I think it's general Western culture, general social development. The education system has been evolving constantly in the direction you described as 'americanism'. Back in the day left-handed kids were told this was wrong and made to write with there right hand, then later the general opinion changed to thinking this was wrong and was no longer practised. Kids used to be caned, beat, belted at school, then it was banned in country after county. The current system is just the continuation of the 'be nice to the kid' attitude.Originally Posted by DDT
Just because it may have happened first in America doesn't mean that when it happens elsewhere it is a result of 'Americanisation'. Afterall, the term "The West" exists because the countries it describes generally share common values, ways on life when in comparison with whatever isn't 'The West'. This is why Australia, despite being East on the map, is grouped in with 'The western-world'.