In Summary ...

So what did you learn in the Netherlands?  This question has been asked of me several times since my return.  There really is no quick answer, nor a short list of things I learned.  Well, I can probably list a few non-academic things I learned … I love kroketten and Dutch cheese … I love Dutch hospitality and beer (which seem to go hand-in-hand) … And, I admire what one can do when space is limited.  Hopefully I can succinctly summarize what this exchange meant to me.

To begin with, the exchange began when our Dutch counterparts were our guests last October.  My guest, Liesbeth, did a good job of asking lots of questions about our school system, which in turn helped me think about and explain how we do education in the U.S.  This helped me look for differences and similarities while I was in the Netherlands.  Secondly, I can’t say enough about the chance to live life for two weeks in another country with the actual residents of that country.  I’ve done some traveling, always as a tourist.  What one gets as a tourist is a superficial understanding of the culture, the highlights and not really the daily cultural aspects of the people.  This experience put us right in the thick of daily life, which allows for greater understanding.

So, what did I learn about the education system of the Netherlands?  I will try to compare it to our high school / community college levels as best as I can, as their system does not line up with ours by age of the students.  At twelve years old, in the Netherlands, students are tested, and along with teacher recommendations, are placed in tracts based on their academic potential.  This means that from a fairly young age they have an idea about the kind of work they can be trained for.  While it is possible to work your way up to the next level, I got the impression that this happens only sometimes.  While the lower level students take a more vocational track, the higher level students are prepared for more academic pursuits and eventual university attendance.  This is a very oversimplified explanation, but my point here is to summarize, not try to make you an expert on the system.

Our system in comparison gives students a very broad education, in a variety of sciences and humanities and art, until they graduate from high school at about 18 years old.  Then of course based on their grades, they can choose to attend a university, community college or other vocational program.  What’s interesting to me is that the freedom to choose is largely left up to the individual student.  Yes, of course not everyone can decide to go to Harvard, but even if you don’t do so well in high school, many students get their act together and could have a great shot at university after community college.  Also starkly different, is that after high school you are basically on your own to decide to get more education, and most entry level jobs require little more than the high school diploma.  In the Netherlands, they are actively seeking out those that do not finish as least a vocational diploma until they are 23 (although mandatory education ends at 18 they want them to finish and work hard to get them to come back until 23).

What do these differences mean?  In my opinion, not as much as the similarities.  To me the interesting fact is that we struggle with many of the same challenges.  While we both have fantastic universities and opportunities for those who are academically and emotionally capable, motivating and educating those with less natural academic ability and those from less than supportive home-lives seems to take up a large percentage of both of our systems.  While we have support systems built into our institutions, they have strong working relationships with local welfare agencies, but both of us are working to try to get more students to succeed academically and ultimately be more productive citizens.

I know I’ve but scratched the surface, especially when it comes to understanding and comparing our educational systems.  Here’s my biggest take-away from this exchange: I have a little better understanding of a different culture and education system.  I have insight into some things they are doing well and some things they are struggling with.  At the very least, I have a new lens with which to evaluate how I do what I need to do in my work.  It gives me a new perspective on how I can contribute to my institution as a whole.  It’s not earth shattering new information, but I know that I will use my new knowledge to add to my work and the work of my college.

I want and need to extend a huge thank you to my administration at Reedley College and State Center Community College District and that of the Noorderpoort college system for organizing and allowing these exchanges to happen.

And ... Thank you Liesbeth!!!  ... and Francine, Estrelita, and Thomas!