “robots,” with no practical application as a part of the process. When I showed them a copy of an SAT examination, they were shocked at how much harder it was than their own college entrance exams.

My Budapest students were also naive and unprepared to tackle the future. They were so coddled by their parents--and teachers--that they could not think for themselves.

The parents of advanced students in San Diego are just as caring and concerned as Hungarian parents. They set high standards for their students and have similar expectations of them. They encourage their children to apply to good universities and to achieve some measure of success in their careers. American parents, however, allow their children to make many more decisions for themselves. This certainly shows in our American students’ level of maturity and personal efficacy. They have a much broader outlook on life.

American schools also do a better job of fostering creativity and growth. The advanced college-bound student here is more sophisticated and independent and savvy to the ways of the world. Our students also have a broader range of courses to choose from, and more technical equipment available.

Teachers in Hungary are less educated than their counterparts in the United States. Fewer have master’s or advanced degrees. Most of the teachers are very serious and demonstrate very little joie de vivre. In short, teaching advanced students here is more fun and challenging. Education is growth, knowledge, creativity and freedom of thought. American schools may have their problems, but they nurture these qualities.

NANCY FINK, San Diego. Fink teaches at Hoover High School.