Quote Originally Posted by scotcher
isn't everywhere getting Americanised?
Yes, but I hope that Russia is far, far behind. But, here is a thought. Perhaps it is not exactly right to say that the world is becoming "Americanised." Perhaps the world is just blending. I say this because I see some things that are more "European" happening to America and Australia, as well.

Quote Originally Posted by scotcher
See this is where you are making leaps of faith. You are taking your own prejudices (which, when it comes to discipline in schools, I must admit I share), some personal experience of a few badly-educated individuals, and the occasional story of political-correctness-gone-mad, which invariably get loads of coverage in the knee-jerky right-wing press, and offering this as proof that there is a problem with the whole education system, when in fact it is no such thing, it is simply evidence that the system is not perfect and that it fails some people. It is categorically not evidence that the system is worse on the whole, for the majority of students, than that which went before or than that which still exist in Russia. If you can offer any such evidence I'll gladly hear it.
I can't give any proof. Only personal observations as a volunteer teacher's aid at my local middle school. For instance; When learning about Great Britain recently, it seemed very important to see English culture through the eyes of a young Muslim boy and his love for the Koran. I am not stupid. I can see what is going on here. Every time I show up in class I see some type of social engineering going on having nothing to do with basic education.

Quote Originally Posted by scotcher
And in any event, yes, I probably wouldn't have disputed the generalisation had it been confined to English-speaking countries,
Well, perhaps I should have confined my generalisation to English speaking countries, just to be sure.