From a land Down Under

Danette Goulet

NEWPORT-MESA -- Finally, a country that appreciates the upfront

nature of Americans.

Three educators from Costa Mesa’s sister city of Wyndham, Australia, who

are visiting the Newport-Mesa Unified School District as part of an

exchange program, said they love the confident air of American youth.

“American children are far more upfront and in your face,” said Annia

Ryan, an assistant principal in Wyndham.

“Everyone is very outspoken and confident,” Joan Costa, an Italian

teacher from Australia, quickly agreed.

The students Down Under tend to downplay their achievementsand lack some

of the self-confidence that American children exhibit, the educators

said.

In Australia, Annia Ryan said, they have what is known as the “tall poppy

syndrome.”

“We cut down the tall poppy,” explained Justine Ryan, a third- and

fourth-grade teacher in Wyndham.

All three women felt that it was by far the biggest difference.

“I look at it as a positive thing in terms what schools are trying to

achieve in as far as self-esteem,” Annia Ryan said. “They weren’t being

cocky or smarty -- just doing their role and being very confident.”

The Aussie educators are here as part of a short-term exchange that began

three years ago. In July, eight delegates from the Newport-Mesa school

district visited Wyndham for two weeks during their summer vacation.

Now, while the Australian schools have six weeks off during their summer

months for Christmas break, they have come here to experience Costa Mesa.

They have met the school board, took a tour on a yellow school bus

(something they do not have there), visited many schools, gone to a pep

rally at Estancia High School, been on a harbor boat cruise and taken

part in several other local activities.

Although their seasons are the polar opposite of the United States’, the

three Australian educators say the schools are fairly similar. They did

find a few differences, however.

One of the major differences is in the school calendar. Classes Down

Under are in session year-round, with periodic breaks totaling three

months.

“It really breaks up the year and kids don’t lose continuity,’ Annia Ryan

said.

Another difference the teachers and principal found was that unlike

students in America, all Aussie children wear uniforms to school.

“I would say American children have pride, but it’s instilled in a

different way, while we use uniforms, logos and decorations,” Annia Ryan

said.

Helen Flores, a senior student government member at Estancia High School

-- who was clearly not lacking in school spirit -- immediately chimed in

that she would never wear a uniform.

Differences Justine Ryan found between her third- and fourth-grade class

and that of her American counterparts included a slightly different

teaching style.

First, she was impressed with American students’ knowledge of local

history and was enthralled by the number of maps in each classroom.

And although they have curriculum textbooks in Australia, she said

teachers Down Under don’t teach out of the texts, but simply use them as

a guideline for the class.

Out of all the minor differences they discovered, all three agreed on one

thing about their home country that they preferred: The morning bell

there rings at 9 a.m.