“I am enthusiastic about  Journalism Class; I am facing an opportunity I had never had in Portugal.” Photo by Elizabeth Jackson

By Vasco Garcia

“Good morning,” two words that are rarely pronounced in a Portuguese classroom. Cold relationships, disregard for each other’s well being, and disrespectful attitudes describe the relationship between students and teachers in the Portuguese public education system.

Even though exceptions exist, this description truly reflects an old-fashioned and inappropriate way of teaching. It all starts in the way students and teachers face the day. American teachers seem to be passionate, enthusiastic and more professionally accomplished. The same can not be observed in Portugal. Most students and teachers face the school day as an obligation, a sacrifice to be made. What are the main reasons behind these substantial differences between two countries that are only separated by the Atlantic Ocean?

The first shock I felt when I got to PHS was being able to choose my classes. This may seem unusual, but in Portugal, I wasn’t able to decide anything about my own subjects. These were pre-established and pre-defined. The free choice gave me a whole new enthusiasm towards learning and classes that I had never felt before. This enthusiasm was reinforced when, during the first days of class, I felt the atmosphere that was present in most rooms; teachers were excited about the new school year, willing to teach and help students to expand their knowledge. I did not sense the atmosphere of fear and punishment, which I was used to. Teachers did not try to move students, they did not try to punish them and did not impose respect through hostility.

This leads to another difference, the relationship that is developed between teachers and students. In some cases at PHS, they develop a connection that extends outside the classroom. These cases are very rare in Portugal. Many teachers are seen as scarecrows in classrooms, and treated as strangers outside of it. Inside class, some teachers seem to be simply fulfilling an obligation in order to get their paycheck. The moment we step outside school, we automatically become anonymous citizens that have never met each other, and that are not to be disturbed or even greeted. I have personally had cases of teachers that lowered their head in the hallways so they would not have to simply wave their hand at me. In extreme cases, police are called to the classroom because the teacher can not get the student out of the classroom for misbehavior.

This last is obviously a very rare case, though it still exists. Even if Portugal has evolved from the old-fashioned educational system where teachers hit students with rulers, the actual alternative is still not the best. Perhaps Portugal could learn something from America or at least, from Plymouth High School.